[LordyLordy]

Originally Posted by OpinionInOcala

Cons:

• Some of the worst motorists in the country sharing the road with you.

This is one I hear often - maybe this is the case in Miami? Until you move to a place like Texas you do not realize how nice you have it in FL . Here in Central Texas the traffic is horrendous and one thing that irks me out a lot is that they tend to sit in the left lane on a 2-3 lane interstate a go the speed limit, without moving to the right. The other thing is that on most roads people tend to drive 5-10 mph BELOW the speed limit. Never saw that in FL...

Originally Posted by OpinionInOcala

Lesser average intelligence, commonsense, and general mental wherewithal among natives.

This is just a stupid statement, OP please ignore.

Originally Posted by OpinionInOcala

Behind the times in various forms of development outside of more heavily populated areas.

What do you really want? For Florida to be developed every inch, coast to coast? Do you even know what REAL Florida is/was all about? Most people don't know but FL is home to America's largest cattle ranch. It is also the birthplace of cowboys (no, it's not Texas, the first time someone had a ranch and worked cows off a horse was Florida).

Many people think of FL as a giant amusement park, a place to go to the beach and generally abuse. Very few have a clue about the real Florida of cattle, horses, working cow dogs and cowboys. There are a few FREE movies online about this, Google and educate yourself. Take a ride between the two coasts and see what it looks like, for real.

Originally Posted by OpinionInOcala

Prevalence of assorted forms of dishonesty (scams, theft, fraud, etc.).

Scams are all over the country, they do not recognize state borders. If you are referring to the fact that there are more retired people in parts of FL that become victims of some type of fraud - maybe. However, OP is not retiring and is not 80 so no worries there.

Originally Posted by OpinionInOcala

Crime (various types).

Yeah, 'cause other states don't have the crime? Try New Mexico - there isn't maybe one or two towns where crime is not 2xnational average. Or big cities anywhere in the country. Heck in the mountains of North Carolina you can find tiny villages with crime rates 2-3x national average. Of course there are also places like New Orleans, Detroit etc. You just have to do your research before moving. If you want to go to SoFL - sure, there will be crime - it is virtually one big city from West Palm down to past Miami - that's a lot of people and hence, a lot of crime.

Originally Posted by OpinionInOcala

Homelessness.

This is one thing I did not see. Anyway, walk the streets of a town like Austin, TX - it is CRAWLING with homeless people. So is Albuquerque. I make an example out of Austin since people always use TX as an example of economic boom, a land of milk and honey...

Originally Posted by OpinionInOcala

Pedophiles.

Do you have any stats to back this up or is it just one of those urban myths?

Originally Posted by OpinionInOcala

Corrupt government and law enforcement.

No contest here, although the OP is from Michigan and if they are from Detroit, that will be a way of life up there. Also, I would say North FL has much less of a problem in that respect than SoFL.

Originally Posted by OpinionInOcala

Sexually-transmitted disease/infection; promiscuity

Another comment without any stats to back it up?

Originally Posted by OpinionInOcala

Deliberately extensive (and growing) underclass outside of select career paths.

Eh? Florida has always been treated like a vacation spot, use and abuse kind of place where people come to have sex, eat, drink and act out their worst behaviours. Talk to someone born in FL, they will hate most of the new comers because of that. Also, since it is a popular destination for outsiders (either for a second home, snow-birding etc.) it was developed greedily and without regard to anything. Hence, you get what you paid for. Again, FL is so much more than the narrow strip of land around the beach where most of its (transplanted) population lives.

Originally Posted by OpinionInOcala

Potential problems with insects, arachnids, and/or snakes depending upon where you live.

Maybe compared to northern states? Come to Texas - scorpions and brown recluses are everywhere, so are rattlesnakes.

My $.02.]

[AES328]

^ In all fairness, it's probably very easy to have such a negative view of FL when you live in Ocala.

[Spring Hillian]

Excellent response. I wonder what keeps him here.

Originally Posted by LordyLordy

[/list]This is one I hear often - maybe this is the case in Miami? Until you move to a place like Texas you do not realize how nice you have it in FL . Here in Central Texas the traffic is horrendous and one thing that irks me out a lot is that they tend to sit in the left lane on a 2-3 lane interstate a go the speed limit, without moving to the right. The other thing is that on most roads people tend to drive 5-10 mph BELOW the speed limit. Never saw that in FL...





This is just a stupid statement, OP please ignore.




What do you really want? For Florida to be developed every inch, coast to coast? Do you even know what REAL Florida is/was all about? Most people don't know but FL is home to America's largest cattle ranch. It is also the birthplace of cowboys (no, it's not Texas, the first time someone had a ranch and worked cows off a horse was Florida).

Many people think of FL as a giant amusement park, a place to go to the beach and generally abuse. Very few have a clue about the real Florida of cattle, horses, working cow dogs and cowboys. There are a few FREE movies online about this, Google and educate yourself. Take a ride between the two coasts and see what it looks like, for real.



Scams are all over the country, they do not recognize state borders. If you are referring to the fact that there are more retired people in parts of FL that become victims of some type of fraud - maybe. However, OP is not retiring and is not 80 so no worries there.



