Depressed in Tampa

[TPCShauna]

Well, we're finally here. The trip from California to Florida took several days longer than we had originally planned, but we've been here for a few weeks now. We're staying in the family cabin in Spring Hill which is about 1.5 hours from WDW and about an hour from anything remotely resembling a city.

I do OK when we're in Tampa and the immediately surrounding area because it feels like a city, but just get more and more depressed every time we return to the cabin. My bday is this coming Sunday and I'm completely sad because I have no one here to celebrate with since all my friends are on the other side of the country.

We got our Florida drivers' licenses last week so we finally have proof of Florida residency to get our Florida Resident Premium Annual Passes. I think I've just about convinced DH to head over to WDW for my bday on Sunday. I think I'd like to check out the Flower and Garden festival and do dinner somewhere.

Other than that, here we sit. We've been applying to jobs, but haven't gotten any bites so we have to conserve money the best we can so I can't even really go out and do much. I know DH doesn't want to spend money on the passes right now, but they are such a great deal and would be great bday presents for both of us since we both have April bdays. Plus, I'm hoping they will improve my spirits a bit.

Sorry for dumping, ladies. I'm just homesick, missing my friends and depressed. Even the nice weather we've been having hasn't helped. I'm so bad off that a trip to Disney doesn't seem to be perking me up. Pretty bad, huh.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Sorry for being all .

 

[PrincessNancy96]

Shauna

It will get better.... I think that little Disney pick me up will help... and I know when we lived in the "country" I always was a little more frazzled then when I was in town or city... I prefer suburbs rather than the hustle and bustle all the time...

I think if you can swing it the APs would be nice if you could swing it and it would be great birthday presents...

Please feel free to vent away.. We are here for you any time.. You know there is always one of us around here... gotta keep this area cozy and warm..

 

[phorsenuf]

Welcome to the area! I'm down the road apiece in Clearwater. I'm a transplant myself and just love it there.
I'm sure you know (but just in case), they have a monthly payment plan for annual passes. That might help the ouch factor. Is there a reason for the premium passes? Just curious. Another thing to consider too is consider staring off with a seasonal pass and then upgrading. That may be easier on the pocketbook to start too.

What does your husband do for work?

 

[lovingthemouse]

Hi Shauna - the first plus is that you have the internet!! We are always here to keep you company.

My late husband has an aunt and uncle in Homosassa Springs- not too far from you. We drove there many times from Orlando - always through Brooksville.

Happy early Birthday - hope those passes work out. Just keep in the loop here- we'll help to pass some of your time. Caroline

 

[JohnsonsLoveDisney]

I think a day trip out of the house and to Disney might perk you up a little more than you might think.

Have you been out enjoying the weather? Can you maybe plant a little garden? Pull out some scrappy stuff?

I hope you get to go see some Magic soon.

 

[rlovew]

Welcome to your new home!

As people have said you have us online- we live about an 1 1/2 hours from Disney as well. I would suggest maybe getting the regular AP for FL to start and then upgrading to the Premium- you get everyday entry into the theme parks and free parking with the regular pass- unless you plan on going to a water park or Disneyquest really soon you don't need the premium ones yet.

Rebecca

 

[TPCShauna]

Welcome to the area! I'm down the road apiece in Clearwater. I'm a transplant myself and just love it there.
I'm sure you know (but just in case), they have a monthly payment plan for annual passes. That might help the ouch factor. Is there a reason for the premium passes? Just curious. Another thing to consider too is consider staring off with a seasonal pass and then upgrading. That may be easier on the pocketbook to start too.

What does your husband do for work?

We are planning to do the monthly plan. He's still kibbitzing over the cost of the pass even though it's totally cheap!

DH is a geologist and did environmental geology in CA. He's not had any hits since we've been here.

Shauna

It will get better.... I think that little Disney pick me up will help... and I know when we lived in the "country" I always was a little more frazzled then when I was in town or city... I prefer suburbs rather than the hustle and bustle all the time...

I think if you can swing it the APs would be nice if you could swing it and it would be great birthday presents...

Please feel free to vent away.. We are here for you any time.. You know there is always one of us around here... gotta keep this area cozy and warm..

Thanks Nan. I think I'll be better off once we live closer into town. This area is just way too remote for me.

Hi Shauna - the first plus is that you have the internet!! We are always here to keep you company.

My late husband has an aunt and uncle in Homosassa Springs- not too far from you. We drove there many times from Orlando - always through Brooksville.

Happy early Birthday - hope those passes work out. Just keep in the loop here- we'll help to pass some of your time. Caroline

So you are familiar with that horrible drive on 50! Thanks for the bday wishes.

