Thoughts on Florida

[trblshooter]

So I've been doing some job shopping lately and just for grins I applied to a few in Florida. I've had some back and forth with a company North of Tampa and today they offered to fly me down next week for an interview.

I used to live in Pensacola (A school) and absolutely loved it but I don't know much about the Tampa area.

I suppose I should also mention if offered the job, I would be relocating my ex along with our kids so we can all still be close.

It seems as the cost of living around the area is comparable to DFW, even less the further inland you head. Anyone have any thoughts on the area, hurricane experience, etc?

[dcs13]

We're gonna get a place south of Orlando for retirement. This past winter did it for me...Looking at some ranches inland...Prices are good for now. They were crazy a few years back. It will get crazy again...

[Trip McNeely]

The Keys or nothing. The rest of Florida is full of crazy people.

[trblshooter]

I'm with ya on the winter thing... kind of why I started looking there. It snowed here today, getting pretty tired of it.

[helosailor]

I spent 3 years in Pensacola, and 4 in Jacksonville. Florida is great, but after 4 hurricanes in 5 weeks back in 2004, I was out.

[Shockeruti]

I grew up in the Tampa/ft Myers area for a good chunk of my life.

Get ready for alot of,
1) old people who can't drive.
2) brodozers that can't drive.
3) illegals that can't drive.
4) legals that can't drive.

Sw Florida humitity sucks, winter lasts a week, and it rains EVERYDAY from 3-4.

Hurricanes ain't bad. You get a couple days notice. Board up your shit and tuff it out. Be sure to get insurance on your rent house/ property. Don't have trees close to your house. Most of the time by the time they get to the ft Myers area they have died down pretty good.
Other than that its great.

[mstng86]

My dad moved to Miami for a little over a year. He hated it. Everything was more expensive than he thought. He also felt people were really rude.

He did enjoy having a place to fish right outside his back door.

[Sean88gt]

I like FL. It has some nice variation and the weather is pretty tits. Tax rates are low(ish), COL doesn't seem that bad either. I can't imagine "retiring" in TX. If you have a chance, jump on it. My sister just moved to FL and seems to like it.

[robert]

I can only relate with South Florida, insurance is higher (Flood insurance needed in some areas) no State Tax, Sales tax was 6.6% When I lived North of Miami until 2010. Weather is nicer, Summer humidity can be rough. Anything north of Central Florida can get cold during the winter but nothing as bad as Texas and I(Atl) went through this past Winter.
Shitty people are in all places so are good people. Hurricane season is long, some years are better than others, local EMA are well trained and experienced. Building codes are a bit different than the rest of the country especially post Andrew '93, Mainly in South Fl not sure if North adopted the new codes, Houses built CBS (Concrete Block Structure) framing.
Plenty to do in Fl, G/L

[dcs13]

Looked at this place, nice, but not enough land...

http://ocalaranches.com/listings/immaculate-farm-market

[trblshooter]

What's the deal with screened in pools? Every place I've looked at has one. Bugs? Gators? George Zimmerman?

[helosailor]

What's the deal with screened in pools? Every place I've looked at has one. Bugs? Gators? George Zimmerman?

YES, not that many, and maaaaybe.

[Sean88gt]

No one swims in a hoody. And, if you're white, you should be cool.

[trblshooter]

And, if you're white, you should be cool.

Shownuff black guy voice

[Sean88gt]

Congrats on your survival!