Moving to Tampa

[TPCShauna]

DH and I made the decision to move to the Tampa area to be closer to family. We will be leaving Sacramento, CA, on February 22. We made this decision mainly for financial reasons. I've been out of work due to health and lay-offs for two years. I was cleared to go back to work last year and still haven't been able to find a job. There just aren't that many out there right now. DH hates his job and doesn't see much future with this company, but can't leave because I'm not working.

His mom has offered to help us move out to Florida and get us set up there. She's giving us a large financial gift, and while I'm grateful, I have many apprehensions. I'm mainly concerned about us moving there with no jobs lined up and no source of income. Add to that the fact that we'll have no medical insurance when I still need regular appointments and you can understand why I'm so completely stressed about this.

I'm incredibly sad about the move. I'm leaving all of the friends that I've worked so hard for the past 12 years to make. I also finally got my health back enough that I've been able to get more involved with my Girl Scout troop again and now I have to leave them. The few good-byes I've already said have been really hard. DH is excited because he feels it's a clean new start and he'll be near his family and things cost less and, and, and.

Basically, I'm writing in the hopes that someone on here is from the Tampa area and can give me info about good areas to look for houses, some info on scrapbooking and card stores and just try to make me feel better in general about why a move to Tampa is a good thing. Of course, I'm excited that I'll be so close to WDW, but having issues finding other positives. I think that's mainly because I don't know anything about the area so I'm hoping someone can help with that.

TIA.

 

[Ericandjenng]

Not from Tampa but thought a & some ****Pixie dust**** might perk you up a bit. Good Luck with the move.

 

[MazdaUK]

Its hard and scary to make a long move, but at least you're moving in the right direction - closer to WDW (and of course family) Is there any short-term health insurance you could take out? (like for a holiday?) Obviously its not something I'm familiar with, but there must be options out there (although I'm guessing they're a bit expensive).

and on a positive side, maybe you and DH will find fantastic new jobs and a new Girl Scout troop just looking for a creative and dynamic leader

Good luck

 

[rlovew]

Hey Shauna- I am not from Tampa but I am in the Bradenton area- it is not to far from there! J&J lives in the Tampa area and may be able to suggest some places to look for housing- I do have an aunt and uncle in the area but they are from about 40 miles north of the Tampa area.

As far as scrapping- there is an awesome scrapbook store hunt and hop every Feb/March that includes a variety of stores in Tampa, an amazing one in Lakeland, and some down in my area(I have only been to the 1 in Lakeland so I can't speak to the others. There are a few other ladies that are on the boards occasionally that are from this area.

There is a scrapbook expo in Orlando every spring (this year in March/april time) that is very good as well and a number of stores with events happening in Orlando and the surrounding areas 9I get emails).

Rebecca

 

[JandJ]

I feel your pain. Growing up we moved every 3 years and it was hard on all of us. I live in St. Pete, just across the bridge from Tampa. Do you have to be in Tampa proper? I ask because there are a lot of cheaper housing alternatives in Lutz, New Port Richey, and other areas north of Tampa/St. Pete. You'll get a bigger house for the money. Housing in all of Florida has taken a real hit and you can get a place a lot cheaper than you could even 3 or 4 years ago.

I don't go to Tampa often so I don't know about scrapping stores there. There was a place in Tampa called Scraporium, but last time I drove by there (last summer) it looked closed. Like Rebecca said, there is a yearly scrap-hop-scavenger hunt all over the Tampa Bay area in the spring. I've never gone because I'm usually working but I used to have a CMC who organized a group and it sounded like a lot of fun (unfortunately, my CMC moved). Here in St. Pete the only LSS left is Whim-So-Doodle. It's a great store! They have a huge inventory (at least last time I went, which was several months ago) and hold crops. Sorry I can't be more helpful about LSS locations!

On the plus side, you will be about 1 hour from Disney - just head East on I-4! They often have specials on FL resident 4-day passes and of course you can get a FL resident Annual or Seasonal pass. DH and I get the Seasonal. You're blocked out a few days at Christmas/New Year's, Easter, middle of June-middle of August, and Thanksgiving weekend but honestly it's too hot and/or too crowded at those times anyway. Seaonal does not include parking, though. I think they have a monthly pay plan now, but I have no idea how that works. If you like the beach, you'll be about 30 minutes from some of the best beaches in the world. DH and I are not really "beach people" (we only go once or twice a year) but the beaches are gorgeous. There's also Ft. DeSoto park, which is fantastic. If you like to cruise, depending where you live, you'll be like 15 minutes from the Port of Tampa and 1.5 hours from Port Canaveral. You'll be super close to Busch Gardens and Islands of Adventure water park, and they have good FL resident deals, too. You'll be in a good place for shopping, too. Between Westshore and International malls you'll find every type of store you could want! Lots of wonderful restaurants! IMO, St. Pete and the beaches have better restaurants, and that's less than 30 minutes over the bridge, but there are a ton in Tampa, too.

