Attention Floridian transplants!

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by WOWAddict

I personally love my time up there in TN. But it is not a Utopia. Jobs are hard to come by, but that will probably will change as more people move in.

Or not. Lots of people moved into Florida and all it created was low-paying jobs and high housing costs.

Industry needs to move in.

[mrs1885]

I'm a transplant.

I was the 5th generation in my family to grow up on a wonderful little island in the southern Gulf. Incredible childhood; couldn't ask for better. My grandmother used to have to get on a canoe and the kids would paddle to the nearest island that had a bridge because that was the closest school. It was a gorgeous place. Until it was 'discovered' in the 80s. Now my island that once you could walk a dog on, drive a car on, pick up gorgeous shells any time of day is now wall to wall condos. You can't even see the water from the main road that runs along the beach. It's so sad. And expensive?? Holy smokes.

I moved just off the island in the late 80s. Then further out to the 'estates' area, which was very rural. That wasn't too bad for awhile. But then the illegals and the gang bangers from Miami discovered that too. The schools got so bad. The cost of living was stupid high. The traffic was enough to cause road rage in Mother Theresa. OMG. Just horrible.

So we finally had enough and packed up and moved here. We've never been happier and wish we'd done it even sooner. Yes, jobs don't pay well and are hard to come by if you live in an extremely rural area like we do, but the job I have now pays nearly double what I made in Florida, whereas my mortgage is less than $600 and includes our taxes and insurance. And it's on 7.25 acres, 2552 square feet, 5 bedrooms, all brick. In Florida we paid $1695 a month for a 3 bedroom 2 bath 1011 square foot on barely over an acre that was only 75 feet wide, so very little of the property was even usuable.

I no longer have to battle the heat and humidity. I know - everyone here thinks it's terrible, but we're thrilled. Compared to where we were, the weather is awesome. I don't have to worry about getting carried away by mosquitoes. I've got fabulous neighbors that speak the same language I do. The town I live in has about 200 people that are rooted in their religion and their country. They support their military and their emergency services personnel. And the schools!!! Holy smokes are the schools phenomenal. And it's not because they have a multi-million dollar annual budget, it's because the administration and teachers care. A concept that was lost in our area of Florida a long time ago.

Not one place is perfect for everyone, but this place is about as perfect for us as a place can be.

[hiknapster]

Oh mrs1885, I love reading your stories about southwest Florida! I lived there for 10 years, and my husband for 25.

I could, if I looked in the right spot and squinted really hard, see what "your" Florida was like, or even my husband's when he was a child. You don't know how many sentences he started with "Before there were this housing development" or "Before this shopping mall was built" and end it with, "we would play here!"

So sad.

[gemkeeper]

Mrs1885, I hate to say that I "enjoyed" reading your post, but it was so heartwarming. We must have all had the same wonderful grandmothers, neighborhoods, schools, glorious summers to play, friends who cared and absolute peace. But, I did "enjoy" living in a mirror image of my hometown through your well-said post.

It is just as hiknapster said - so sad to see it all long past.

I am so happy that you have recovered some of that happiness in your special part of Tennessee. May we all find that peace and happiness.