Moving from NOVA to Tampa- Anything I should know? (Orlando: 2014, insurance)

[JoanCrawford]

Hi! I recently found out that we are making a move to Tampa from Northern Virginia in the Spring of 2014. I admit, I'm quite excited for the beach and weather, but I just wanted to ask you friendly locals if there is anything I should know before moving? Thanks! ;-)

[NALEXAND]

There are lots of things to know. I would recommend doing a lot of research on the area including reading posts on here to help you learn what to expect. As a NOVA transplant here, I can tell you to expect a much slower pace, less traffic, cheaper housing, higher utilities, no state taxes, higher insurance premiums, 2 seasons instead of 4, heat from April to November, lots of rain in the summer months, to spray for bugs and spiders often, not see any deer, horrible drivers, to pay a few hundred dollars to register and get FL tags, less pretentious people, really flat land,lots of fun things to do, higher grocery bill.....that's the main ones that I can think of right now.

[JoanCrawford]

Originally Posted by NALEXAND

There are lots of things to know. I would recommend doing a lot of research on the area including reading posts on here to help you learn what to expect. As a NOVA transplant here, I can tell you to expect a much slower pace, less traffic, cheaper housing, higher utilities, no state taxes, higher insurance premiums, 2 seasons instead of 4, heat from April to November, lots of rain in the summer months, to spray for bugs and spiders often, not see any deer, horrible drivers, to pay a few hundred dollars to register and get FL tags, less pretentious people, really flat land,lots of fun things to do, higher grocery bill.....that's the main ones that I can think of right now.

Uh oh, are there lots of bugs?

[Not_liking_FL]

One poster here on the TB C-D forum never sees bugs, but the rest of us do. The good news is you can keep them under control by hiring an exterminator.

[chi_tino]

...or a cat.

[Trigger-f]

Seriously, there's a lot of bugs here..do your research in case you don't like living in a place that is overrun (depending on the area), with bugs. Example, (and this does not violate any rules of trolling or other mambo jambo); 2 yrs ago I returned late at night from Orlando and opened my garage door to park; approx 20-25 palmetto bugs rushed in because it was probably too hot for them to be outside. It took me 1 hr to find and kill all of them. We usually spray but even then you'll have to deal with palmetto bugs or other bugs. This is FL.

[kline19]

Originally Posted by Trigger-f

Seriously, there's a lot of bugs here..do your research in case you don't like living in a place that is overrun (depending on the area), with bugs. Example, (and this does not violate any rules of trolling or other mambo jambo); 2 yrs ago I returned late at night from Orlando and opened my garage door to park; approx 20-25 palmetto bugs rushed in because it was probably too hot for them to be outside. It took me 1 hr to find and kill all of them. We usually spray but even then you'll have to deal with palmetto bugs or other bugs. This is FL.

i understand it is written in jest... but still the imagery is scary

[jsun556]

Originally Posted by Trigger-f

2 yrs ago I returned late at night from Orlando and opened my garage door to park; approx 20-25 palmetto bugs rushed in because it was probably too hot for them to be outside. It took me 1 hr to find and kill all of them. We usually spray but even then you'll have to deal with palmetto bugs or other bugs. This is FL.

That seems a bit extreme. Are you sure they weren't on your garage door and fell off when you opened it? lol or do you have 10 bags of garbage sitting in your garage?

[Trigger-f]

Not in jest. I was just trying to emphasize people who are scared of bugs, or whatever wildlife in general is linked with a subtropical/tropical environment, that Tampa or FL would not be a good choice. I am the opposite. I embrace nature and love the variety of things you see down here. Btw, palmetto bugs are just disgusting, otherwise harmless. They live in the grass; mature ones can fly for a while, so people freak out.

[Trigger-f]

Originally Posted by jsun556

That seems a bit extreme. Are you sure they weren't on your garage door and fell off when you opened it? lol or do you have 10 bags of garbage sitting in your garage?

Nope, no garbage in the garage. Who keeps garbage in the garage in FL? A few were on the outside wall above the garage, some came from different directions. It could be they were attracted by the light or were trying to escape the heat. Hasn't happened since then but when I mention this people freak out. hehe