Try to stay positive! I know that can be very difficult, but trust that everything happens for a reason and this will be a good move

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Shauna I'm glad your health is on the upswing.
I don't have much to offer except moral support. I don't know much about Tampa.
I do think your DH needs to be looking at Monster.com for jobs now. It will at least give him some ideas on what's out there.

Keep us posted on how the move goes. We are here for you!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I lived in Brandon for a year. It is just east of Tampa.

I only went into Tampa proper to go to Ybor City on Friday nights. I was a wild child back then. I knew every hot spot to be seen at once upon a time.

I have a brother in law just outside of Tampa and some cousins in the Lakeland area.

The area grew up quick while I was there. I am not sure what it is like now. Although I will be happy to ask questions of my relatives that you want answered.

The biggest draw back and the one that caused me to leave Florida, is the impact fee. You need to pay a fee for each car you register in FL. It was more than I could afford on a secretary's salary back then. I was borrowing $0.50 on pay day morning for a soda at lunch and paying it back when I cashed my check. I just couldn't save up what was a $500.00 fee on my Blazer back then.

I think you will like it. You just need to keep an open mind.

 

[mommy2mrb]

Shauna I happy to hear your health is so much better!! I know you had a rough couple of years!

We never lived in Tampa, but did visit it when we lived in West Palm Beach back in 94 -96 winters, its a beautiful area and we loved the beaches!

Just take it one day at a time, take the advice given here and things will work out for the best.

I know its hard to leave friends, they will always be there....we were lucky in moving back to WA, I still had friends here to help support us in our adjustment of moving and loss of Jim. Friends will come in FL too!

Its great your IL are willing to help you out, stay positive!

 

[JandJ]

The biggest draw back and the one that caused me to leave Florida, is the impact fee. You need to pay a fee for each car you register in FL. It was more than I could afford on a secretary's salary back then. I was borrowing $0.50 on pay day morning for a soda at lunch and paying it back when I cashed my check. I just couldn't save up what was a $500.00 fee on my Blazer back then.

I think you will like it. You just need to keep an open mind.

When I moved back to South FL after college I had to pay that impact fee and for a temp making $100/week that $500 was a lot! But, years ago that fee was found to be illegal (or unconstitutional or something like that) and I got most of my money back in a class-action suit. Correct me if I'm wrong anyone who has moved here recently but, they don't charge it anymore.

And, I agree, keep an open mind and it will work out!

 

[morgansmom2000]

My sister lives in Palm Harbor, not too far from Tampa. I can contact her and ask if she knows any Realtors, if you'd like?

 

[Mischief_Managed]

I've lived in Tampa since 2007. I just moved from New Tampa / Tampa Palms area (very nice area) to Land O Lakes - just 10 miles North - because the rent is soooo much cheaper. We have a bigger townhouse here than the tiny apartment we rented in Tampa Palms - but for $300 a month less, and now with a yard! The move hasn't really impacted our commute much. We're at USF. I would highly suggest looking to rent a house in Lutz or Land O Lakes or even Wesley Chapel area (Pasco County), if you don't need to be in Tampa (or downtown Tampa). Everything is much cheaper up here. Our car insurance even dropped $250 a year, just moving 10 miles north from Hillsborough county to Pasco county. We looked at listings on Craiglist - just watch for the scams, they are easy to spot. But they are there. There's also a lot of places that serve as rental realtors (or landlord does that).

I used to go to the best LSS in Tampa, The Scrapbook Shoppe, but it's now closed. One of the co-owners now works at Whim-so-doodle. That's a great store in downtown St. Pete. There's Scraporium in Lutz. Denise is the owner, and is very nice. She has a lot of stuff in a small store. But she has very good prices. There's Violette's in Lakeland. They specialize in stamping, but have lots of scrapbooking stuff. I found their prices to be a little higher than I can get elsewhere. There used to be a tiny little shop in Lutz, Scrap n' Sew, but I don't know if they are still open. There's a nice store in Sarasota called K2 Scrapbook Studio. They have a great selection of papers that no one else in the area carries. Prices are relatively reasonable. I know there's other stores further way like near Palm Harbor, but I don't get out there much.

