Been here two months, extremely homesick, what a mistake.
Posted 02-07-2012 at 08:10 AM by liss0916
WOW you have motivated me, more than I already am to really move to Greer. Love your reply and everything you said makes so much sense. 
I lived in Miami for 7 years, and 9 years in Orlando and I am sick and tired of FL. 
I know that the cold winters are going to be hard on me, but I am willing to give it a try. Like you said, the humidity here in Florida is HORRIBLE and heat is even worse.
I can’t wait to finally see and feel all 4 seasons, to see the leaves change colors during fall, to feel snow, which by the way, I’ve never seen.
I am willing to take a pay-cut. I’m actually looking on getting a part time, that way I can spend more time with my son. We’ve struggle soooooo much here in Orlando that we really have nothing to loose, and this is why we decided to give it a try in Greer and start fresh, and hopefully in a month or 2 we should be up there 
...
I lived in Miami for 7 years, and 9 years in Orlando and I am sick and tired of FL. I know that the cold winters are going to be hard on me, but I am willing to give it a try. Like you said, the humidity here in Florida is HORRIBLE and heat is even worse. I can’t wait to finally see and feel all 4 seasons, to see the leaves change colors during fall, to feel snow, which by the way, I’ve never seen.
I am willing to take a pay-cut. I’m actually looking on getting a part time, that way I can spend more time with my son. We’ve struggle soooooo much here in Orlando that we really have nothing to loose, and this is why we decided to give it a try in Greer and start fresh, and hopefully in a month or 2 we should be up there ...Quote:
Originally Posted by Eldemila
We moved here from SOFLA as well almost a year ago. While it was a lot easier for me, it was a lot harder for my husband. Being born and raised in SOFLA and never living anywhere else, the cold is new to me too, but just remember, you can put layers upon layers on to keep/get warm - but when your in FL, you can only take so much off during the miserable humid summers. And remember, you have all 4 seasons here and in FL you have summer what seems to be more than half the year and a few days of cold. And for wanting to run back inside, I think everyone feels that way when the wind blows, but when it's calm I don't think it's bad at all, in fact, I've been working in the yard every day when it's been cold and not feeling it at all - it's the wind that when it hits you can be miserable. An being in the yard is wonderful, something I couldn't do in SOFLA, you'd die of the heat there!
Like you, my DH took a huge cut in pay, and in FL we don't have state tax they do here, so that's even compounded the issue and made things a bit harder for him to adjust.
What's made the difference, at least for me, was I wanted to move to the Carolina's for many years, so this was an idea in the making about 25 years ago, and a plan that was put in to play just a few years ago.
I took my time finding the right place for me, and us. I didn't just jump in to moving from the only place I'd ever lived, I really researched areas, visited many, narrowed it down, took my time to find the right place for us that fit in to an idea of what I was looking for in a home and then bought a place.
I then knew that I was coming to an area that I knew NO ONE, and I wasn't in the position where I was actually going to be able to meet people like those with small children since mine are long gone, that go to a house of worship since this isn't our thing, and since I don't have a job, wouldn't have the opportunity to have co-workers. I also live in a neighborhood that has 5 homes, 1 not occupied, 2 of the homes the people are over 80yrs old and the other is an older single man who rents, I have nothing in common with any of these people other than to be neighboorly and helpful. I knew there was no "Welcome Wagon" of people who were going to be knocking at my door, welcoming me and wanting to be friends with me.
So, knowing this, I knew I was going to be the one to have to put forth the effort to make friends, and I did, and I have. Always having wanted a garden I posted on a garden forum and someone replied to me, and we started "chatting" via email way before I bought a home here, and from there, we developed a friendship where now, we get together as friends all the time, just two gals together, or with our spouses. We've developed a TRUE friendship. I met another person when I went to get my car serviced, and from that moment, we hit it off and once again I've made a fantastic friend that's more like a sister.
I've met others various other ways, so there are ways to meet people out there, if you try. Meetup.com is a great site to find people with similar interests. I have a group of women that we go out to lunch or dinner with once a month that, like me, are not originally from this area. I've even met people from this very forum, one gal just last week that I really enjoyed meeting and hope to become friends with once she moves here permanently. Not everyone you meet are you going to click with, but at least you try.
Do you go back to FL? Only you can answer that. What were the reasons you left FL? What made you choose Greenville, SC? I've heard of people moving here from SOFLA that didn't like it and went back for one reason, or another. I think many moved here for the wrong reasons, many thinking that they could get a bigger home for the same amount of money, or that the cost of living was going to be cheaper here, it seemed it many moved here from being money driven in the wrong way - not a reason to move.
What many people from FL came to find out was the majority of the people here don't try to keep up with the Jonses, that it's not all "about me" and don't gush all over people who try to be high and mighty and show off what they have. That up here, it's a slower way of life and no one is in such a hurry that they'll mow you down trying to get to their destination - so their driving really stuck out, like speed demons on a race course. That people here have manners where they think they have alterior motives for being polite and nice, something they seem not to be able to grasp, or do. Just a lot of different ways of society here that didn't fit what they knew in SOFLA, so they felt out of place, didn't like it and went back - and good ridiance to them, those type of people are the reason I couldn't wait to get away from!