I think a day trip out of the house and to Disney might perk you up a little more than you might think.

Have you been out enjoying the weather? Can you maybe plant a little garden? Pull out some scrappy stuff?

I hope you get to go see some Magic soon.

We haven't been out much because I keep getting burnt through my spf 100 sunscreen and eaten to pieces by the bugs. I'm sure I'll be better once I get used to the FL sun and bugs. At least the bugs are starting to decide I'm not quite as tasty a buffet anymore.

Welcome to your new home!

As people have said you have us online- we live about an 1 1/2 hours from Disney as well. I would suggest maybe getting the regular AP for FL to start and then upgrading to the Premium- you get everyday entry into the theme parks and free parking with the regular pass- unless you plan on going to a water park or Disneyquest really soon you don't need the premium ones yet.

Rebecca

Thanks for the comments about the different passes. We did some additional research and decided to go with the regular for now. How do you upgrade when you want to do that?

 

[MazdaUK]

sorry you're down. On the plus side, your a lot nearer to WDW than me. I'm sure you'll get some nibbles soon on the job front, you need to get used to some of the local recruitment avenues - local papers/specialist journals any good?

Think of it as a break from the rat race - although hurly burly can be good (especially burly )you'll appreciate it all the more for not having it for a bit.

Hope you have good birthdays and some fun at wDw to celebrate, and we're all ehre for you

 

[rlovew]

Thanks for the comments about the different passes. We did some additional research and decided to go with the regular for now. How do you upgrade when you want to do that?

If you are on the monthly payment plan and decide to upgrade you go to a guest relation window and let them know. You will then have to pay the difference to upgrade (normally about $100 but I don't know the exact amount) - we haven't used the water park or disneyquest enough ever to upgrade our passes to premium. Maybe if we were a lot closer but at an 1 1/2 hour drive I would rather go to one of the main park (or more than 1). You have to pay the entire difference between the passes - they are not prorated if it is close to expiration- if you are planning on going to one of the other parks more than 3 times than it is worth the upgrade cost- otherwise it is cheaper to buy individual tickets.

Rebecca

 

[DisneyIsTerrific]

Shauna, I hope things get better for y'all. I'm sure a little trip to WDW to celebrate your birthdays will be a good mood booster!!! Hopefully you will find jobs soon and can move closer to town.

We have the Florida resident seasonal passes for WDW. They work perfect for us because the black-out dates (2 months in the summer, Easter, and Christmas) are when we don't go to the parks.

 

[TPCShauna]

sorry you're down. On the plus side, your a lot nearer to WDW than me. I'm sure you'll get some nibbles soon on the job front, you need to get used to some of the local recruitment avenues - local papers/specialist journals any good?

Thanks, Mazda. I found out today that my resume is a bit too fancy for this area. I have an interview today and they asked me to take my very expensively done, incredibly well-written and effective functional resume and "put it so we can see what you did where." I guess that's why I've not been getting any bites.

I understand what you mean about enjoying the break from the hurly burly, but I've been unemployed for almost two years now so I'm ready to work. At least there are job options here. There was next to nothing in CA.

If you are on the monthly payment plan and decide to upgrade you go to a guest relation window and let them know. You will then have to pay the difference to upgrade (normally about $100 but I don't know the exact amount) - we haven't used the water park or disneyquest enough ever to upgrade our passes to premium. Maybe if we were a lot closer but at an 1 1/2 hour drive I would rather go to one of the main park (or more than 1). You have to pay the entire difference between the passes - they are not prorated if it is close to expiration- if you are planning on going to one of the other parks more than 3 times than it is worth the upgrade cost- otherwise it is cheaper to buy individual tickets.

Rebecca

Thanks for that info. We are definitely planning on spending some time at the water parks so that is helpful to know, especially since they don't prorate. We had thought of doing the regular after your first comments, but this just helped us decide to go premium. Good to know!

Shauna, I hope things get better for y'all. I'm sure a little trip to WDW to celebrate your birthdays will be a good mood booster!!! Hopefully you will find jobs soon and can move closer to town.

We have the Florida resident seasonal passes for WDW. They work perfect for us because the black-out dates (2 months in the summer, Easter, and Christmas) are when we don't go to the parks.

We know we definitely don't want date restrictions even though we aren't likely to go during those times. DH just doesn't like not being able to go if he wants to. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a job soon also. I just can't live out here in the boonies.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well the good news is that I have an interview today that could be a very good thing. The bad news is that it's an hour and a half drive one way with no traffic for me and I have NO IDEA what it will be like with traffic. I tell ya, we've got to move yesterday. I just can't take it!

