What's it like to live in Florida?
Replies: 20 - Last Post: Sep 6, 2012 8:41 PM Last Post By: ianw6705
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What's it like to live in Florida?
I have been to visit a few times, Orlando, Miami, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale and each time the weather seems to have been so nice. I wonder what it would be like to live there. The idea of not being cold really appeals to me. I dont think I would want to live in Miami, or FL, because it seems like it would be too expensive or crowded/full of tourists. I'm wondering if there are nice areas off of the beaten path where you can still enjoy nice weather, without the crowds.I looked on Craigs list under housing to get a feel for how much rents are, and was really surprised. Prices were high of course in places I mentioned above, but places like Melbourne and Titusville seemed to have really reasonable rates. I wonder why, if they are near the beach? There were also reasonable rates for places like Fort Myers, Naples, etc. on the other coast. I wonder why these places are reasonably priced, is there something wrong with them? I would think that if the weather, etc. was as nice in those areas that people would be flocking to them and driving up the prices.
I would like to live someplace where I dont have to suffer through cold winters, and Florida sounds like a good choice. It's much easier of course to find info about being a tourist, so I'm hoping maybe there are some Florida locals on this branch who could share some unbiased views on what it is like to be a resident there!
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What sort of visa status would you have that would allow you to stay in the US?Do you need to work? Have you explored that situation in the US?
I find Florida to be incredbly flat and boring.
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Warm does not always equate to nice weather. It's not a question of why certain areas are so cheap but rather why others are so expensive. The big resorts go in to an area and set prices that aren't necessarily comparable with the cost of living. Tourists to those resorts are clueless as to the cost of maintaining such a place and hence pay the high prices. Housing costs in such areas are set to match to get the tourist spill over. Close to beach??? Take a look at the shape of the state. Everywhere is close to the beach. There is so much beach that demand doesn't always meet supply. My suggestion... go and drive around. Find a place that looks nice and hunker down in a cheap motel. Spend a few days... not just at the beach but wandering around the town. Ask yourself, what do you need besides nice weather? Do you need fancy restaurants and clubs? Or will the local Leroy's Waffle and Chicken Shack and a honky tonk bar with pickups and a Confederate flag make your social life? As you sound like you want to live rather than just visit, take your time. Easy to check out of a motel. Lot harder to pack up stuff in a house.5
I have been to visit a few times, Orlando, Miami, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale and each time the weather seems to have been so nice. I wonder what it would be like to live there.If you are indeed working in Oz (or have done), then you may well know that places that are mild to warm for eight months of the year can be humid funky and very unpleasant for the four months of summer. I appreciate that Miami is only at a latitude of 25°N (which in Australian terms is only Brisbane, with more than half the country still closer to the Equator), however, Miami in July-August might be well worth a visit - to see whether the heat-humidity is something you really like.
Another alternative might be somewhere a bit less extreme - North-South Carolina say - which still have a winter, but you are not looking at Minnesota. Might have a bit more culture beyond retirement condos as well. But if the beach is a major draw, then Florida (east coast) might be just what you're after.
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I suggest you visit the Florida City-Data relocation forums for this type of research: http://www.city-data.com/forum/florida/7
I lived in Pensacola and Jacksonville for a bit. I really liked P-Cola. Good beaches and fishing, pleasant weather most of the year and the hot months are tempered by the access to the ocean. Cost of living is low. Jacksonville was sort of a hole, though.8
You'd have to be pretty optimistic (if not brave) to build on the sand near Pensacola - wouldn't you?9
P Cola is the heart of all things airforce and navy, throw in the rednecks from bama and you have a hole of sorts too...beaches on otherside of Destin are nice, seaside area is the best, not cheap though...I lived there for a year and when the HQ would not transfer/promote me as promised I quit and moved back to Chicago...that area of Florida is about as sophisticated as a carnival....local women were downright trailer park, most the nice ones were imports staying at family vacation residences from Atlanta, Nashville and New Orleans...thankfully...10
Thank you for that link, Wokabout, I will check it out!Sounds like people in the Pensacola and Jacksonville areas are not too desirable, so for now I dont think I will consider those areas. I would rather be around people who intelligent/sophisticated for my morale. There are nice, simple people who are not that intelligent, but are good decent people, but then there are the ones who are trashy and belong on the Jerry Springer show. Those I definitely want to avoid.
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local women were downright trailer park, most the nice ones were imports staying at family vacation residences from Atlanta, Nashville and New Orleans...thankfully...I would rather be around people who [are] intelligent/sophisticated for my morale.
Well ... there's two different approaches to deciding where you might want to live. All part of life's rich tapestry!
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Anecdotal but:A friend of mine who hates cold weather moved from DC to Sarasota about six years ago. Housing is very cheap, relatively speaking. The equivalent of her $250K house would probably have cost her $750K in the DC area.
She likes her house. She likes the weather. For the last year or two she has been looking for a job in DC. She can't stand Florida. There's just nothing and no one interesting there, or hardly.
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If you want to be around the sophisticated and intelligent areas or Florida, then Key Biscayne Miami, South Beach to an extent (arts community) and Winter Park area (Orlando suburb) is about it, Naples, Sarasota, Bradenton is a lot of folks with money but they only use the residences in prime months and return to the cities in the north.I dont care for Texas much, but it does have more culture than Florida on many levels.
The main draw to Florida for most is its climate for beaches and golf/tennis in winter months, in summer its hell May to Sept. It has a lot of retirees as well, old folks and Buicks, dinner specials at 5pm. Its a lot of condos and beach homes for northerners, and the high season on the beaches can be hell for a local with traffic and people everywhere.
I would consider Charleston SC area for a nice combo of culture, climate and good southern living.
A co-worker transfered from Minneapolis to Tampa thinking anything was better than cold and long winters, and lasted 6 months, she said the nightlife and social scene was a insult to her senses, and moved to Chicago....
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Ian, in #5 makes a key point--you have to visit during the less-desirable times of year. Also think about how comfortable you are with hurricanes.As for culture, etc., you can start reading local newspapers online to see what passes for entertainment and news. Again, don't just read the paper during the height of tourist season, but also during times when fewer people visit.