Now, for my DH, as I said, it was harder for him to adjust, he left all his co-workers and customers where he was well known, and loved. He didn't have this dream for all these years as I did, he came here because I wanted to come here. It was very rough the first 6 months, but things have definitely gotten better and he's happier now. He does miss family, friends and co-workers and has been back for visits since moving here. We have to go back next month, and why he's looking forward to the visit, I'm not - I dread going back there, even for a visit. If it wasn't for my family still there, I'd never go back.
Maybe Greenville isn't for you, but maybe going back to FL isn't the answer either. Again, you need to find out and answer these questions for yourself. What have you done to make things better for yourself here? No one will think you are a failure just as if you wanted to move here and didn't, would anyone think you are a coward for not trying, and besides, you shouldn't care what other people think about what you do and how you live your life, they aren't paying your bills.
Whatever you decide, it will be the right decision for you. Maybe there will be bumps along the way, but just remember, life is one big learning experience. If you make the wrong decision, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and change the situation.
Best of luck!
Like you, my DH took a huge cut in pay, and in FL we don't have state tax they do here, so that's even compounded the issue and made things a bit harder for him to adjust.
What's made the difference, at least for me, was I wanted to move to the Carolina's for many years, so this was an idea in the making about 25 years ago, and a plan that was put in to play just a few years ago.
I took my time finding the right place for me, and us. I didn't just jump in to moving from the only place I'd ever lived, I really researched areas, visited many, narrowed it down, took my time to find the right place for us that fit in to an idea of what I was looking for in a home and then bought a place.
I then knew that I was coming to an area that I knew NO ONE, and I wasn't in the position where I was actually going to be able to meet people like those with small children since mine are long gone, that go to a house of worship since this isn't our thing, and since I don't have a job, wouldn't have the opportunity to have co-workers. I also live in a neighborhood that has 5 homes, 1 not occupied, 2 of the homes the people are over 80yrs old and the other is an older single man who rents, I have nothing in common with any of these people other than to be neighboorly and helpful. I knew there was no "Welcome Wagon" of people who were going to be knocking at my door, welcoming me and wanting to be friends with me.
So, knowing this, I knew I was going to be the one to have to put forth the effort to make friends, and I did, and I have. Always having wanted a garden I posted on a garden forum and someone replied to me, and we started "chatting" via email way before I bought a home here, and from there, we developed a friendship where now, we get together as friends all the time, just two gals together, or with our spouses. We've developed a TRUE friendship. I met another person when I went to get my car serviced, and from that moment, we hit it off and once again I've made a fantastic friend that's more like a sister.
I've met others various other ways, so there are ways to meet people out there, if you try. Meetup.com is a great site to find people with similar interests. I have a group of women that we go out to lunch or dinner with once a month that, like me, are not originally from this area. I've even met people from this very forum, one gal just last week that I really enjoyed meeting and hope to become friends with once she moves here permanently. Not everyone you meet are you going to click with, but at least you try.
Do you go back to FL? Only you can answer that. What were the reasons you left FL? What made you choose Greenville, SC? I've heard of people moving here from SOFLA that didn't like it and went back for one reason, or another. I think many moved here for the wrong reasons, many thinking that they could get a bigger home for the same amount of money, or that the cost of living was going to be cheaper here, it seemed it many moved here from being money driven in the wrong way - not a reason to move.
What many people from FL came to find out was the majority of the people here don't try to keep up with the Jonses, that it's not all "about me" and don't gush all over people who try to be high and mighty and show off what they have. That up here, it's a slower way of life and no one is in such a hurry that they'll mow you down trying to get to their destination - so their driving really stuck out, like speed demons on a race course. That people here have manners where they think they have alterior motives for being polite and nice, something they seem not to be able to grasp, or do. Just a lot of different ways of society here that didn't fit what they knew in SOFLA, so they felt out of place, didn't like it and went back - and good ridiance to them, those type of people are the reason I couldn't wait to get away from!
Now, for my DH, as I said, it was harder for him to adjust, he left all his co-workers and customers where he was well known, and loved. He didn't have this dream for all these years as I did, he came here because I wanted to come here. It was very rough the first 6 months, but things have definitely gotten better and he's happier now. He does miss family, friends and co-workers and has been back for visits since moving here. We have to go back next month, and why he's looking forward to the visit, I'm not - I dread going back there, even for a visit. If it wasn't for my family still there, I'd never go back.
Maybe Greenville isn't for you, but maybe going back to FL isn't the answer either. Again, you need to find out and answer these questions for yourself. What have you done to make things better for yourself here? No one will think you are a failure just as if you wanted to move here and didn't, would anyone think you are a coward for not trying, and besides, you shouldn't care what other people think about what you do and how you live your life, they aren't paying your bills.
Whatever you decide, it will be the right decision for you. Maybe there will be bumps along the way, but just remember, life is one big learning experience. If you make the wrong decision, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and change the situation.
Best of luck!
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