Anyway, please keep your fingers crossed for me. This is a decent paying position and they want to start someone like yesterday so I could have a job by the end of the week. That would be so nice. I need to get out of the house!

 

[tinkryansmom]

Fingers crossed for your interview Shauna!! I hope DH gets some nibbles soon also!

Hang tough - things are bound to turn around. Took guts to move across the country. Remember that.

Meet up with some DIS Scrappers they are pretty near you! Use your support net here - thats what we are here for!!

 

[lovingthemouse]

Shauna - how did the interview go?
...and yes, I am well familiar with the looooong ride on interstate 50 - but they are worth the drive!!

 

[angelbrd]

Hello!!
Im a Tampa un Native too! But i have to agree, the boonies are the WORSE. We lived in New Tampa and then moved to Valrico and i drive past cows and pastures every day!! Just not for me. My DH got a job as a cop, not too keen on that either...the good news is we are 45 min from Disney!! Needless to say, we are moving back to New Tampa.
Shop around the different communities in/near Tampa. Each has its own personality and type of people. Once you find that, and a job im sure your mood will brighten. Pick up the local TBT to find fun things to do. Festival/fair season just ended but more great things are coming. As lways, we are here o perk your spirits anytime!

 

[MazdaUK]

Hope the interview went well

 

[LindaBabe]

Shauna, sorry I'm late to the party - sending you a huge hug - as someone who's moved 28 times, to places as remote as Limestone Maine, I can SO sympathize. Just hang tough - try to figure out what you're supposed to learn from this experience - and remember - this time too, shall pass. Hope your interview went well. My fingers will be crossed for you!

 

[TPCShauna]

Fingers crossed for your interview Shauna!! I hope DH gets some nibbles soon also!

Hang tough - things are bound to turn around. Took guts to move across the country. Remember that.

Thank you! I keep trying to remind myself that there are positives. WDW is helping.

Shauna - how did the interview go?
...and yes, I am well familiar with the looooong ride on interstate 50 - but they are worth the drive!!

I think it went well, but I won't know anything to probably Monday at the earliest. I can be too upset though even if I don't get it since I've now found out that I need to re-do my resume. That piece of info is at least worth it all.

Hello!!
Im a Tampa un Native too! But i have to agree, the boonies are the WORSE. We lived in New Tampa and then moved to Valrico and i drive past cows and pastures every day!! Just not for me. My DH got a job as a cop, not too keen on that either...the good news is we are 45 min from Disney!! Needless to say, we are moving back to New Tampa.
Shop around the different communities in/near Tampa. Each has its own personality and type of people. Once you find that, and a job im sure your mood will brighten. Pick up the local TBT to find fun things to do. Festival/fair season just ended but more great things are coming. As lways, we are here o perk your spirits anytime!

I'm not sure where Valrico is, but I wouldn't like being in the boonies. We've been looking heavily at Brandon as it seems pretty decent. Do you know anything about that area?

Hope the interview went well

Thank you!!!

Shauna, sorry I'm late to the party - sending you a huge hug - as someone who's moved 28 times, to places as remote as Limestone Maine, I can SO sympathize. Just hang tough - try to figure out what you're supposed to learn from this experience - and remember - this time too, shall pass. Hope your interview went well. My fingers will be crossed for you!

Thanks! I think the interview went well, but I won't know til Monday. I'm not sure what exactly I'm supposed to be learning from this other than maybe I needed to slow down a little. Life out here is much slower than CA, so maybe that's a good thing.

 

[rlovew]

I know Brandon has a good size mall and hospital. it is about an hour from where I am.

Rebecca

 

[mommy2mrb]

Hi Shauna, happy to hear you made it to FL safe and sound...sorry you're not liking being in the boonies though!
sending pixie dust that you and your DH get jobs soon!
sorry you weren't able to make it up to WDW last Thursday for our get together!
keep your spirits up, things will be good soon!

 

[TPCShauna]

Hi Shauna, happy to hear you made it to FL safe and sound...sorry you're not liking being in the boonies though!
sending pixie dust that you and your DH get jobs soon!
sorry you weren't able to make it up to WDW last Thursday for our get together!
keep your spirits up, things will be good soon!

I was bummed, too. DH just wasn't thrilled about the drive, and didn't feel comfortable with me driving by myself on the scary two lane road that goes from here to WDW.

I'm trying to keep my spirits up. DH has an interview Tuesday and I have one on Thursday, plus I'm supposed to be going to a crop on Sunday.

Thanks for the note. Hopefully I can make another meetup once we move to Tampa and have a freeway between us and the World.