Moving to Florida assistance thread.

[WaltD4Me]

Moving to Florida has been so much better than I ever thought it would be.

When I put my house up for sale I did what every Disney fan does. I went to WDW for a week. The first person that wanted the house bought it. I was on Mars(Mission Space) when I got the call saying the house was sold. I had to come down for a long weekend to look for a house. I looked at 30 of them and bought house number 25. I had to buy a house and move in less than 3 weeks but I did it. The house is in the perfect location and I love it. I can look out my window to see cows grazing and orange trees. When the orange trees bloom in the Spring the air is heavenly here.

Packing up and moving nearly killed me. Sorting through 27 years of "stuff" was not fun, I hate to paint and after the painting I did I never want to paint again.

The day I moved it was bright and sunny and 70 degrees in December. I live on a hill and I was so worried that the weather would cooperate. The moving van left and an hour later it started to snow. The really heavy stuff, a thunderstorm snow. It snowed all weekend. My closing was on Monday and it was a nasty day. I got my check for the house, drove to the airport, and arrived in Orlando several hours later to sun and warmth.

I love the flat of Fl. I live close to a ridge where there is rolling hills but I don't need that anymore. The scenery here is beautiful. I can be to the beach in a little over an hour. If there is a shuttle launch I can drive down and see it. If I need to take a cruise it is 60 miles away.

When I first moved here I was running around doing outside chores. I soon realized it is sunny here all the time. I wasn't used to that. I love it here. It is one of the best decisions I ever made.

My job at the time transferred with me. As long as I was close to the airport I could be located anywhere. It is so much easier getting to the airport now. No need to time my trips so I am not trying to get to the airport during rush hour.

I think my move was one of the best things I have done in my life. Right behind my late husband and my kids.

What a great story Kathy. It gave me a big smile reading it. You did exactly what I would love to do.

I've thought about it and thought about it. I would love to move, I live in Cleveland, so we get similiar weather as you did in Pittsburgh, I have come to HATE the snow, it just gives me anxiety all winter, plus I feel I would be like you, visit the park 80+ days, but it would never lose the magic for me.

The thing that holds me back is the humidity in Florida. I don't mind HOT, I went to Vegas once when it was 114 degrees and it didn't bother me a bit, but the icky sticky humidity? I hate it. And I hear you guys talking on the podcast saying how you have to put black out curtains on the windows to keep the house cool or one time Kevin said going outside was like walking around in a thick heavy wet blanket, then I'm not sure I could do it. Since you are from a similiar climate, how did you assimilate to the summer heat? I've never been in the summer or even in September, walking around dripping is just not my idea of fun. I worry I would hate it more than the cold and snow here, although I can't imagine that could be true.

 

[safetymom]

The humidity reminds me of Pittsburgh. When it's hot it's hot. I can put up with that to live here. You just do things differently than you did up North. It's the other months of the year when you are out doing a lot outside.

I love the fact that during the winter I can be out at the parks, beach etc. My late mother used to hate being cooped up in the house. She hated it. I used to joke to my neighbors I would see them in the Spring.

I love when my friends from up North call this time of year. It is beautiful here. I moved here because I don't like the cold. At least here I have a/c. I didn't have it up north but I can remember many 100% humidity days in Pittsburgh. I also like going to the water parks here in the Summer.

To me putting up with the summer heat and humidity is a small price to pay to live here.

 

[PeterPan09]

Living in Florida is the opposite of living up North. In the North-you hibernate from November to March. In Florida, we hibernate from June to October.

I have always been a person who HATES being hot. I simply detest it. However, I found that my first summer here was less miserable than most summers in NJ. I think it's because the buildings here are built to stay cool, the buildings up North are built to stay warm. That's why we have so many issues down here when it does get even a little cold-our houses aren't built for it.

 

[kaligal]

I used to joke to my neighbors I would see them in the Spring.

It's no joke! We laugh about that, too. We're all out and about in the summer. I visit and listen to gossip and we go for ice cream and such. Then we start visiting inside...we have the Halloween party...and that's that.

A few drop offs of presents and treats at Christmas and then we all see each other when it warms up...which is usually May.

It would be so nice to be able to visit year-round.

I moved here because I don't like the cold.
To me putting up with the summer heat and humidity is a small price to pay to live here.

I hate the cold, snow and ice. That is the #1 reason I want to move South.

I've selected Orlando as my DPTL (Dream Place To Live) because I do like theme parks. I'm not one of those people for whom the parks are "magical" and don't really see losing anything...except the pressure to do a gazillion things in a few days or feel like we've spent lots of dough for nothing. And I could live without that.

I know it is very hot and humid in the summer. But you don't slip on hot and humid and fall down. You don't have to put on a bunch of extra clothes for hot & humid. Hot & humid does not make a big mess in the garage. It doesn't slow you down on the roadways and cause accidents. And the sun can still shine when it is hot & humid.

Hot & humid is uncomfortable, but I'll take it over freezing and dark.

Thanks for sharing, everyone!

 

[shellynn24]

I know it is very hot and humid in the summer. But you don't slip on hot and humid and fall down. You don't have to put on a bunch of extra clothes for hot & humid. Hot & humid does not make a big mess in the garage. It doesn't slow you down on the roadways and cause accidents. And the sun can still shine when it is hot & humid.

Hot & humid is uncomfortable, but I'll take it over freezing and dark.

...I totally agree!!

 

[MM32830]

Something to consider about the heat & humidity down here in the summer is that it CAN be dangerous if you don't take precautions.

