FL Residents: How do you like living in FL?

[grinningghost]

Not a Florida resident, but hope to be someday. Just checking out the posts.

I can honestly say I HATE the change of seasons here. Hate it. Hate snow, hate ice, hate cold, hate sleet, hate trees with no leaves, no flowers - yuck. Though I can see how some people like it.

My grandparents moved to Florida in 1975 and never looked back. They loved everything about it and I think I will too.

 

[Talking Hands]

I've lived in Florida for almost 40 years and would not move out of the state is you paid me. I love it although I do want to move out of Dade County to Central Florida. Can't take the cold weather.

 

[LoveMyDVC]

I'm with you grinningghost. I live in MD and hate winter. Really stinks being trapped indoors for about 5 months because it's so darn cold to do anything outside. Bring on the year-round warm weather. Rather be blazing hot during the day, but still be able to go outside, than to be 20 degrees all day.

 

[dvcgirl]

Just moved down here from NJ and so far we're loving it. Houses have gone up here dramatically even in the 9 months that we've been looking, but are still *far* cheaper than anything you can get in our old neck of the woods...

For us, the cost of living is far less, but that's not the case for folks all over the country. The home we just bought in Orlando would have easily been double back where we came from. The property taxes in Orlando are 65% less than in Jersey. Utilities are less. Car insurance is less.

I'm not concerned about the water issues. Currently, water is pumped from groundwater for drinking water. There are all kinds of plans to treat water from streams, lakes and reservoirs for drinking water in the future. I've also read about plans to treat sea water for drinking as well as drilling extra deep wells to hold water for times of shortage. All of our water in NJ is from reservoirs as far as I know. Every year we had a dry winter we couldn't water our lawns all summer, and so it's not like we haven't had this issue in other parts of the country. Orlando is just going through some growing pains right now. But I'm pretty sure that there will still be some water to drink ten years from now...it'll probably be a little more expensive, but it will be there...

For us, it was really just being done with the weather in the NE. We like the heat and are loving the area so far...

 

[AdventurerKat]

Originally posted by grinningghost


I can honestly say I HATE the change of seasons here. Hate it. Hate snow, hate ice, hate cold, hate sleet, hate trees with no leaves, no flowers - yuck.

ITA!

Visiting Sarasota in a week and a half and praying my DH falls in love with it so I, too, can escape that thing known as "winter"

 

[chyam]

I moved here 22 years ago from Chicago and also lived in Door County Wi. The first 10+ years were great, I was one of those who could not wait to escape the snow and cold! Now I see no difference in being cooped up for 5 months of winter or the 5 months of summer down here, each is miserable! The summers start here in May and many times it is not pleasant again until Oct. Although I don't think I would move, I really miss the change of seasons. The only other plus is that at least things are green here instead of gray all winter, the other plus would be being so close to Disney!
There is no state tax here and the property taxes are cheap compared to northern areas, but the pay scale is usually a lot lower also. Most of the really beautiful homes are owned by people who sold homes up north and invested the money in homes down here, home prices to those people that are very cheap compared to northern prices.
I think we all think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence but believe me FL has alot of problems too, schools generally are not as good, the roadways are usually in poor shape, we have water problems with more and more people moving this way it will continue to get worse, even with the water alternatives that are talked of.
As for me I still dream to retire and have a place in the mtns to spend my summers and escape the heat and humidity of FL, until then I head out west every winter for a couple of weeks to see the snow!
To reply to one poster who said they hated raking leaves, let me tell you I rake more leaves down here than I ever did in Wis and they fall all year long! Unless you only have palm trees!

 

[Tiziminchac]

I was born and raised here. But if given the chance, I'd move away. Only my family keeps me here. I feel I need a change. I felt that way when I was twenty and I spent one year in Golden Colorado. After the first winter I had to come back to Florida. Snow is nice to look at... THROUGH THE WINDOW! The summers here are hot as heck. And in Orlando they always seem just a bit hotter than here on the coast, where I live. Thankfully we have those nice ocean breezes to give us a little something. Orlando is just hot! Plus hurricane season goes into November so don't think our rainy season ends in September. Florida is getting soooo crowded. From Miami up to Jupiter, it's one big city. And it's working it's way up the coast. We used to joke about how one day the whole coast would be a city from Jacksonville down. Now I think I may be around to see it. And on top of all the people moving here we get the snowbirds every winter. And the illegal immigration problem is getting out of hand. Every week I'm competing with Mexicans, Guatemalans and Brazilians for work. It's not easy for a journeyman to out work a crew of five or six guys, all who don't pay taxes, insurance, etc., and can work for less because of that. Ok, so I know that not all foreigners are illegal. But trust me, in Florida, there are literally tens of thousands upon tens of thousands of them. But I'm getting off onto a whole different subject. It seems like your future DH has a good job and you are in a field which thrives in Orlando. So you all should do just fine. Housing prices are steady going up though. I live about a hundred miles SE of Orlando. The same house that went last year for $110,000 is going for $220,000 this year. I couldn't tell you anything about the schools, I have no kids. But like other posters have said, do your research when the time comes. Well, I'm doubtful my post will help your decision. And I'm sorry I was a little long-winded. I just woke up and it was a rough night last night. I just hope I didn't come off as a bigot. I'm just a person who believes things should be done legally. Florida has so much to offer that I understand why people want to move here. So pack up your Deep Woods Off (with deet), your sunscreen, umbrella, English to Spanish dictionary, sandals and Jimmy Buffet cds and join the party!

