Moving to Florida

[gas station]

I live in Riverview, maybe I haven't encountered a gay area yet?

The bridge/freeway/crossway whatever you call it from Brandon to Tampa.


Yes, we did our research, although dear partner wanted to move here to be near parents. I knew of the heat and the humidity and rain prior to moving here, just because I was aware doesn't mean that I have to accept.

Maybe a bit farfetched on the entire state hating homosexuals, I guess I should say I don't feel comfortable being a homosexual in the state because I've heard some nasty things people have said about homosexuals that they have seen and I felt bothered.

The problems that i've had in grocery stores is purchasing ethnic foods such as some mexican, chinese, korean, japanese and indian food products, the stores in California had these items, here it has to be special ordered (spoke to the manager, I'm find with ordering items, just wasn't expecting it)

I wasn't saying that it was bright because it was no smog, it's bright because i'm not used to the sun, I am used to dark gloomy days. The sun it out every single day, not something I am used to. It's a good thing I have sun glasses isn't it.

i've found that South Tampa, Land O Lakes, and especially St Pete have large gay populations. Brandon too maybe. There are certainly areas that aren't very welcoming but you'll find that anywhere you go

for ethnic foods i've found i have had to go to small specialty supermarkets for a lot of stuff. However, Publix and Sweetbay have good specialty food aisles. I know of several asian supermarkets that i personally go to and i'm sure i've seen hispanic food stores too.

as far as the tolls, the Crosstown Express upper lanes just opened up a couple days ago and cut down travel time by a lot; you could take the local lanes or take alternate routes if you don't want to pay. i've lived here for almost a year and have taken a toll road exactly once.

 

[Amity 3]

I live in Riverview, maybe I haven't encountered a gay area yet?

The bridge/freeway/crossway whatever you call it from Brandon to Tampa.


Yes, we did our research, although dear partner wanted to move here to be near parents. I knew of the heat and the humidity and rain prior to moving here, just because I was aware doesn't mean that I have to accept.

Maybe a bit farfetched on the entire state hating homosexuals, I guess I should say I don't feel comfortable being a homosexual in the state because I've heard some nasty things people have said about homosexuals that they have seen and I felt bothered.

The problems that i've had in grocery stores is purchasing ethnic foods such as some mexican, chinese, korean, japanese and indian food products, the stores in California had these items, here it has to be special ordered (spoke to the manager, I'm find with ordering items, just wasn't expecting it)

I wasn't saying that it was bright because it was no smog, it's bright because i'm not used to the sun, I am used to dark gloomy days. The sun it out every single day, not something I am used to. It's a good thing I have sun glasses isn't it.

the crosstown expressway does have an extra toll on one side. that's to pay for the damage after it collapsed.

get a good pair of polarized sunglasses to help with the glare and the 360 days of sun, your eyes will appreciate it.

there are foreign food markets in Tampa/ St. Pete, but not a lot in the Brandon/ Riverview/Valrico area. this is strip mall suburbia.

 

[katerkat]

I'd live there in a heartbeat. I spent a summer there, working at WDW, so I know about the heat and humidity. I like being warm all the time. I like sunshine all the time. (Though the sun setting at 10 pm in the summer will be missed - just not the 4 pm setting in the winter!) Unfortunately, DH doesn't really want to go/have the option to any of the bases in Florida.

 

[Crankyshank]

I could off the top of my head list about a dozen great sushi places within 20miles of Tampa. It was the only place I could get decent seafood when I lived there.
The Korean markets are at: 1918 N. Himes Ave and 7030 W. Hillsborough Ave in Tampa. there are tons and tons of Latin American markets in the area because of the large Cuban population that also carry Mexican foods.

 

[Feralpeg]

No way could I live in that humidity & heat!

It isn't hot and humid all year, just a few of the summer months. They winter months are glorious.

Seriously, people who live in Florida use air conditioning! When we are hot, we go inside. I always get a kick of statements like this. Many people think of Florida as being hot and humid based on their theme park experiences. It is much hotter walking around the theme parks. You are walking on cement or asphalt which soaks up the heat. I never feel like it is as hot in my neighborhood.