Sunscreen is a MUST if you are going to be outside as well as drinking LOTS of water. Use a little common sense. If you begin to feel nauseous find some shade or, better yet, go inside an air conditioned building.

Summer heat in Florida can be as deadly as the winter cold up north.

Once the sun goes down in the summer (around 8 pm), it is just lovely outside.




_________________
Armand

 

[jsoren11]

Sold! Ill meet you at imagination Kathy.

 

[Miss Monorail 1971]

We have been throwing the idea around a lot about moving south especially on days like today when there is no school and we are suppose to get 10 inches of snow. I am not too worried about the heat as I am uprooting DD from all her friends and her great school.
So how are the school systems in the area.

 

[Miss Monorail 1971]

Oh and I am afraid gators will eat my dogs when they are in the back yard lol

 

[thesupersmartguy]

Celebration is the best place to be. Not far from any of the parks and very Disney!

 

[MM32830]

We almost bought in Celebration. Even took out copies of the Covenants to read. When we returned 1 week later prices increased $60,000 (you read that right... 60 thousand in one price increase). We bought elsewhere.

Celebration is nice but it is a little pricey.




___________________
Armand

 

[DisneyKevin]

Celebration is very nice.

It's no longer owned by Disney.

 

[kaligal]

I actually looked in Celebration. I didn't think it was all that nice. It's cute - like if you were watching it in a movie, "Oh, how cute," - but the houses are all crammed in there. You'd be right on top of your neighbors.

It'd be great if you're one of those dippy women who want to know everything about everyone. There'd be tons to gossip over. But I don't need to know when my neighbors are arguing and sure as hell don't want to hear it.

Celebration is cute to drive through, but I wouldn't want to live there.

 

[MainStreetFireman]

Having been born and then lived in NYC for the first 22 years of my life, I knew nothing but apartments. Because of that, I grew up with and enjoyed many close relationships with the wide diversity of people that the city has to offer. Proximity to my neighbors was a good thing.

Having since moved to the suburbs in a house, I am in daily interaction with a dramatically smaller and much more "homogeneous" population. I find it much less interesting and far more isolating.

To each their own.

 

[safetymom]

Celebration is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there.

 

[disneydad78]

since we are on this topic,LOL
we also would like to move to area around WDW. I have looked into celebration,,house to close together and way to $$$. I looked around Davenport also...want to spend around $250-$300 for a house
but here is the deal,
I graduate will be an RN in 2 yrs associates degree ,,my wife is one also.
She has been working in the NICU for 8 yrs and she is also a supervisor Part time over the womans hospital. We have always talked about moving to Disney area when im finished with school. She is worried about taxes, neighborhood dues,,which we dont have in Louisiana, cost of living(we did a website,said we need to make %8 more $$ to have life style we have now in FL) also Florida Hospital (employer),,they way people have talked about them on some websites ,scares us. Pay is weak for such a great area. She gets overtime alot(sometimes 60 hrs a week)heard no overtime at florida hospitals) and she makes (with night dif,charge nurse and weekend dif) right at $43 an hr.she made $120,000 last yr. she is PRN plus and we do have to pay for our own insurance. She said she will not move unless she finds a nursing job with close to or around that pay. does anyone that lives there ,and is an RN tell me if she can ,with her RNC ,she is specialized in NICU care also. Starting RN's here in Alexandria ,Louisiana make around $21-$23 and hr,so my pay would pretty much be the same in Florida for new nurses. But she did say she will go down to $37, no less...
So will my WDW dreams ever come true??

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Starting RN's here in Alexandria ,Louisiana make around $21-$23 and hr,so my pay would pretty much be the same in Florida for new nurses. But she did say she will go down to $37, no less...
So will my WDW dreams ever come true??

I just moved and found healthcare pay to be lower in FL than the NE (philadelphia area) About 1/3 less BUT my house was half the cost of the one in DE. Cost of living is def lower for us. My insurance is half. The community dues include trash and lawn maintence so we find it worthy of the cost $50/mo. It is give and take. Write a list of pros and cons and see what works for you. While Celebration is cute I cant see paying those prices. JMHO. My house here was $190,000 which is very inexpensive compared to the northeast.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I still feel the magic every time I go. I average 80+ visits a year and it never gets old.

Yeah we still yell we are in Disney every time we cross the gates. No magic lost for us. Only now we can go when the crowds are low and weather is nice. I loved the summer here and didnt find it much worse than DE in July.

 

[PeterPan09]

Yeah we still yell we are in Disney every time we cross the gates. No magic lost for us. Only now we can go when the crowds are low and weather is nice. I loved the summer here and didnt find it much worse than DE in July.

I do agree with the podcast team though-the magic doesn't end but it does change. I am very picky about the weather when I go-it has to be just right-not too cold, not too hot, not too sunny, not too windy...rainy is ok, but not too rainy..... And once I'm there, if the lines are over 10 minutes for anything-forget it.

I agree about the summers. I was actually far less miserable here this past summer than I was during MANY summers in NJ.

 

[kbelle8995]

Oh and I am afraid gators will eat my dogs when they are in the back yard lol

As long as your home not on a canal you should be okay.

The houses are low in cost right now because our housing industry went bust. There still a lot of foreclosures. South Florida especially Miami is always expensive.

Don't panic over hurricanes just be prepared and use common sense.

In my hometown in south Florida apartments are now over $1,000 dollars a month. And its not even close to Miami.

Oh and please visit some of our wonderful State Parks. There's more here than just theme parks. Although theme parks are fabulous