Are we crazy?Thinking of moving to Florida from Maine!

[forr2grls]

We are SO tired of the the cold weather and snow and ice and the darn potholes!!!Looking for info from any fellow Disers' that reside in or have resided in FL. It we be the 4 of us-me,dh.and twin 9yr old girls..and also my mother.Lost my Dad in Oct.Mom's house is too big for her to take care of.She has fibromyalgia,osteoarthritis and other problems.She visited her sister in FL for am onth,felt great,she got back last week,in pain again. DD has Epilepsy,a trigger is heat,so that is a concern.But cold weather is a trigger also. Dh has back/hip issues,think the warm air will help with that.He had been taking care of the snow removal here and at moms.Says his back can;t take much more...Sorry for the novel,just really needed to get that out there!..So,back on track...Have any suggestions for good areas?Furthest south we'd want to go is possibly 60 miles south of Orlando, umm thinking more central locations,don't want to live on coast...We need a school district with a really good special education system.We like small communities.No neighbors!ha!ha!ha!...Done rambling for now!thanks for your patience!


Paula

 

[Virgo10]

We moved down here from MA in 2004. I drew a circle 30 miles out from WDW and then checked out every single town that fell inside that circle. Most towns down here have websites that contain a lot of good info. It will give you phone numbers for the school departments and you should be able to get more in depth information about their programs if you call them.

We chose a town called Auburndale which is 26 miles from the Mouse and in between Lakeland and Winter Haven. Currently the big excitement is watching them harvest grapefruit across the street from where I live. If I want something a bit more stimulating, I just have to drive up to Mickeyville.

Here's the websites for my town to give you an idea.
http://www.auburndalefl.com/

http://www.auburndalefl.com/city.asp

The Florida weather has been much kinder to my back problems than New England ever was. I'm only sorry I didn't move down here years ago!

 

[Jack-Jack]

I'm considering a move to FL too, so I don't think you're crazy. The weather where I live isn't terrible, but I'm tired of any winter at all.

ETA: We're looking at the Gainesville area. Everyone we've talked to has good things to say about it. Good schools, but a little more expensive real estate than what I'm accustomed to.

 

[Mermaid02]

I live in Maine too and if I could get dh to go.... I'd be on a plane tomorrow. So, no you are not crazy. The snow yesterday really sent me over the edge.

 

[Poohnatic]

We moved here in '04 and we love it. I transferred with my employer, but my husband has been sporadically employed since we got here. It depends on what work you'll be looking for, though.

Special Education is hit or miss. After a hiccup the first year (Asperger's is not considered autism in Florida-different services), we got things going well for my son. We're about to move over to Lakeland and I will be calling my contact in the special Ed program to determine which school's attendance area we should go for.

Health wise, this was a great move for me. I'd live from October to March in pain from arthritis and various muscular issues. That pain is nearly non existent now.

We took 18 months from deciding to move until we loaded up the van. We researched communities, schools and doctors. I thought I'd be working outside Orlando, but my employer changed things about 2 months before we moved, so we ended up in Tampa.

Good luck! It's a big change, but I love it here.

Suzanne

 

[Mermaid02]

We moved here in '04 and we love it. I transferred with my employer, but my husband has been sporadically employed since we got here. It depends on what work you'll be looking for, though.

Special Education is hit or miss. After a hiccup the first year (Asperger's is not considered autism in Florida-different services), we got things going well for my son. We're about to move over to Lakeland and I will be calling my contact in the special Ed program to determine which school's attendance area we should go for.

Health wise, this was a great move for me. I'd live from October to March in pain from arthritis and various muscular issues. That pain is nearly non existent now.

We took 18 months from deciding to move until we loaded up the van. We researched communities, schools and doctors. I thought I'd be working outside Orlando, but my employer changed things about 2 months before we moved, so we ended up in Tampa.

Good luck! It's a big change, but I love it here.

Suzanne

My dh is a master electrician and I am a medical secretary.... any opportunities for us?? LOL I'd really love to get out of dodge if you know what I mean.

 

[Virgo10]

We're about to move over to Lakeland

No Way!!! You can come over here and watch the grapefruit pickers if you ever get board. Those guys put me to shame. They are out there all day picking and during breaks they have a soccer game. Oh to be young again.

Have you found a house yet? What section of town are you looking in? Lakeland is huge!

 

[ilovepcot]

We're about to move over to Lakeland

WHAT!!!!!!????????!!!!!!!!!!!!
All kidding aside, it is a very nice town to raise families.

 

[kimluvswdw]

I say anytime someone wants to move to a warmer climate (especially Florida) has the right idea.

 

[pumba]

another Mainer here that is sick and tired of snow and ice and freezing weather......we are patiently waiting for the time to be retired......we will be there ......HONEST......make room for us too..

 

[GailT]

We moved down here from MA in 2004. I drew a circle 30 miles out from WDW and then checked out every single town that fell inside that circle. Most towns down here have websites that contain a lot of good info. It will give you phone numbers for the school departments and you should be able to get more in depth information about their programs if you call them.

We chose a town called Auburndale which is 26 miles from the Mouse and in between Lakeland and Winter Haven. Currently the big excitement is watching them harvest grapefruit across the street from where I live. If I want something a bit more stimulating, I just have to drive up to Mickeyville.

Here's the websites for my town to give you an idea.
http://www.auburndalefl.com/

http://www.auburndalefl.com/city.asp

The Florida weather has been much kinder to my back problems than New England ever was. I'm only sorry I didn't move down here years ago!

