Why do People Hate Living in Florida?

[Jdbsfw]

Whatever y'all decide on...please publicize it as much as you can to keep more people from moving to the third most-populous state in the US!

Yep lol, as a Texan I feel the same way, clueless idiots assuming Texas is as it was in 1886....Yet thousands and thousands move here every year.....

 

[JimMIA]

Yep lol, as a Texan I feel the same way, clueless idiots assuming Texas is as it was in 1886....Yet thousands and thousands move here every year.....

Actually, every week...for both of us!

 

[JimMIA]

The PP that said the festivals near her don't cut it, I can't imagine where she lives, but in my neck of the woods, the first generation immigrants would look at her like she was insane!

I'm just guessing the PP has never been to Goombay! Or Carnival Miami...better known to locals simply as "Calle Ocho" (8th Street, which is where the festival is held...with several MILLION people attending to celebrate Spanish culture of all flavors).

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

I lived in the Navarre/Pensacola/Fort walton area in the panhandle and I can say that I absolutely hate the humidity and heat. I hibernate during the summer and don't leave the house. So what do I do this month? I move deeper into the heat to Orlando. Look at my life choices.
No but really, Florida isn't horrid. It's just the usual heat and traffic.

 

[PigletsPal2]

I really enjoy living in Florida. I lived in Casselberry in Seminole County in 1973-1975, and we decided that we would return to Florida when we retired. I retired in 2003, and we bought a house in Osceola County- the nicest places in Seminole were out of our price range. Really, my only complaint is with the traffic. We live just off of W. Irlo Bronson Highway (Rt. 192), which is a major highway, especially for tourism. There are loads of hotels and restaurants on 192, and they're always busy, although less so Sept.-April. And I-4 is a nightmare, especially east of the city, We're in the middle of what they're calling the "Ultimate I-4 Project" where they're widening, rerouting, repaving, and opening and closing entrances and exits to the interstate. No one I know believes it will be the "ultimate" work on I-4. I don't like to drive, I hate driving on I-4, and driving on I-4 into the city is my personal hell. Luckily, we've been able to find alternate routes to most of our regular destinations or alternate destinations.

The weather is great, our living expenses are considerably lower than they were in MD, there are plenty of interesting places to go (museums, sporting events, concerts, the theme parks, beaches just an hour and half away on each coast, a casino an hour away), and there's no state income tax. I have no desire to live anywhere else.

Queen Colleen

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

Whatever y'all decide on...please publicize it as much as you can to keep more people from moving to the third most-populous state in the US!

I've got news for you. FL needs a steady stream of people moving there/vacationing there to keep there economy afloat. Many here in the Northeast joke about how we pay our teachers, police, etc. good wages then they disappear and take their pensions with them to FL.

 

[HeatherC]

Coming from New England, I would have to say I don't like how Florida is so flat. The topography is boring to me. I do, however, LOVE the weather in the winter and can definitely see ourselves as snowbirds.

 

[JimMIA]

I've got news for you. FL needs a steabdy stream of people moving there/vacationing there to keep there economy afloat. Many here in the Northeast joke about how we pay our teachers, police, etc. good wages then they disappear and take their pensions with them to FL.

Of course! And we appreciate all of y'all vacationing with us, and also our wonderful retirees! We just joke about not loving you -- as in the popular Miami bumper sticker: "When I retire, I'm gonna move up North and drive SLOW!"

 

[pearlieq]

Moved to FL 18 months ago and, for the most part, am very happy here. I don't see leaving permanently anytime soon, though I could see spending summers elsewhere in the future.

That being said, this is what I'm not fond of:

• Heat/humidity - It's 90 degrees out today and I'm dying for a taste of fall. That being said, January is glorious!
• The local wildlife - Our neighborhood Facebook group is a constant stream of "What kind of snake is this???"
• The nuts - My insurance rates doubled when I moved down here due to all the crazy drivers and shady fraudsters. I've never met so many tinfoil-hat society folks since I've moved down here. They're loud & proud!
• Lesser infrastructure. The roads seem less well maintained. Many schools/government buildings/hospitals seem stuck in 1973. Maybe due to no income tax?