 

[chyam]

Have to hand it to you........you said everything I was thinking and alot more. Don't you just love it that we now live in the US and almost have to know a second language just to get by. By Golly if you want to be in this country then learn the language! If it were the other way around and I went to your country and expected to work and live I would have to learn yours! FL does have alot to offer but it also has many problems.

 

[Poohbear123]

Tiziminchac said, took the words right out of my mouth. However, I try and NOT talk about the Immigration Problem here in Miami on these boards. Don't want to talk about how I lost a position at Publix because I don't speak Spanish and all the vendors that come thru the back door do! Don't get me started...........

 

[Tiziminchac]

Originally posted by chyam
Don't you just love it that we now live in the US and almost have to know a second language just to get by. By Golly if you want to be in this country then learn the language! If it were the other way around and I went to your country and expected to work and live I would have to learn yours!

It feels that way, doesn't it. I would learn the language of the land if I moved abroad. And I'm sorry about your job Poohbear123, Publix has always been my favorite grocery store. Goodluck with your move, and don't forget that flag when you go!

 

[Talking Hands]

Poohbear123 can leave the flag! I'll be here at least for a few more years yet. I am multilingual but it really gets me when I walk into Burger King by my house and none of the cashiers English. I learned many of my languages because my father was stationed there and we went with him. I was expected to learn the language of the country we were currently living in. No choice. If you come here learn to speak English before you get a job dealing with the public.

Poohbear123 sorry about your job. That sucks! Vendors should be speaking English.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

I don't like living in Florida, because I've been here all of my life. I want to move to California or Nevada someday.

 

[gshoemate]

We have been here for almost 2 years and love it. I do understand those that have lived here all of their life and hate the heat, I feel the same about snow. I am from Michigan, born and raised and HATE colde weather. During the winter months we stayed inside and did nothing. Down here, I can handle the heat. We go out in the late afternoon to Disney, during the day we enjoy the pool. I would rather do his then have to shovel the sidewallk and driveway, clear off the car and let it warm up for 15 minutes before I could make the 10 minute drive to work.

DH also works downtown and it's not hard to drive down there at all. If your talking newspapers, is it the Orlando Sentinal, I believe their building in easy to get to, pass it just about every day. I4, now that is a nightmare. The speed limit is 50-55 in the downtown area but if you drove that slow, you would probably get rammed by a semi. Most drive it 70 or faster...and that is the flow of traffic.

Living close to Disney....love it. We go almost every weekend. Not to mention the Disney cruise with Florida resident rates. It is hard to adjusting to the attitudes of people at Disney but I try to remember back to when we came here on vacation. In the heat, tired at the end of the day, not to mention having tired and hot children, that would make almost anyone hard to be around. I try to just keep to myself and have a good time.

School, we live in Seminole county and our schools up here are pretty good. The one DD goes to is an A school. When we decide to buy a house, I would like it to be more in the Disney area so I would have to do my research then.

Well, I think I covered most of it. Feel free to PM with any questions.

 

[Feralpeg]

Here is an example of why I love living in Florida. This morning it rained, so we just went to the mall for awhile. By late afternoon, the sky was beginning to clear so we decided we'd run over to Epcot for dinner. There was a nice breeze as we slowly walked around World Showcase. Very pleasant! We had dinner in Japan. We talked to some very nice people from Georgia and came home. What a great day!

 

[gshoemate]

Originally posted by Feralpeg
Here is an example of why I love living in Florida. This morning it rained, so we just went to the mall for awhile. By late afternoon, the sky was beginning to clear so we decided we'd run over to Epcot for dinner. There was a nice breeze as we slowly walked around World Showcase. Very pleasant! We had dinner in Japan. We talked to some very nice people from Georgia and came home. What a great day!

Sounds like a great day to me. We braved the rain and went to AK for a while. Got sprinkled on but we were able to get a few things in, had lunch and was home by 7:30

 

[ilovepcot]

I have to try and "watch myself" when posting about Florida. I tend to blast folks with what I see as the horrors. Some folks say, "Florida is the closest you'll ever come to Hell without having to die!" I totally agree.

DH is a native Floridian and brought me here from the mountains of NC 24 years ago. Can't say I've been unhappy the entire time......first year was very exciting because it was so different and new. The other 23 years.......just awful!!! DH has a wonderful job that would be nearly a sin to leave. We've attempted relocating back to NC but he can't secure a position there that will allow us to live as we currently do.

Things that most bother me about Florida are......

