Sally Redux

Nicola needs to elaborate on all of her points really.

scrubbedexpat097

You have to laugh though, finally someone who doesn't want to live in Florida

Sally Redux

I know

N1cky

However, having their own business suggests that they could have gone anywhere and chose Florida, meaning they had once been like everyone else

No offence Nicola, I don't think any of us get what we were expecting when we moved. I agree with Mummy though that you have described most of the US in the things you don't like, maybe the US just isn't for you, either that or you just need to give it more time to get used to all the bad points and accept them as part of living here.

NicolaH

What was the point in that?

<My husband runs a big business employing a lot of Americans and pays a lot of Tax. I was just saying I don't like Florida and talking to a lot of Europeans here they feel the same.

Sorry to bother posting.

ljaw2002uk

Octang Frye

It was humor, Nicola. Lighten up a bit.

You initially gave scant information as to why you dislike Florida, and even less about what you would like.

The salty food - do you cook yourself? Surely Florida has the equivalent of farmer's markets, Sunflower Market, Whole Foods etc?

So you don't like the people? Are you hanging out with a lot of ex-pats?
If so, don't.

The notion that the further North you go, the more it's like England is, frankly, hooey. Unless, perhaps, you make it to Canada.

Also, what visa are you guys here with? If an E2, your daughters are close to aging out.

HumphreyC

There's an element of truth to it though. Most of Florida seems to be post 1960 sprawl development with little sense of place and my inlaws that vacation there tell me they would hate to live there full time because of that - it's full of retirees and transients. New England has it's fair share of sprawl on the edge of towns but it still has the old town centres - some of which are in disrepair but many of which are booming. The populations are more settled and there are decent bars (got a couple in walking distance of my house). I mean it's not exactly the same as England by any stretch but I think it's less of a culture shock.

I don't know if Canada is any more like England than the US (aside from the healthcare). It just seems that each region of Canada corresponds to it's counterpart to the south - i.e Quebec and the Maritimes are like New England, Ontario is like the Midwest. British Columbia is like PNC etc...

Having said all that; this is probably your biggest priority.

tonrob

Sorry you didn't find that funny (many did, though). My attempt at humour based on the fact that your criteria were to find somewhere more like England and less (basically) like America!

I know when I'm in a stressful spot another's attempt at humour often falls flat (I sometimes resort to punching them in the face). I hope you find what you're looking for soon!

tonrob

Montreal is noticeably much more European in feel than anywhere else in North America that I've visited. A moot point, most likely, as the OP's probably wanting to stay in the US, but just thought I'd mention anyway.

Karrie72

Actually I think that some parts of the NorthEast do resemble the culture of Europe in parts. Florida is mostly sprawl, it is very much a car culture and is mostly new development with identakit houses. Older towns in the northeast have a defined town center with more walkability, neighborhood shops, parks. There are older brick houses, European style landscaping. I'm thinking of Boston, Cambridge, Andover MA and Portland ME. In Portland I can park my car and walk to bakeries, restaurants and parks. There are older brick town homes all around and lots of people walking and riding bikes.

Jerseygirl

Some of the countryside around where I live looks very much like England but the culture is not the same.

Karrie72

Yes the country side in New Jersey does have those rolling hills and farms. I think the culture in the northeast in different to England but I still bet it's closer than Florida. I enjoy visiting Florida but feel more settled (well settled is a strong word since I want to move back) in New England. People in New England eat baked beans and shepherds pie! I bet they don't in Florida.

Bob

Thing is, well apart from Portland, though it's getting that way, anywhere decent you've listed is in a order of magnitude more expensive to live in than Florida.

Andover is cute though, but it's tiny. Wellesley has a lovely town centre, but very expensive. Northampton, getting a bit isolated, but a lovely town, decent size and far more affordable if you're able to work out there.

Then again, come winter, there'll be very little walking no matter which town you move to

Jerseygirl

I love the summers here in NJ...but I hate the winter months.