Who doesnt like Florida?

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

To all the Florida residents:

Is there anyone who moved to FL from other areas of USA and wished they did not move? I love Florida because it seems to have such diversity in terms of diving, from reefs, to wrecks and caves etc. I was hoping to move there (someday) but I was talking to a former colleague of mine who moved near Miami area and does not like it. She is not a diver so all these things do not matter to her but I was wondering if there is anyone who dives, moved to Florida and then thought "What did I just do???."

Anyone ...???

 

[pocky21]

I moved here strictly for the diving, and strictly for that reason. We have countless wrecks and trash piles off the coast which make for incredible recreational diving and spearfishing. It takes me an hour and a half to get to Marianna, and 45 minutes to Morrison/Vortex. If I want to dive a deep wreck, it's only two hours to Pensacola and the Mighty O.

Most of the locals hate this place, and there isn't much to do if you're a land lubber. Wages are substantially lower than what I'm used to, but the cost of living is also lower to match. I can't speak for Central/South Florida, but it's pretty easy to get by up here if you have a skilled or professional background. Just stay out of banjo country and it's a pretty decent place for a dive addict.

 

[iluvtheocean]

i think it really depends on where in FL you move to -- north/central florida have their issues. I love south florida myself. Plenty to do on land and easy access to the beach & charters. keys are just an hour or few away. Hard Rock is a good place to party after a dive.

it depends on what you do for a living, if you're retired, and if you're retired how old you are....
there are lots of places to live between miami and jupiter.
i personally stay out of miami unless i absolutely have to! ft lauderdale and surrounding areas i think are better..
drivers in miami scare me

 

[HalcyonDaze]

I've decided to drop anchor back here after a few years in Southern California and Washington State. I find the diving to be great, especially for sharks. The water temps and viz are a blessing after freezing my nads off and praying for ~40 foot viz in Puget Sound.

Overall, my rule is that South Florida is great provided you can stand mosquitoes, humidity, and anarchy :cool2:

 

[djtimmy77]

South Florida (Palm Beach/Broward/Miami-Dade):

I love the diving and the weather, and many of the other outdoor activities.

I dislike the overcrowding, rude/selfish/mean attitude from many of the transplants and winter inhabitants. Tons of terrible drivers, and relatively high crime. I put up with these negatives due to the positives and having a good job here.

Orlando/Tampa metro areas are also way overcrowded, with congested roads and relatively high crime, but less of the attitude.

Everywhere else in FL I have been fantastic...but good jobs in my line of work are scarce in those locations.

 

[keller34]

I lived in FLa in the 80's, loved it. Moved to NW GA for most of the 90's, loved it. Moved all around with the Army, hated it. Moved back to Tampa area, Hate it, because of the Drivers, people rushing and acting a fool, SNOWBIRDS!!!!! I like the Anna Maria area, Venice area, and a few others but my job prevents me from moving to those areas.

I have to make at least $38,000 a year as of right now. My wife can live anywhere because she travels. We almost thought about moving to Anna Maria but then we thought about my job. We are trying to pay everything off within the next year. PLus we want to save a bit for retirement without having to be 70 years old and still working.

If I had a job that I could do with that pay and Saturdays off for diving, and good areas, then I would move in no time flat!

 

[Twisted Bones]

The best diving is on the east coast and laid back living is on the west coast. I live in banjo land and hate it. Working my way down to Sarasota and then Venice eventually. Florida has much to do for the outdoors type. I moved from Nevada 7 years ago and would not even dream of going back to that dust bowl. Stay out of the big cities here and you will enjoy life to its fullest if you choose to do so.

 

[bilsant]

I came down from Pennsylvania to go to college in 1972. I just haven't gotten around to going home yet.

I'll take 30 seconds to think before free associating some things I deeply enjoy about South Florida that I wouldn't even know about if I hadn't come here:




Parrots in my back yard.

Sitting at work at 3pm when a get a call from friends..."what are you doing tonite?"...and at 6pm we're beach diving.

The absolutely lush variety of the interesting people you meet here.

Getting to practice my profession in an exciting "target rich" environment.

Cuban coffee.

Latin women.

20 minutes drive East and I'm on the beach. 20 minutes West and I'm in the Everglades.

Offshore wrecks.


Or maybe not...in my humble experience, the folks who move because they don't like the people they meet and are bored with their surroundings, generally end up feeling the same way at the new location.

 

[letterboy]

Sometimes I miss Hills... But I drive by my trashmore in Pompano and get over it.

The snow birds are annoying. I would bitch about the transplants, but I am one...

No snow is a bummer, not.

There is so much to do down here, parks and green spaces everywhere. Water activities, land activities even airborn activities...

Would I leave SFL? Only if I moved north to a more "rural" part of the coast... I miss shooting guns in my backyard... The golf course frowns on that here...

 

[pocky21]

Latin women.

One thing N. Florida is severely lacking in. Mind if I borrow a few from you guys?