Anytime someone says something negative about Tampa... (Orlando, Spring Hill: HOA, homes)

[Sunnydee]

Originally Posted by North_Pinellas_Guy

Come on over to our house and get to know us. Then you will know people who love it.

I love it here too. After spending most of my life in Ohio, this area seems like paradise to me. I love waking up to sunshine, warmth, and blue skies. I enjoy being outside every day gardening, walking, playing kickball, pickleball, etc., and this area allows me to do that. I find the natural beauty of Florida awe inspiring and the beaches are incredible. Each day I am just so grateful that I finally get to live in a place that I love.

[The Villages Guy]

Originally Posted by Sunnydee

I love it here too. After spending most of my life in Ohio, this area seems like paradise to me. I love waking up to sunshine, warmth, and blue skies. I enjoy being outside every day gardening, walking, playing kickball, pickleball, etc., and this area allows me to do that. I find the natural beauty of Florida awe inspiring and the beaches are incredible. Each day I am just so grateful that I finally get to live in a place that I love.

It is paradise for some.

[theurbanfiles]

I moved here about 6 years ago.

What I'm learning now in my grad classes is about the difference between positivistic (objective) or naturalistic (subjective, people create their own realities). I tend to think that the latter is true.

I was more excited about making the move several years ago when I first did it (not because I hated Cleveland, but because I was excited to try something different.) Then also though, I did take Cleveland and Ohio for granted.

I won't say that I don't enjoy Florida as that wouldn't be true. Contrary to some northern snobs views, there is some culture, history and food here. I've had many wonderful experiences in both Orlando and Tampa, and especially enjoy the winters, the freshwater springs and even occasionally the theme parks. Sorry though, but not a huge beach fan. Only three things to do are surf, lay in sand or float in waves. It doesn't really engage me and I often seemed to get sunburned, seems like it's primarily there just to lay around. I honestly prefer lakes.

I personally would just say that for me, I like what Ohio (and other places) offer more for me. When I do an inventory of what I enjoy doing and my personality and all characteristics for me, I certainly think that, apart from family being a significant factor, I may move back, or at least somewhere else at some point.

But, I can't speak for everyone. Who knows, perhaps I'll try somewhere else and love it, or perhaps I'll realize how much I took Florida for granted.

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by Sunnydee

I love it here too. After spending most of my life in Ohio, this area seems like paradise to me. I love waking up to sunshine, warmth, and blue skies. I enjoy being outside every day gardening, walking, playing kickball, pickleball, etc., and this area allows me to do that. I find the natural beauty of Florida awe inspiring and the beaches are incredible. Each day I am just so grateful that I finally get to live in a place that I love.

When i see such positive descriptions of life in Florida i sometimes wonder how many northerners read this type of post and come to a conclusion they are fed up with their northern climates and want some of that paradise Sunny is talking about and down they come by the tens of thousands only to discover many of the local Florida residents dont really appreciate their choice of area to relocate.

[PhotoProIP]

Originally Posted by StreetSmarts

People love Tampa? Seems to me, as a native, most people dont really "love it" in any city. It's like they do it to be around folks like them (other NY'ers, foreigners, etc) or they are just so tired of the heat they move here. But I dont know too many people that "love" it here in FL, in all honesty.

This is true, and it shows through their behaviors. They don't socialize, they don't even wave "Hi", they rush to see who can close the garage door faster, and they brought nothing from up there with them. If you go around Brooklyn for example, there are like 100 delicious bakeries, but do any of them care to bring them down here? Nope. They act entitled in traffic, an example would be when they see someone turing their signal on to turn in a lane, and after they been coasting nonchalantly for several minutes impeding the traffic behind them, all of the sudden they speed up just to not let the person move in the other lane....constantly cut at the bumper...parents at school act all entitled and don't make eye contact with those already here...and so forth. They don't care for "TAMPA" the city/or surroundings, they couldn't give to $hits about it...they care and are "happy" that they don't have to mow snow, and live in those tiny old places that are falling on them. (Yeah, we've seen some of the homes up north through our travels and its dilapidation central). They crowd the beaches, they bring jet ski's where they shouldn't disturbing everyone else who's there to relax and have a nice calm day, and they continue to smoke and throw cigarette butts all over these beaches they say they love so much!