That's about it, though. I've found an abundance of culture. I've got years worth of vacation destinations within a one-tank drive. I got an instant 5% raise moving down here. The tourists and blue hairs just make me smile. Can't think of anywhere else I want to be!

 

[Minnesota!]

The 3 S' keep me from moving there...spiders, snakes, sinkholes.

 

[phorsenuf]

I find it amusing people are afraid of sinkholes. They can happen anywhere. According to Wiki;
The most damage from sinkholes tends to occur in Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. Guess ya better not go live in those states either.

 

[lucas]

We love living in beautiful downtown Boca Raton!

I actually wish more people hated living in Florida so we would have the place all to ourselves! That's right. It is terrible down here - stay away!

 

[Elleshoodat]

The only thing I really dislike about living in Florida is living so far away from family. Yes, we live here by choice, but it still sucks.

I grew up in South Louisiana, so I'm no stranger to heat and humidity, bugs and wildlife, and poor roads. Snowbirds are new to me, but we only have to deal with them a few months out of the year ... though every year it feels like they're here longer and longer.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

In the 20 years we've lived here, I've seen a grand total of 2 snakes. Believe me, I look for them. I'm terrified of them. I saw many more growing up in NC. That said, I've always lived in urban or suburban neighborhoods in Florida. I'm sure some places have many more than others. If you don't hang out around water/swampy areas, it's really not an issue, in our experience. If I see a snake after posting this, I'm come after you all. The same goes for spiders. I just don't see them everywhere. Actually, I rarely see one. Now lizards, that's a different story. They're everywhere. There's also a lot of insects that can be a real nuisance. A roach infested house won't be an issue here anymore than anywhere else.

 

[Wishing on a star]

We are actually considering relocating to FL soon, when DH retires.
I have always been a beach person!!!
A vacation to the beach is my happy place.

That being said, I am also seeing the heat, the traffic, the hoards of tourists, etc.. as possible issues.
I just don't know!!!!

I figure that we hate the Winter, and I don't get out much in the nasty cold weather. So, the weeks of hibernation in the Winter here, and the weeks of hibernation during the heat of July/Aug there, kind of even out. While the nice warm weather Fall and Spring months are a huge plus!

We just got back from the Panhandle where we are considering. Have been many times... But never in the summer!
The weather was warm, but not much hotter than it has been here. It has been a very hot and VERY humid summer here where we live!
Also happened to be kind of wet and cloudy/rainy.
And the water quality at the beach was not good at all. It seems that junegrass, seaweed, sargassum, etc. are now issues thru much of the year. Seems hard to find a good beach day with clear water????

We are now second guessing everything....
Should we spend a huge amount of money to get a place there in FL???
Or just spend money traveling to the beach more often.
The traveling back and forth is not getting any easier!!!!

 

[LisaR]

I lived in Jupiter for several years before moving over to St. Pete Beach, and I can't imagine why someone would HATE living in Florida! Down in S. Florida you have amazing weather year round, tons of things to do that don't have to involve the beach, lots of cultural activities, gorgeous landscapes and easy access to travel. Up in Tampa/St. Pete, it's more laid back, but equally as beautiful, and if you need Greek culture anyway, all you have to do is go to Tarpon Springs, and it's like entering Greece! Dunedin is like Scotland, and there are pockets of serious culture here. The PP that said the festivals near her don't cut it, I can't imagine where she lives, but in my neck of the woods, the first generation immigrants would look at her like she was insane!

For us, we love living the salt life. I love going to my Publix, which is literally right across from the beach, and people are shopping in bathing suits. I live in flip flops. I can walk out of my house, and around the corner to any number of open air restaurants and grab a bite. I walk my dog up to the sand dunes at night and hear the ocean. It's like non-stop resort living. I guess it's not for everyone, but I feel like I've hit the lottery

I'm just guessing the PP has never been to Goombay! Or Carnival Miami...better known to locals simply as "Calle Ocho" (8th Street, which is where the festival is held...with several MILLION people attending to celebrate Spanish culture of all flavors).