TOURISTS! Far too many of them! They add to our already conjested roadways, crowded restaurants and shopping complexes. They create a need for more natural resources which we're fast running out of. They also cause more wear and tear on roadways. Friends of mine with real estate and retail businesses have openly admitted they raise their prices higher due to tourists, realizing it hurts the locals who usually earn less money. Sweet! (I realize that Florida relies heavily on its tourists, it's just TOO MANY at any given time!)

RETIREES! Far too many of them, too. They also add to the above burdened situations I pointed out. They're free to shop anywhere they wish and at any time...... it's America after all! But WHY do so many choose to shop on week-ends when it's the ONLY time many workers can shop? They crowd the roads and stores and fill all the parking spaces. Then they bring the grocery line to a halt telling the checkout person about their cat, bunions etc. Just too many of them in a concentrated area and more coming every day!

HEAT & HUMIDITY! It saps my energy and makes me feel old. There's nothing worse than taking special care to look your very best for an important job interview and finding you must walk 6 blocks in 96 degree heat to the interview. Why? TOURISTS have taken ALL the parking spaces !!!

SNAKES & INSECTS! They frighten me.....what can I say? You haven't experienced the "real" Florida until you find a snake on your deck Christmas day!

NO CHANGE OF SEASONS! Nothing sadder than singing Christmas carols and hearing mosquitoes buzzing in the background. We turn our air down real low and hope we can tolerate sipping hot chocolate while we trim our tree.

One central FL county has the distinction of being #1 in the nation for the manufacture of methamphetamines and #1 for spread of hepatitis in its restaurants. Media places blame for this on influx of illegal aliens.


I'm going to stop now. Am beginning to grit my teeth! I'd just like to say one last thing. Those of you planning a move here......please reconsider. America has MANY warm and beautiful places to live, most with lovely people and lots of space. And as far as believing you'll be near WDW and can go often......that may not be necessarily true. Wages here are far too low!

 

[ilovepcot]

Almost forgot......the central Florida county mentioned above has one more distinction. #1 in the nation for CHILD ABUSE! (At least it was a year ago.) Reason I mention these tidbits is that this particular county is often suggested as a GREAT PLACE for Disers to relocate to and be close to WDW!

 

[Virgo10]

Interesting thread. For years DH and I have been thinking about moving to FL but now we're starting the planning stage.

I've been putting together a Plus and Minus list. Among the pluses would be the weather. Both of us have arthritis. The cold, damp winters are brutal.

Housing: We could get a house for 1/2 of what it costs here and pay for it out right... no mortgage.

I've been out of work for years because of back problems that are exacerbated by the cold weather. In the summer up here I can do almost anything. Give me a place that is mostly summerlike all year and I'm hoping I can go back to work!

My son and his g/f lived just outside of Orlando for nearly 3 years and really know the area and the neighborhoods. They'll most likely be moving back too which will be a big help finding the right place to live.

One other thing on my plus list: WDW! I drool when I read about how some of you folks drop over for dinner on a moments notice.

On the minus end, well my number one is that I've lived in Massachusetts all my life. If it could be like it is now all year, I'd never leave. I love my house and my yard but to be honest with you, most of the time I'm bored out of my skull!

I've got a 50+ year old body with a 20 something person locked in it. My friends don't get it. They want to golf (umm, no thanks) and they want to go out for drinks and dinner (OK, once a month I'm OK with that). I want to ride the ToT! They smile at me and shake their heads. Doing things alone up here does not work. I've tried it. Going to WDW alone does work and I've done it numerous times.

Another minus is the move itself. My DH isn't well. He has Parkinson Disease and it's advancing at a terrible rate. I know that most of the move will be up to me. I've got to pray that I don't have a major back event that causes me to be off my feet for an extended period of time.

For years I've felt like I wasn't really living up here... just existing. I'm ready to trade our 6 months of cold for 4 months of brutal heat. At least you don't have to shovel heat. I'm also ready to have an adventure.

Good luck to all who are planning this move. And keep the pros and cons coming!

Roberta

 

[Otimon]

Love it!

 

[dvcgirl]

Interesting thread. I guess to some degree it's a 'grass is always greener thing'. There absolutely is *no* perfect place for any of us to live.

We lived in California for a few years. Great weather. In fact they have the best weather, no doubt. Well, unless you experience an El Nino winter...they pretty much suck. But other than that. Great weather. You don't get a change of seasons there though, so if you like that...California is out. And you want to talk about crowded? You haven't experienced crowded until you've lived in California. You want to talk about expensive? See what a decent home goes for in the Bay Area. You'll need to bring your trust fund check book with you ;o).

After living in the Northeast for almost my entire life, this "change of seasons" thing is over-rated ;o). Sure, the leaves are pretty in the fall...for about a week. Sure that first "chill" in the air in October is fun, as is the first fire you build in the fireplace. When you're still building those fires in April, trust me, the fun has worn off. We love the heat and decided that we'd live in the warm climate area and "visit" the change of seasons. Beats being cooped up for five months in the bitter cold.

We just arrived down here, and so far we love it. Whether or not we'll still love it five years from now....well, who knows? But we have a really positive attitude about life and so I think we'll be fine here.