Hard to believe it is 6 years already. As much as I like Florida and hate the cold and snow, I really hate the humidity down there but I am going to look for a 2 bedroom cond for my getaway from this cold in the winter. I am going to look on the links you left

 

[gmboy95]

Here is a dissenting viewpoint.....maybe in retirement fine....but I can not think of a better place to raise kids other then New England. You get beuatiful summers, warm and bright springs, cool days in fall with great leaf colors, and the first snows of winter.

There is nothing better then a cool fall night, with a camp fire in the yard. Or a warm summer 4th of july with fire works...or a spring day when the leaves bud and the flowers sprout.

But most importantly....a fall day at Gillette stadium watching Tom Brady, or a summer day at Fenway watching Big Papi....or a winter night watching Kevin Garnett at the garden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[THE HAT]

Another Mainah checking in that is sick of winter as well..the snow and cold and ice etc is driving me to tears this year, never mind the oil prices.....we will probably make the move to North Carolina (wilmington area) in the next few years...My brother lives there and it was 67 today....My dh and I take care of my 94 year old gm who lives alone, and would never move so I am here as long as she is.
I love Florida to visit, but don't think I could live there year round....NC we just fell in love with, and it has the perfect range of temps and still has palm trees....we were there in early January and the ocean temps were in the 70's.....we don't even reach that in July!!

 

[Donald's Shrink]

As soon as DW and I are finished with grad school, we're packing up the family and moving to Florida (somewhere close to WDW). This winter has been terrible here, and we both finally decided we don't want to spend the rest of lives battling the snow, ice, and bitter cold winds every winter.

 

[Poohnatic]

Medical secretary? You should have a fairly easy time finding work. I don't have info about electricians, but I'm sure there's plenty to be found online. I'll keep my eyes peeled for electricians to give you names, if you'd like.

Yeah, moving to Lakeland. There are many reasons for the move, some good, some not so good. My MIL had a stroke three weeks ago that was caused 100% by the stress of watching my SIL let her health fall apart. Now the rehabilitation center says she's 90% recovered, but will not let her go home until she's 100%, because they know my SIL is useless in caring for her.

Roberta, who knows? I might take you up on that one afternoon-I could get some photography pointers!

IloveEpcot, c'mon Lakeland is not THAT bad! I've seen some interesting places in my journey down the east coast, I could do tons worse, lol! It brings me a little closer to Mickey, too. Or in my case, Aquatica and Sea World, woohoo!

There are trade offs. You'll pay more for groceries, power bills will be less. Car insurance is on a par to what I paid in NY as a 20 year old. I had serious sticker shock when I moved from Maryland!

You won't get good clams down here, but the rest of the seafood is plentiful. Nobody knows how to make lobster rolls! Year round farm stands? I am in heaven If you love to cook, boy, it sure is nice to pop into the stand and get the produce cheap!

Suzanne

 

[pumba]

I dont think anyone can do fried clams like us Mainers....or a good lobstah roll.....or shrimp.......or beans.......but this cold winter is the pitts......a few years ago we had spring come early in March.......warm weather the last of March and April......it was great

 

[Mainebound]

We are SO tired of the the cold weather and snow and ice and the darn potholes!!!Looking for info from any fellow Disers' that reside in or have resided in FL. It we be the 4 of us-me,dh.and twin 9yr old girls..and also my mother.Lost my Dad in Oct.Mom's house is too big for her to take care of.She has fibromyalgia,osteoarthritis and other problems.She visited her sister in FL for am onth,felt great,she got back last week,in pain again. DD has Epilepsy,a trigger is heat,so that is a concern.But cold weather is a trigger also. Dh has back/hip issues,think the warm air will help with that.He had been taking care of the snow removal here and at moms.Says his back can;t take much more...Sorry for the novel,just really needed to get that out there!..So,back on track...Have any suggestions for good areas?Furthest south we'd want to go is possibly 60 miles south of Orlando, umm thinking more central locations,don't want to live on coast...We need a school district with a really good special education system.We like small communities.No neighbors!ha!ha!ha!...Done rambling for now!thanks for your patience!


Paula

We actually made the opposite move and have not regretted it. But this winter has been the worst we have experienced in the 8 years we have been in Maine. I feel your pain... we have all had it with the winter.

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

I dont think anyone can do fried clams like us Mainers....or a good lobstah roll.....or shrimp.......or beans.......but this cold winter is the pitts......a few years ago we had spring come early in March.......warm weather the last of March and April......it was great

Bob's Clam Hut

I take "detours" down Rt 1 in the summer on my way home from York or Ogunquit to grab take out.

My DD loves seafood too.

mmmm, and when the french fries get a little soggy from the lemon. I'm starving, and I'd kill for a Fisherman's Platter.

 

[olena]

I hope you like bugs....BIG ones! My parents moved down there a couple years ago, along with some friends. They were initiated that first year with Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne. They both have also found snakes in their homes at some point. In my parents' case, it was a baby snake that got in through the front door that had been left ajar while the car was being unloaded. For their friends, it was a 4-foot snake that had gotten in where a pipe came into the house that wasn't well sealed around it.

Try to avoid the coast. Getting home owners insurance is hard nearer to the coast.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I'm sorry Florida's closed now we're not accepting and more transplants.......feel free to move on to Tennessee, I hear that's the new hot spot.




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Just kidding


Good luck making your decision.