As other's have mentioned we have the annual Tampa Scrapbook Treasure Hunt. Most of the LSS participate in it. It's Feb/March. I did it like 3 years ago. It was fun. I got to see the different stores and compare. Many of those stores that participated then are now longer around but they have new ones this year to join. Might do it again this year, depending on the list of stores - it's a lot of driving.

In the Tampa area, there's lots of Michaels and Joann's (even a couple of Joann's etc. - nicer selection there). New Port Richey just got a Hobby Lobby. I've been twice now, and was disappointed with their selection. Ocala and Orlando are supposed to have nicer ones. Orlando has some scrapbook stores (mainy of course Mouse Memories), but I don't go to Orlando for scrapbooking.

If you have any questions or need more information, ask away. I actually love Tampa. I'm from Miami and it's so different here. People are generally nice and helpful. Not so much in Miami. It doesn't feel like a big city, but it has enough to offer - musical theater, art museums (the Dali museum just reopened), Busch Gardens, a nice zoo & aquarium, decent malls (I miss the fab ones in Miami), a lot of weekend getaway spots, and the beaches, of course.

 

[Lisa]

It sounds like an exciting adventure. I am sure it nice to be close to family, and I am sure you will make friends there, and of course you have all your friends here.

 

[nhpgator]

I live in Tampa (born and raised here) everyone has touched on some of the cheaper areas to live

Just wanted to add you can work for Disney and live in Tampa - the call center is here and they are always hiring it seems - and anyone with Disney knowlege and passion usually has a good chance of getting hired - you can get benefits with them and such.

 

[mecllap]

Hey Shauna -- fun to see the WPASADI in your sig! (that's where my DIS sleuth tag came from, also the Hugh Jackman one!).

Moving across country without jobs and with health problems is mega-scary. But it will most likely work out to be great! You will keep most (maybe all) of your Sacto friends (certainly the most important ones) -- they will love to come visit you. And you'll make many new ones.

I haven't lived in Tampa (have visited), but have lived in Sacramento -- and would take the Tampa area way over Sac. You're used to the heat already! You'll be close to a beautiful beach and WDW, etc. to east. Of course, no nearby mountains for skiing, other snow sports, if you might miss that. But there are lots of great other places to visit in Fla. I don't know about the cost of living in FL (it used to be better), but it has to be better than California. (I'm pretty tied to where I live now, but if I were thinking about a place to move to, the Tampa/St. Pete area would be pretty high on my list).

Best of luck with your job and home hunt -- the transition time will have its difficulties, but hopefully in almost no time, you may be wondering why you didn't move sooner.

 

[TPCShauna]

Thank you all for the great info! I'm sorry I've not responded sooner. I've been caught in a whirlwind of purging, packing and prep - three Ps that aren't my favorite things. Of course, the purging has been fantastic, but I could live without the other two.

We officially leave here next Monday, Feb. 21. We'll be detouring through Anaheim on Feb. 22 for a quick one-day to Disneyland before heading off cross-country. We're currently planning to be in Weeki Wachee on Feb. 28 and moving into the family cabin there.

Thanks for the info on living areas, Mischief. It's been really helpful and we've been focusing a lot on Pasco County. We don't want to commit to a house though until we have jobs and get to know the area better. We'll be staying in the cabin in Weeki Wachee until then which is stressing me out also since it's so far away from Tampa.

I'm mostly keeping it together. My friends have been fantastic and have had a couple of going away things for me. My Girl Scouts are having a going away party for us next Monday night before we hit the road. They've been such a big part of my life for the last several years so I figure it's a fitting way to go.

Right now, my biggest stress is packing. DH's last day at work is Wednesday and I can only pack so much by myself. Our house is a DISASTER and less than 30% packed AND we are having a moving sale this Saturday and loading the moving truck on Sunday. I have no earthly idea how we are going to get it all done. Plus, I only have 7 units left in school to finish my degree so I have online schoolwork to be doing during all of this. Nothing like a little stress to make me stronger, right?

I'm pretty sure I won't be on much in the next couple of weeks between packing, then driving 3,000 miles. I'll be sure to log back in when I get there and get a little more set up. In the meantime, thanks again for the well wishes. I'll chat with y'all soon!

 

[mommy2mrb]

Have a safe journey....things will be good for you in FL, just take your time, good things will happen!!!

 

[LindaBabe]

Safe Journey, Shauna. May this be the start of a new, healthier and happier life for you.

 

[wdwmickey]

Have a safe trip