NY vs FL

[Dismom914]

Hey guys, I am from NY and for the past few months I have really been wanting to move to FL, but my husband wants to stay here. We have been going back and forth for a while about why is one better then the other. So with him making fun of me he told me to ask everyone on disboards what they think, n I told him great idea. So I would love to hear from people who have actually made the move, everyone opinions are welcomed. What are your thoughts? We both have jobs that we can transfer down with.

 

[wishesuponastar]

Why does your DH want to stay put?

 

[Dismom914]

Well our closest family is here but I do have alot of family in FL. I know my family, once I move some of them will too. With him, he rarely visits his family so have no clue why he wants to stay.

 

[java]

How old are you guys? Do you have kids or are you going to have any?

For us the deal breaker was the school systems. Where we were looking, they were not great, and private was $$$$.

I have one friend that moved from NY to FL and has since moved back. It was too big a change for her.
But my Mom loves it. I think that is because of the huge retirement crowd down there. Most are from NY.

Are you from NY?

On a day like today FL sounds very nice.

I see both sides. Both of you make individual pro con lists. And then compare. What was my deal breaker may not matter to you. And your DH wants to stay because hey it's NY.

 

[Dismom914]

We are 24 with 2 small boys. I want to move because I want my boys to have a better future and I can not see that happening in the bronx. I am not really feeling this snow nither. My husband tells me all the time hes a New Yorker. My second option is PA but I only have a uncle that lives there.

 

[FLLDYTRKR]

Hello. You just replied to one of my questions--You are from the Bronx...So are you thinking of moving to a major city or looking for rural lifestyle or small town life??? Looking for waterfront living-inland??East coast west coast-Northern or south Fl??? Florida has a lot to offer besides Disney World/Sea World/Busch Gardens/Universal...

Can be a real culture shock for many...Do you like the heat??? Can you handle rain every afternoon in the summer and the humidity? Like bugs and critters??

Not sure what kind of work you both do..but check on pay scales here--One good thing is no state income tax.. Watch where you are looking for housing-land taxes can be rather high in some areas--also be aware of all sorts of odd taxes and fees. Once you pick an area check it out.

As far as the schools--Like every other place in the country we have some great ones and some not so great ones.. You have to judge for yourself. We have some great higher education here for when your kids get older.

If you like the change of seasons minus the snow stay north of I-4. They get cold weather there lasting around 6 wks. You'll need a warm coat and hat--but you'll never shovel anything.

Sure FL has it's issues--not sure you could move any place without issues..Only you and hubby know will will make you happy and what you feel is right for your family.

BTW I am a native, whose father was from Upstate NY, moved north as a kid and came back home as soon as I could. I am not leaving anytime soon. Believe me I love visiting family up north--my parents are in the foothills of the Adirondacks-- beautiful rolling farm land-- but between the taxes and the snow no thanks.

 

[John VN]

It's a cold 54F outside right now. Moved to Fl. in '86 with our 2 young children and never looked back or desired to move back north.

 

[NYtoCelebration]

Native New Yorker here (lived on LI). Love living in Florida. I miss friends and family back home, but love the lifestyle here. My best advice is this: make sure you have jobs lined up. It's hard enough making a big move. Add the stress of job hunting, and it's a recipe for disaster. We moved because I was transferred. My income remained the same, so our quality of living really improved. We thought my husband would fall right into a job in his profession. That didn't happen. Had I also not had a job, this could have been catastrophic. Also, really pay attention to the area and surrounding areas you move to. The schools down here are, for the most part, not NY caliber.

And, always remember, NY is only 2 1/2 hours away. We love going back home and visiting as "tourists". Good luck!

 

[kacaju]

there are alligators in FL... I would never move there!!

 

[Minnesota!]

It's a cold 54F outside right now. Moved to Fl. in '86 with our 2 young children and never looked back or desired to move back north.