Yeah, 'cause other states don't have the crime? Try New Mexico - there isn't maybe one or two towns where crime is not 2xnational average. Or big cities anywhere in the country. Heck in the mountains of North Carolina you can find tiny villages with crime rates 2-3x national average. Of course there are also places like New Orleans, Detroit etc. You just have to do your research before moving. If you want to go to SoFL - sure, there will be crime - it is virtually one big city from West Palm down to past Miami - that's a lot of people and hence, a lot of crime.



This is one thing I did not see. Anyway, walk the streets of a town like Austin, TX - it is CRAWLING with homeless people. So is Albuquerque. I make an example out of Austin since people always use TX as an example of economic boom, a land of milk and honey...



Do you have any stats to back this up or is it just one of those urban myths?



No contest here, although the OP is from Michigan and if they are from Detroit, that will be a way of life up there. Also, I would say North FL has much less of a problem in that respect than SoFL.



Another comment without any stats to back it up?



Eh? Florida has always been treated like a vacation spot, use and abuse kind of place where people come to have sex, eat, drink and act out their worst behaviours. Talk to someone born in FL, they will hate most of the new comers because of that. Also, since it is a popular destination for outsiders (either for a second home, snow-birding etc.) it was developed greedily and without regard to anything. Hence, you get what you paid for. Again, FL is so much more than the narrow strip of land around the beach where most of its (transplanted) population lives.



Maybe compared to northern states? Come to Texas - scorpions and brown recluses are everywhere, so are rattlesnakes.

My $.02.]

[lucky4life]

Nice in the winter...........summer is brutal

[Spring Hillian]

Sounds like conditions that could be found in most states.

Originally Posted by OpinionInOcala

Pros:

• You can still wear shorts and a t-shirt for the majority of the winter.
• Access to both gulf and Atlantic beaches in under two hours no matter how far inland you live.
• No State or Local income taxes.
• Average to slightly below-average overall cost-of-living.
• Property (and property taxes) are fairly cheap throughout much of the state.
• Entertainment is abundant within reasonable distances of metro areas.
• Strong personal & property defense laws.
• Nearly perpetual sunshine.
• Well-maintained roadways, shoulders, and medians.
• Vehicles tend to last longer due to lack of snow and mountainous terrain.

Cons:

• Some of the worst motorists in the country sharing the road with you.
• Atrocious K-12 education outside of less than a dozen select (and mostly coastal) areas.
  • Lesser average intelligence, commonsense, and general mental wherewithal among natives.
• Potentially unbearable heat and humidity for half of the year; you'll either acclimate or you won't within two years.
• Culture clash.
• Behind the times in various forms of development outside of more heavily populated areas.
• Prevalence of assorted forms of dishonesty (scams, theft, fraud, etc.).
• Crime (various types).
• Homelessness.
• Pedophiles.
• Corrupt government and law enforcement.
• Sexually-transmitted disease/infection; promiscuity.
• Deliberately extensive (and growing) underclass outside of select career paths.
• Potential problems with insects, arachnids, and/or snakes depending upon where you live.
• Sinkholes.
• Pill mills.

[ByeByeLW]

I am not a native Floridian but I'm also upset about the dig against them.

For the most part, the "ignorant" people I have met here are from the backwaters or inner cities of some other states.

And yeah, "behind the times in development"? Why must everything be developed?

It's because of development that the natural beauty of this place is almost gone. Imagine being here when there were still old- growth cypress stands and pine forests and oak hammocks.

I would love to have seen this place in the mid 1800s.

[Spring Hillian]

I agree with you. The poster probably came from a large city and/or megalopolis and thinks that FL should match up.

Originally Posted by ByeByeLW

I am not a native Floridian but I'm also upset about the dig against them.

For the most part, the "ignorant" people I have met here are from the backwaters or inner cities of some other states.

And yeah, "behind the times in development"? Why must everything be developed?

It's because of development that the natural beauty of this place is almost gone. Imagine being here when there were still old- growth cypress stands and pine forests and oak hammocks.

I would love to have seen this place in the mid 1800s.

[StreetSmarts]

LordyLordy,

I kind of agre with many of the cons brought up. As a native, I cant definitely relate to many of them. If you're from Haiti, or San Juan, or Camden NJ, I can see it may not be bad.

The scam part is definitely true. South FL especially. Number 1 in almost every category of fraud there is. Medical, tax, insurance, everything.

[perry335654]

Originally Posted by ComSense

Pros: cost of living cheaper than other areas, nice winter weather, beaches, entertainment, still some nice areas to live.
Cons: the people (many rude, selfish, clueless of what is normal), road rage, hot weather a lot, insects, humidity, clash of cultures, many dont assimilate, crime, low wages in some fields, boring/flat terrain.

Don't be so hard on yourself

[jambo101]

OP needs to give more input such as
What part of Florida appeals to your dreams.
Working? retired?
Married or single,kids?
Country or city living?
Renting or buying?whats your price range?
How close to the water do you want to live,are beaches important?
Knowing these criteria would give more focused responses.