Where to live in Florida?
#61
Re: Where to live in Florida?
Now I am one, ha.
#62
Return of bouncing girl!
Joined: Sep 2004
Location: The Fourth Reich
Posts: 4,931
Re: Where to love in Florida?
The visa to some extent dictates where to live, that's the point though. If you're thinking E-2 and you want to open a Krispy Kreme, well you don't want to do it in Miami where there are fast food franchises on every street corner.
If you're coming on L-1 you're not going to set up your new office in Ocala even though it's a nice place to live, it's not a good location.
If you're coming on L-1 you're not going to set up your new office in Ocala even though it's a nice place to live, it's not a good location.
#63
Just Joined
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 19
Re: Where to live in Florida?
I am sorry you see it that way, but IMO that was "getting straight to the point", or perhaps "a little blunt". I have seen "rude" before, and that wasn't it.
But if you're looking for "Ra ra ra! Life here is the greatest, come on over! " then you're looking in the wrong place. We are all relatively down to earth, and recognize life in the US for what it is - it is "good" for some of us, and "great" for a few, but even though I am among the happiest and most pro-America members of BE, I would say that there are significant downsides to life in America.
But if you're looking for "Ra ra ra! Life here is the greatest, come on over! " then you're looking in the wrong place. We are all relatively down to earth, and recognize life in the US for what it is - it is "good" for some of us, and "great" for a few, but even though I am among the happiest and most pro-America members of BE, I would say that there are significant downsides to life in America.
#64
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 19
Re: Where to live in Florida?
I know Florida pretty well. I'm moving to Tampa (assuming visa goes ok) in a few weeks.
We are going to Tampa because that's where our friends and family are, but I do think it's a great city. Lots to do - not far to the beach and an hour and half to Orlando. I like that Tampa does have some actual culture... The schools in Tampa are mixed, but South Tampa has excellent schools. The house prices are very steep though. Saint Pete is great (nearby), but the middle and high school are pretty bad. Palm Harbour is nice too.
Saint Augustine also had good schools - it's a cute town with lovely beaches, but is a little quiet for me. Stuart is a great little town - really nice community, ok schools and water everywhere. I'd live there if I could persuade our friends to go there (but they'd never leave Tampa!)
As for the heat - it is crazy hot in the summer months, but we've always just worked around it, getting out early before it gets too hot, spending time in the water and hiding indoors in the afternoons.
I like that people are pretty laid back and don't take themselves too seriously.
We are going to Tampa because that's where our friends and family are, but I do think it's a great city. Lots to do - not far to the beach and an hour and half to Orlando. I like that Tampa does have some actual culture... The schools in Tampa are mixed, but South Tampa has excellent schools. The house prices are very steep though. Saint Pete is great (nearby), but the middle and high school are pretty bad. Palm Harbour is nice too.
Saint Augustine also had good schools - it's a cute town with lovely beaches, but is a little quiet for me. Stuart is a great little town - really nice community, ok schools and water everywhere. I'd live there if I could persuade our friends to go there (but they'd never leave Tampa!)
As for the heat - it is crazy hot in the summer months, but we've always just worked around it, getting out early before it gets too hot, spending time in the water and hiding indoors in the afternoons.
I like that people are pretty laid back and don't take themselves too seriously.
Thank you very much for the info, schools are very important and need to do a lot of research on this!
#65
Just Joined
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 19
Re: Where to live in Florida?
Thankyou everybody. There is a lot of information for us to think about and to start researching before we come over, and have more of an idea of where to look as it is such a big place, there are some very helpful points
#66
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 76
Re: Where to live in Florida?
The reality of being there is obviously different than vacations. But I lived in Cornwall for a while - and same could be said for that. People would move from
London - and then quickly realise there were no jobs, the Cornish are a tricky bunch (I'm Cornish so I can say that!) and there are terrible levels of deprivation...
(Actually a lot like Florida!)
#67
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2016
Location: Northern California
Posts: 71
Re: Where to live in Florida?
Yeah - I should have mentioned that I have lived in Florida before. So I'm actually going through this visa process for the second time. I lived there for a few years but gave my green card back and retuned to the Uk. So I am very much going with my eyes wide open.
The reality of being there is obviously different than vacations. But I lived in Cornwall for a while - and same could be said for that. People would move from
London - and then quickly realise there were no jobs, the Cornish are a tricky bunch (I'm Cornish so I can say that!) and there are terrible levels of deprivation...
(Actually a lot like Florida!)
The reality of being there is obviously different than vacations. But I lived in Cornwall for a while - and same could be said for that. People would move from
London - and then quickly realise there were no jobs, the Cornish are a tricky bunch (I'm Cornish so I can say that!) and there are terrible levels of deprivation...
(Actually a lot like Florida!)
#69
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,834
Re: Where to live in Florida?
And then he was laid off, and spent last summer out of work. He soon discovered that my experience of AZ summers was VASTLY different to his, and that the heat becomes very, very old after weeks and months of doing gardening and house maintenance when it's already in the 90s at 5am, trying to stop the groceries melting in the car boot, trying to stop bored kids losing their minds during summer break. It was interestingly illuminating for him.
#71
Re: Where to live in Florida?
Again, why Florida? If you don't have to be somewhere specific in Florida for work, you probably don't have to be in Florida at all. Speaking purely for myself, I'd probably choose at least 40 other states and a couple of territories before I chose Florida. If Florida is really your thing, tell us why so that those who know the place can give you better advice.
#72
Re: Where to live in Florida?
Last edited by Pulaski; Jun 4th 2016 at 1:15 am.
#73
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: 1.2 East
Posts: 762
Re: Where to live in Florida?
Well we live in the north east on the St. Johns River. We like it lots.
Sure it’s hot and humid but you get used to it. Being on the river, the bugs are a problem at times and so are the gators; one 11 footer took our neighbors 85lb Rottweiler cross recently.
Bass fishing is great. Beaches are great.
Cops are plentiful and very friendly if that appeals.
The roads are pretty clear and well maintained; it does get a bit crazy near some larger towns like Jacksonville though.
Having said our FL praises, we are selling-up to buy a RV to go walkabout around the mid-west.
Sure it’s hot and humid but you get used to it. Being on the river, the bugs are a problem at times and so are the gators; one 11 footer took our neighbors 85lb Rottweiler cross recently.
Bass fishing is great. Beaches are great.
Cops are plentiful and very friendly if that appeals.
The roads are pretty clear and well maintained; it does get a bit crazy near some larger towns like Jacksonville though.
Having said our FL praises, we are selling-up to buy a RV to go walkabout around the mid-west.
#75
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,453
Re: Where to live in Florida?