THis made me laugh out loud - you are just about 70' warmer than me, right now. 54 would be very VERY welcome.

OP - we are looking at the same thing - MN to FL. We are looking around Tallahassee b/c my job would transfer us there. But I am done with -40 windchills, feet of snow, shoveling said snow, and horrid traffic due to said snow.

Good luck!

 

[Dismom914]

I am looking into the Kissimmee area, thats where my family is. All this snow makes me want to leave even more.

 

[Jaya]

When we moved here in the 1970's from the frozen north, all my friends wailed, "HOW CAN YOU STAND ALL THAT HEAT AND HUMIDITY?"

My answer has always been: "I have never had to shovel two feet of heat and humidity out of my driveway so I could get to work. I have never had to scrape an inch of heat and humidity off my windshield so I could SEE to get to work. I've never had to heat my car key with a lighter because my doorlock is full of heat and humidity. I have never slipped on a layer of heat and humidity on the sidewalk and broken my tailbone. My roof has never fallen in from a heavy layer of heat and humidity."

Today it's a chilly (for us) 50 degrees. Guess what? I have shorts on.

 

[Handbag Lady]

My husband wants to move to Florida but I really don't like it there at all. I hate humidity but I do like the heat. I'd rather live in Palm Springs.

Outside of the amusement parks, there isn't much to do, having spent days and days on end in Florida over the years. I want to see a mountain, and the miles and miles of straight highways with ugly trees on each end just bore me to tears. I'm assuming it would be different living in an actual city there and not a town, but a town is where my husband would want to live, to be closer to his parents.

Have you spent time in Florida enough? We do have friends there that LOVE LOVE LOVE it and are so happy there. I'm afraid I would sympathize with your husband on this one.

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

there are alligators in FL... I would never move there!!

That's dumb. I've lived in Florida since 2007 and have only seen gators a couple of times. Even then it was at a distance and they didn't seem to even notice me. They aren't aggressive!

 

[Poohforyou]

I personally would never move to Florida. My mom lives there but even that holds no appeal. Finding a school district as good as ours would be very difficult. There is also the bugs, sulfer smelling water and lack of seasons that turn me off. Just remember that moving somewhere is completely different from visiting on vacation.

 

[mom2rtk]

That's dumb. I've lived in Florida since 2007 and have only seen gators a couple of times. Even then it was at a distance and they didn't seem to even notice me. They aren't aggressive!

You could have left off that first sentence and gotten the same point across.

 

[Dismom914]

I have spend a good amount of time in fl as a child with my father. My family tries to go ever two yrs. With all those yrs I spent there I have never seen a alligator.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Um, ya. wow. A very good reason NOT to move to Florida is because of the alligators. Like they freely roam around all the neighborhoods searching for people to eat.

there are alligators in FL... I would never move there!!

OP, I wouldnt hesitate to move to florida and leave all that snow behind. I wouldnt hesitate one bit! The bonus is that you have family in florida.

 

[John VN]

there are alligators in FL... I would never move there!!

There's a gator hanging out on a yard around the corner from us. Does a bit of sunbathing.

THis made me laugh out loud - you are just about 70' warmer than me, right now. 54 would be very VERY welcome.

OP - we are looking at the same thing - MN to FL. We are looking around Tallahassee b/c my job would transfer us there. But I am done with -40 windchills, feet of snow, shoveling said snow, and horrid traffic due to said snow.

Good luck!

BTW, after I posted, I bicycled to the County Pool and did a 1200 yard swim then bicycled back home. Tomorrow I'll be doing a 65+ mile bicycle ride but will have to wear some gloves since the morning temperatures will be a little nippy in the upper 40's. Sunday should be close to 80F.

 

[kacaju]

That's dumb. I've lived in Florida since 2007 and have only seen gators a couple of times. Even then it was at a distance and they didn't seem to even notice me. They aren't aggressive!

Sorry didn't mean to offend you.