Tampa Vs. SE Florida - Opinions?

[lyriclocks]

Originally Posted by TechichiChihuahuas

Largo is a city, as is Port Saint Lucie so I'm confused trying to figure it all out online.

The individual that got me here to FL lived in PSL so I have spent some time there. He left because he could not afford to live there. He calls it "a bedroom community". It strikes me as very clean and suburban. Work will more than likely be elsewhere (thus why he says "bedroom as in people come home to sleep at night, work elsewhere). Very quiet , expensive (in my opinion, but you'll probably love it). Wanna see pics of my visit? . . .
http://public.fotki.com/lovinlocks/2009/port-saint-lucie/ (broken link)

Figured perhaps decent to see a place from someone else's perspective vs. a marketing ploy. Hope you enjoy 'em.

LL

[lyriclocks]

Originally Posted by CTGirlNoMore

I'm torn between Tampa area (cheaper than S. FL) and S. FL cuz I know it and feel comfortable there. I know I will make a trip to Tampa when I can and check it out though. Also, my dad will be moving to S. Fl so it would be nice to be close to him.

Again though, S. Fl more expensive than Tampa. LOL

Hello CT,

Why not live in Tampa and visit Dad. I just believe, believe you would not regret it. Tampa to S. Fl is such a quick drive - not far at all. You could have the best of both worlds.

[dk22]

Originally Posted by CTGirlNoMore

Anyone have any opinions for a 30's single female?

First off, let me say I am not coming to Florida (sadly) anytime soon due to the economy. But since I was an early teen I've wanted to live there and no matter the heat, it has never changed my mind (I've visted in both winter and July/August, so I'm well aware). I'm just trying to get idea for when I DO make it there.

I've only ever visited the SE and Orlando areas and love them both. I know SE is expensive though. I've heard Tampa area is more reasonable, and still good for younger people.

Any opinions on this? I will visit at some point, but for now I'm just looking for opinions.

P.S. - I have no intention, whenever I get to FL, of coming without a job, or having money to get me by "just in case" for a while, and I would work whatever job I could find even if just to tide me over and have money coming in.

I think you've said it before in your other posts as well that you love and are familiar in SE FL and Orlando. At this point, the cost of living between the place isn't that much of a difference. The landscape and vegetation is so different though. The mindset between the central and south is completely different. More midwesterners in the central and more northeasterners in the southeast. It depends on which type of people you like. Midwesterners are nice and quiet in front of you, but will think of you differently when you're not around while northeasterners are more up front and don't hold much back.

[CTGirlNoMore]

See, that's the thing - if I move to FL, I want to see palm trees and such. I'd have to look back in the thread, but somewhere, someone posted that in the Tampa area you get more regular trees than palm trees.

[BradS1]

I think that's true. In Tampa and the surrounding area, there are a ton more deciduous trees like we have up north. The SE coast is much more tropical. There are plenty of palms in and around Tampa, just not in the same density as down south.

[gypsychic]

Tampa is sort of the dividing line, as to how tropical it looks. Tampa itself does have some palm trees and a few tropical plants, but overall it resembles more of the south like the Carolinas for landscape. St. Pete has more palms and tropical foliage. You pretty much have to go south, like to Sarasota and on down to see it get more tropical looking. Even Bradenton has a lot of the big old moss-draped oak trees - but it's neat because I always say it looks like the tropics meets the old south. Lots of big oaks and deciduous trees, but plenty of palms, banyans, orchid trees and the like.