There is a level of hypocrisy that we can see right through unfortunately. These people don't care for their community, passed paying those HOA fees, none offer to lend a hand to someone when they need help, and they don't care to improve or beautify the city further either! Some who continuously praise it here do it because 1. They need to "justify" their move, and 2. They have a need for approval. If you take a closer look at their behavior they do nothing but isolate themselves in their new bubbles.

Behaviors speak a lot louder than words.

[dothetwist]

Frankly I notice a big difference between St. Pete/Pinellas and Tampa/Hillsborough.

People in St. Pete/Pinellas ARE friendly, especially in the smaller cities like Dunedin, Safety Harbor and Gulfport.

We live in Gulfport and we KNOW our neighbors, everyone hosts one or two parties a year and when we're gone (we are out of town about one week out of six), our neighbors keep an eye on our property and we do the same for them. Most of our neighbors work (we don't) so we bring in their recycling bins after pickup, same for UPS, FedEx (we put on their porches or move to our home) if weather looks iffy. I have offered their kids rides to their homes in rainstorms as they walk home from their bus stops 3 long blocks away. I have hired their teens (with prior parental permission) for some yardwork. It's a REAL neighborhood, almost Leave to Beaver-ish in this day and age.

Even when we were snowbirds renting in Dunedin and Safety Harbor, the neighbors were friendly to us, everyone walks and talks on the streets of Gulfport, too. Sometimes I'll go for a walk that I expect will be 30 minutes and when I get home 90 minutes later, it's because I ran into so many neighbors along the way for chats.

As I've said before, there OUGHT to be two different forums, one for Tampa/Hillsborough and one for St. Pete/Pinellas as I think they are two different animals.

[The Villages Guy]

Originally Posted by jambo101

When i see such positive descriptions of life in Florida i sometimes wonder how many northerners read this type of post and come to a conclusion they are fed up with their northern climates and want some of that paradise Sunny is talking about and down they come by the tens of thousands only to discover many of the local Florida residents dont really appreciate their choice of area to relocate.

I do not think that we have that much of an effect on that many people, regarding relocating.

We have never had any issues with local Florida residents. They have been quite nice and helpful to us.

[The Villages Guy]

Originally Posted by PhotoProIP

This is true, and it shows through their behaviors. They don't socialize, they don't even wave "Hi", they rush to see who can close the garage door faster, and they brought nothing from up there with them. If you go around Brooklyn for example, there are like 100 delicious bakeries, but do any of them care to bring them down here? Nope. They act entitled in traffic, an example would be when they see someone turing their signal on to turn in a lane, and after they been coasting nonchalantly for several minutes impeding the traffic behind them, all of the sudden they speed up just to not let the person move in the other lane....constantly cut at the bumper...parents at school act all entitled and don't make eye contact with those already here...and so forth. They don't care for "TAMPA" the city/or surroundings, they couldn't give to $hits about it...they care and are "happy" that they don't have to mow snow, and live in those tiny old places that are falling on them. (Yeah, we've seen some of the homes up north through our travels and its dilapidation central). They crowd the beaches, they bring jet ski's where they shouldn't disturbing everyone else who's there to relax and have a nice calm day, and they continue to smoke and throw cigarette butts all over these beaches they say they love so much!

There is a level of hypocrisy that we can see right through unfortunately. These people don't care for their community, passed paying those HOA fees, none offer to lend a hand to someone when they need help, and they don't care to improve or beautify the city further either! Some who continuously praise it here do it because 1. They need to "justify" their move, and 2. They have a need for approval. If you take a closer look at their behavior they do nothing but isolate themselves in their new bubbles.

Behaviors speak a lot louder than words.

^^^^^^^ Prime example of a blanket statement and also dismissing the posts of those who love it here.

[PDF]

It seems some of the responses here have gone more the way of talking about Florida in general, which is OK, but I think people can be happy in different areas of the state. Someone can hate living in Tampa even though they love Florida, but be completely happy in another big city in the state.

[StreetSmarts]

FL is a love/hate state.