help-homeschooler relocating to Disney/Orlando area

[PigletsPal2]

Late post, but Lakeland is pretty far from Orlando; granddaughter goes to college there and it takes her an hour to drive home, and we live about 20 miles SW of Orlando. Clermont is nice, but Lake Co. taxes are high. Maybe look into Davenport, Polk Co. Also,remember to factor in HOA fees; most of the nicer neighborhoods have them.

Queen Colleen

 

[lori1043]

wow! This year has been a whirlwind.
First- thanks for all of your help!!!

This is where we landed, etc:

Feburary 2010-Our first month was in a corporate housing place down the street from Sea World. It was ok. It was a dreary cold month. It wasn't horrible to be there a month, but I won't recommend it unless it's for a vacation. With exception of my 40th, the SAINTS winning the SUPERBOWL, and being 1 exit down from DD- it was a rough month. A wonderful homeschool group of moms has taken good care of us by a warm welcome. 1 I met on the Dis! Bought a house, but awaiting closing.

March- moved into our new home in Clermont. We are about 10 minutes south of 50 and 10-15 minutes west of 27. We are exactly 22 miles from Disney's main entrance off of 192- but the back way to DD and MK is shorter. It takes about 25-30 minutes to get to Disney. Our home was on our lower end(of our price range) and was a foreclosure(REO- means already totally bank owned, no previous owners to deal with). It has needed work, but nothing structural- no holes in walls and such. All cosmetic, but it was basically move in ready! We have a pool and about 800 more SF than our previous beloved home.

July- joined an umbrella school. I just don't wanna deal with teacher evals and such. It requires our normal 180 days we were used to and 2x a year I have to post my kids "grades".

Homeschooling is going well-there are way too many options here. Like in a bad way. You need more than 1 group to get done what we used to do at home with 1 group- where it made more sense and was easy(yes, I am biased)- but being in more than 1 group can be VERY overwhelming.

So we are doing well, missing home terribly, but after doing Give a Day, Get a Day shortly after moving here, we were able to get FL resident weekday passes and after 2pm FL resident waterpark passes for basically the price of 1 annual pass(eeek!)- so we have gone a good bit. It's been a blast!

Oh and the BEST thing is- we volunteer , as a family, at Give Kids the World, once a month at the Ice Cream Palace! it's the most fun!

We miss our family and friends in SE Louisiana, but God has blessed us abundantly!

Lori

 

[laurie31]

Nice update! It looks like you are settling in well.

 

[rlovew]

We drive through Lakeland on our way to Disney- Depending on how far you are off the main roads it takes us about 40 minutes from the South edge of Lakeland(off 37) to get onto Disney property.

You will find many Methodist churches in the Lakeland area as it is where the FL Conference of the Methodist Church (Bishop's office) is loctaed as well as Fl Southern University (a Methodist college).

 

[lori1043]

About FL Southern University- I didn't know that!

I was just actually updating this from way back when. I tend to get my info and run, but wanted to let some know we are slowly getting settled in Clermont. If anyone has questions just ask away. We have learned a lot, and still have a long way to go.

We could go wherever we wanted-as long as thier was a branch for the bank he works for around nearby. It was a little too wide of an option, but we never left Clermont. The hills and different looking terrain kept us there.

So far, so good!

Church has been a whole 'nother story. We are on #4 or 5 and have been at this particular one for about 7 weeks now. It's been a suprise to us to go here cuz it's not Methodist. But they are doing things our church at HOME has been doing, so it felt right to stick around a bit and see what direction it takes.

But, as I have quoted many times in the past 6 months, "There's no place like home"- New Orleans will always be HOME. This is our home away from home.

Thankfully, Mickey makes it feel a little bit better

Lori