It's me, the insane one! Look, I guess this is a "to each their own" thing. I can't drive 1 -1.5 hours in any direction and find large pockets of first generation immigrants. I'm certainly not saying they don't exist in the entire state. Of course they do! But where I've lived in the past, this is what the communities were made up of. FL isn't like that because so many people aren't from here originally.

My area has a yearly Indian festival, Greek festival, Oktoberfest, and an Irish festival. The Greek festival is very authentic. It is held at a Greek church and is a great time. However, again we don't have Greek neighborhoods. There isn't a pocket of Greek restaurants and stores and neighborhoods with mostly Greek families. The Indian festival is a revolving festival. It moves around the state of FL. Some of the very same people that are performing here will pack up and go three hours away to the next area. It's like the old time parking lot carnivals. We do not have a heavy Indian population. We do have one restaurant and one store, but the festival itself is so-so because it really doesn't pull in many Indians to give it the right vibe. The Irish and German festivals are simply an excuse to drink beer. Nothing wrong with that, but it really has absolutely nothing to do with the culture itself. They'll bring in a couple groups of local dancers to perform some traditional dance, but it really is about the party and beer.

I don't live near Miami. I would certainly expect events like Goombay and Carnival to be huge in Miami.

Orlando is a large metropolitan area. There is a fabulous Indian store and three Indian restaurants within walking distance to one another. But once again, the area isn't full of Indian culture. There is a Home Depot, though! There is another area that is intermixed with very traditional Asian grocers. It is definitely an authentic vibe. I am not aware of any type of regular festivals that they hold.

For me, FL will never offer what I am looking for in those terms. That's okay. I can't imagine there is one single place that will offer anyone absolutely everything they ever wanted. It is a big negative for me, but it isn't a deal breaker.

 

[Patch'sD]

Living in Florida for about 2 months now. August was hot and humid. People are very friendly, Even in Motor Vehicle. Cultural Wasteland, I don't think so. I find the area to be very diverse. Made many new friends. People go out of their way to be friendly.

 

[aprilchem]

The palmetto bug is the one that is the most common in FL. While they can most certainly get in the home when doors open or on your pet, they do not do well living indoors. They thrive in piles of wood, brush, landscaping bark, etc. If one gets in your home, it isn't going to reproduce like the German or American ones and they are not the ones that scatter across your floor when the lights are turned on. It might be an ugly creature, but your home isn't going to be infested with them. It isn't much different than having any other bug in your home.

I'll never forget when we were getting gas in Florida and a Palmetto Bug ran across the parking lot and UP MY PANT LEG. That is the absolute most grossed out I have never been in my entire life.

I live in Va. and we don't have to treat for cockroaches. But my ILs, who live about 3 hours from Orlando, have to have monthly treatments or they get infested. And they are super clean people - no food left out, no trash, etc.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

We moved to Florida in 2002. Built a house and liked it for six months.
Then we started realizing it was like a vast cultural wasteland (in Tampa). Missed the museums, the plays, the operas, and music. I see concerts almost every week and if felt like no one came to Tampa. Seemed liked all the restaurants are chains.
Stayed 24 months, sold our house for double what we paid for it and got the heck out of there in 2004.
Great place to visit - could never live there again.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I am not quite sure that one can make judgments and comparisons about a State, based on the fact that they prefer the culture and offerings of a more major and happening city. Where I live there is absolutely no culture or options or availability of anything, whatsoever. The major city two hours away would be different. Both are in the same state. There might be places in New York State that, like my town, have nothing like that to offer. Can't say that I would never move to New York State because there are no finer cultural offerings available.

I would not choose to live in a city/area like New York, Chicago, etc.
Tons of negatives to that, too.
Maybe I would prefer the slightly negative and derogative sounding 'cultural wasteland'.