 

[Virgo10]

Hey VIRGO...you mentioned shopping in Lakeland. Have you been to LAKESIDE VILLAGE yet? Finally, something on my side of town and I love it!

No, not yet. Is that the mall near Combee Rd? If so, that area is pretty close to us. I should take a ride over there some day.

 

[Virgo10]

It isn't hot and humid all year, just a few of the summer months. They winter months are glorious.

Seriously, people who live in Florida use air conditioning! When we are hot, we go inside. I always get a kick of statements like this. Many people think of Florida as being hot and humid based on their theme park experiences. It is much hotter walking around the theme parks. You are walking on cement or asphalt which soaks up the heat. I never feel like it is as hot in my neighborhood.

Ditto! Ditto!! Ditto!!!!

 

[icebrat001]

It isn't hot and humid all year, just a few of the summer months. They winter months are glorious.

Seriously, people who live in Florida use air conditioning! When we are hot, we go inside. I always get a kick of statements like this. Many people think of Florida as being hot and humid based on their theme park experiences. It is much hotter walking around the theme parks. You are walking on cement or asphalt which soaks up the heat. I never feel like it is as hot in my neighborhood.

We keep the air on day and night. Can you tell me about winter? When does it start?

 

[gas station]

We keep the air on day and night. Can you tell me about winter? When does it start?

winter starts dec 31 and ends jan 1

 

[Minnesota!]

It isn't hot and humid all year, just a few of the summer months. They winter months are glorious.

Seriously, people who live in Florida use air conditioning! When we are hot, we go inside. I always get a kick of statements like this. Many people think of Florida as being hot and humid based on their theme park experiences. It is much hotter walking around the theme parks. You are walking on cement or asphalt which soaks up the heat. I never feel like it is as hot in my neighborhood.

That's another thing - I don't want to have to run my a/c all the time. I want to be able to spend my summers in my backyard, playing with my son. I want to have my windows open so the fresh breezes come through. What good is summer if you are holed up inside?

 

[Eric95403]

The problems that i've had in grocery stores is purchasing ethnic foods such as some mexican, chinese, korean, japanese and indian food products, the stores in California had these items, here it has to be special ordered (spoke to the manager, I'm find with ordering items, just wasn't expecting it)/QUOTE]

I hear ya...we just got back from 2 week vacation @ WDW. We had a timeshare, so we went to the grocery store (large chain) to do some shopping. We love Mexican food, so we went looking for some tortilla's and other items. I'm used to having a whole aisle dedicated to just Mexican foods and a whole end aisle just dedicated to different tortilla's. We couldn't find anything. We asked the store manager, for a second he didn't know what we were talking about...tortillas??? Then he walked us to a small tiny little section in the middle of an aisle. One brand of tortilla's and a few mexican related items. We were dumbfounded....

While Florida is a nice place to visit...it's not home. Give me good old California any time...any day. No humidity, no afternoon rain, no freaky bugs, or reptiles. I'll take my Wine Country weather (except this past week...where's my fog!?!) any time. Icebrat...how could you have left SF?? The most beautiful city in the world!!! Oh yeah...we have hills and mountains too. I need different scenery to look at besides just trees and swamps.

 

[Feralpeg]

We keep the air on day and night. Can you tell me about winter? When does it start?

By the end of October, it begins to be pretty cool at night. In December and January, it can reach freezing at night, but will warm up to 50s to low 70s during the day. It begins to get pretty warm again by the end of April.

 

[pixiepower1971]

That's another thing - I don't want to have to run my a/c all the time. I want to be able to spend my summers in my backyard, playing with my son. I want to have my windows open so the fresh breezes come through. What good is summer if you are holed up inside?

You have to think of FL very differently then other places. Yes, in the summer you run your a/c but in the spring and fall and a lot of the winter you have the windows WIDE open. The back of my house is all HUGE sliding doors that stack up on each other. I open all of them as much as possible. My kids play outside all the time...they swim in the afternoon when it is hot. They use the lanai to entertain friends more then any other room of the house...no a/c there! Just some great winds blowing making the palm trees rustle!

