Possibly Moving to Florida!!!

[prairiegekko]

Hello everyone,

Where do I start!! My mission growing up was to visit disney world again after my family trip at the age of 9. I never had the chance to do that until at the age of 22, a friend and I booked non refundable flight tickets (I always say by accident! ) and had to spend the rest of the school year working our behinds off to pay for it. My mom, told me the magic may not be the same because I was older. However the opposite was true and I find myself desperately trying to get back to the world every opportunity I can get...that being said, I am about to graduate as a nurse and Florida is recruiting....I am definantly considering this option...I am very curious to find out all about florida. Good places/hospitals to work at..places close to disney and anything else that might be good to know. This is a huge decision...but I am very excited that I may get to have disney close by. thanks in advance to all that respond!

 

[mtblujeans]

I knew a couple of nurses who moved from Montana to Orlando a few years back. They were there for only one summer as they could not stand the heat compared to a Montana summer. The drastic change in weather might or might not be a consideration for you...

I am still trying to talk DH into wintering in the Orlando area and coming back to Montana for the summers....

 

[chyam]

On the other hand you could spend 9 months down here and go north during the heat and humidity of the summers. Nurses are needed everywhere but I guess more so during the winters because of the number of seniors that do "winter" down here. Or at least you could try that option if you felt that the summers were oppressive to you. I know to me it is really not any worse than being cooped up all winter in the great white north. I just hibernate during the summers instead of the winters
Good luck with your decision, you will have many options in your field to do anything you really want!

 

[prairiegekko]

Thanks for the responses. I certainly like the idea of hibernation in the summer Also this could be the time I take my vacation up north instead of down south I am looking into a couple of hospitals now, but am curious about the differences of private/public hospitals, non for profit and profit hospitals...as I am from a system of all public. I really have so many questions and thought this might be a good place to start!!

 

[safetymom]

I don't find the weather here in the summer any worse than when I lived in PA. We had many hot and humid days in Pittsburgh.

This time of year is just wonderful. Makes those hot and humid days a distant memory.

 

[Skylarr29]

double post

 

[Skylarr29]

Well I know this wont be much help but I have lived here all my life and.............. I CAN'T WAIT to get outta here.... This weather is sooooo hot... I am longing for a white christmas. IN winter here in south fla if your lucky it may be 70 The only good thing is being close to the parks.... oh and did I mention the HURRICANES. Sorry to be a pessimist but I am ready to get outta here. If you do decide to move here I suggest going as far north as you can so at least the weather is cooler and more bearable.... at least then there are somewhat "seasons"

 

[prairiegekko]

Skylar29,

Thanks for the insight. I am looking for the good, the bad and the ugly. I have had enough of winter, but I am sure I will miss it too! One of those take for granted things! I am ready for a change and being so young and at the start of my career, I figure it is a good time to try out something different. The heads up are great, at least I will have some idea of what I am getting into!

 

[ChristmasElf]

There are PROS and CONS about living anywhere. Here, it does get hot! but, you don't have the hassle of shoveling any snow or having to go outside in zero degree weather 15 minutes before you have to leave in the morning, just to warm up the car and scrape your windsheild!

Our homeowner insurance is very high here due to the hurricanes. There are many insurance companies that will no longer even write up policies in Florida anymore and you then will have to get Citizen's Insurance which is sponsored by the state of FL.

The cost of living also varies depending on where you are in the state. Southeast Florida housing is pretty expensive and Orlando is starting to catch up to it as well. The further north in the state, it seems the housing is more reasonable.
Good Luck in your decision.

 

[Donny Baker]

there are too many variables without knowing what you're looking for. a close friend and neighbor is an M.D. he moved here from Michigan due to the weather and the large pay bump. I've lived in Illinois and Arizona. I prefer Florida, but I've got to be near the ocean, hurricanes or not. the Orlando area is too landlocked for our lifestyle. the gulf breeze helps out in the summer (which is no worse than the midwest, it just lasts longer) and we're an hour from Orlando. seasons change here, it's just more subtle. if I want to see snow, I'll get my family on a plane once in awhile. the 60's are freezing to us now. it's so much better that way. good luck in your decision. FLA's not for everyone. dealing with the tourists and snowbirds can test your mental limits. but every part of the country has it's pros and cons.

 

[prairiegekko]

Thanks so much for the response so far. To add a little bit more..I will probably move down for about a year or so, just to test the waters and see if it is right for me. I am very lucky to have this flexibility. During this year I will be looking for comfortable, safe living conditions of course at a reasonable cost due to the large student loans. (I may be bringing someone with me to help with the cost of rent). I am used to apartment living, so this is not a problem, however I am used to having utilities included in rent..from what I understand this is not the case. a general ball park figure of what I can expect would be nice . I have been recommended to look into magnet hospitals...A couple of hospital systems I have been looking into at this point are Lee Memorial in Fort Myers area and Shands at the University of Florida...There were a couple a little closer to orlando..I just don't have the names in front of me. What are these hospitals like to work for and for the sake of this board..How far to get to DW from them? Any details you can provide would be great...especially as I start to narrow the search.