Moving to Jacksonville (Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Seminole: oceanfront, crime, neighborhood)

[SFtoATL]

projectmaxiums, thank you for your input. Yes, we will be visiting over the Memorial Day weekend. Thanks for the heads up about the jazz festival.
Those lofts seem like a really nice place. We'll be sure to check them out.
Not so sure about the other condos/apartments. We do appreciate a more unique feel of a neighborhood and are not too keen on the cookie cutter subdivisions. What makes the whole move even harder is the fact that we really love San Francisco: the diversity (and level of education) of people we meet, the many different top notch restaurants, being able to walk everywhere, the hustle of the big city (while researching things I found out that population density in SF is 27 times bigger than the density in Jacksonville), open mindedness and tolerance, liberal thinking, being so close to the best universities in the US, world class theater and opera performances always nearby, etc. The list seems endless! We won't miss the crazy expensive rents, paying for parking (if you can find it) everywhere, the fog and mostly cold temperatures throughout the year. It's definitely going to be an interesting experience.

You have all been so welcoming, and I will be sure to use this site as a resource in the future as well. Thank you!

[projectmaximus]

Assuming the weather cooperates, Jazz Fest will be a welcome experience for ya.
Make a Scene Downtown - Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Friday 5/27

Hate to eliminate other possibilities before you see them, but I think you definitely ought to just focus on Riverside near Five Points or Avondale near the Shoppes. They've got the most walkability, unique shops, character, open mindedness and tolerance, arts, etc. The commute to work won't be so friendly though during normal rush hour.

[abvavgjoe]

Were you going to move to ATL at some point? What happened?

[SFtoATL]

Well, my husband had a choice between Atlanta and Jacksonville, as the department he will be in has a team in both cities. We chose Jacksonville because of the beaches..mainly.

[jwolfer]

Oh no....Now you are gonna get a bunch of people telling you that you should have chosen Atlanta. Enjoy your time in Jax.. def not San Francisco. Really anywhere is what you make it. Its fun to live in and visit different areas, how boring would it be if everywhere was the same. Sadly much of America is the same, Applebees by the Macys in the Mall or as they call them now "Town Centres"

My mother-in-law is from Palo Alto and has lived here for over 40 years, her brother doesn't like Florida because its "too flat and hot," but she likes it here... she doesn't like the cool marine air of San Francisco

[madcapmagishion]

OMG you are leaving SFO and choose JAX over ATL what were you thinking......Just Kidding. Like jwolfer said above all 3 are totally different and each unique in its own way. Here's wishing you good luck on your upcoming move. Any place can be great if your willing to accept it for what it is. And dont crucify it for what it is not.

[Mavoufl]

Interesting viewpoints. We are working on a move to Jacksonville because we hope and expect it will be MORE liberal than where we live now (Alabama). It just HAS to be, right? After long years in Oregon, nothing in the southeast seems progressive in any way, but we are learning to appreciate the good it does have to offer, encourage "evolution" and contribute something positive wherever we find the opportunity. Maybe you will find much to enjoy - hope so.

[jwolfer]

Originally Posted by Mavoufl

Interesting viewpoints. We are working on a move to Jacksonville because we hope and expect it will be MORE liberal than where we live now (Alabama). It just HAS to be, right? After long years in Oregon, nothing in the southeast seems progressive in any way, but we are learning to appreciate the good it does have to offer, encourage "evolution" and contribute something positive wherever we find the opportunity. Maybe you will find much to enjoy - hope so.

Imagine that Jax being more liberal than a place. Riverside/Avondale, San Marco or maybe the beaches would be the most liberal parts of Jax.

My great-grandparents lived in a commune called NewLlano in SW Louisiana in the 1920s. There was quite of bit of "progressive thinking" in the rural South at the time. My cousin is active in the Florida Democrat Party and he grew up in Clay County the most Republican county in the state.

Most of the family is libertarian leaning

[JBtwinz]

Originally Posted by SFtoATL

projectmaxiums, thank you for your input. Yes, we will be visiting over the Memorial Day weekend. Thanks for the heads up about the jazz festival.
Those lofts seem like a really nice place. We'll be sure to check them out.
Not so sure about the other condos/apartments. We do appreciate a more unique feel of a neighborhood and are not too keen on the cookie cutter subdivisions. What makes the whole move even harder is the fact that we really love San Francisco: the diversity (and level of education) of people we meet, the many different top notch restaurants, being able to walk everywhere, the hustle of the big city (while researching things I found out that population density in SF is 27 times bigger than the density in Jacksonville), open mindedness and tolerance, liberal thinking, being so close to the best universities in the US, world class theater and opera performances always nearby, etc. The list seems endless! We won't miss the crazy expensive rents, paying for parking (if you can find it) everywhere, the fog and mostly cold temperatures throughout the year. It's definitely going to be an interesting experience.

You have all been so welcoming, and I will be sure to use this site as a

resource in the future as well. Thank you!

If you really love SF I think it would be a hard transition for you in my opinion. The two could not be farther apart. As far as politics go, I have never really thought about or against moving somewhere because of the political climate or a party line in that area. That seems pretty far out there.

[JBtwinz]

PS Good luck, I hope you find something to your liking here.