The flip side of it is to ask...how often do you need your heater in FL? The answer is not very much in SW FL. I only ever use it to take the chill off the house in the morning. The ceramic tile can be chilly. The kids are only allowed to wear pants to school on a few days of the year(private school with uniforms) it has to be under a certain temperature in the am in order to wear them. It happens only a few days of the year and 99% of the parents don't even bother to buy their kids the pants!

 

[ICEMANPAD]

My DH and I each moved to Florida separately around 1982. He is from Baltimore and I am from Chicago. Additionally, my father is retired from the Air Force so I have had the opportunity to visit many, many places. We could not imagine living anywhere else but Florida.

It is very hot, sticky and humid in Chicago and Baltimore in the summer.

It is very cold in Chicago and Baltimore in the winter.

We love being able to "play" outside all year long. We love the beach, the palm trees, going on Disney Cruises and visiting the many theme parks whenever we want!!

 

[Feralpeg]

That's another thing - I don't want to have to run my a/c all the time. I want to be able to spend my summers in my backyard, playing with my son. I want to have my windows open so the fresh breezes come through. What good is summer if you are holed up inside?

We don't run the air conditioning all year. From about the end of October to early April, we run the heat at night. I often have the windows open during the day during the winter months.

It just happens at a different time of year. I play outside during the winter. You do it during the summer. Not that I don't go out in the summer. I don't think it is that hot most of the time during the summer. For instance, it is 93 degrees here now. I'm getting ready to go for a walk. I don't mind it at all. When I'm done, I'll come back in the house and the air conditioning.

In the winter, I'll walk every day and enjoy the 60 degree weather. My brother used to live in Minnesota. I can remember him walking the dog when it was below zero and having to clean the ice off his mustache when he came in. No thanks!

 

[SamRoc]

I would live in Florida right now if I could, but my dd has one more year of school! We love it so much, we built a rental home in Emerald Island Kissimmee and if all works out well, we can move into it. After having 2 herniated discs a few years back, I really cant stand the cold winters in New York anymore. My back feels great in the heat, so Florida will be a great place for me to live. I have alot of friends and family who already live there,(Coconut Creek, Boca Raton, Mount Dora, Ft. Myers) so the transition will be easy.

 

[wdwobsessed]

I put "not sure" ... 'cause I'm not sure. Of course I have a hard time making uip my mind about anything!

It would be nice to be close to the mouse ... but that may take away from it being so special?

Hmmmm ... it would also take a lot to get me to leave my business I have worked so hard to build up.

Maybe if I could get a job as choreographer at WDW ... I'm conviced I would be great at it!

Not sure!

LOL

WDWO

 

[Poohs Pal]

I live in Riverview, maybe I haven't encountered a gay area yet?

The bridge/freeway/crossway whatever you call it from Brandon to Tampa.


Yes, we did our research, although dear partner wanted to move here to be near parents. I knew of the heat and the humidity and rain prior to moving here, just because I was aware doesn't mean that I have to accept.

Maybe a bit farfetched on the entire state hating homosexuals, I guess I should say I don't feel comfortable being a homosexual in the state because I've heard some nasty things people have said about homosexuals that they have seen and I felt bothered.

The problems that i've had in grocery stores is purchasing ethnic foods such as some mexican, chinese, korean, japanese and indian food products, the stores in California had these items, here it has to be special ordered (spoke to the manager, I'm find with ordering items, just wasn't expecting it)

I wasn't saying that it was bright because it was no smog, it's bright because i'm not used to the sun, I am used to dark gloomy days. The sun it out every single day, not something I am used to. It's a good thing I have sun glasses isn't it.

For specialty foods have you tried The Whole Foods Market in Sarasota? We have these stores in Michigan and they are really great. DD and I are movimg to Florida hopefully next year and I did a search and they have several of these stores throughout Florida. They have fresh fish, large supply of wine and imported beer along with amazing pastries and organic fruits and veggies. Give this store a try. Susan

 

[Amity 3]

I need different scenery to look at besides just trees and swamps.

here ya go:

[/IMG]

 

[lucas]