I am a nursing student currently living in Minnesota. after graduation....about a year and a half....my husband and I would like to move to Florida. My heart has always been set on Tampa....big, but not too big....low cost of living....right by the water...and of course....hot as he** (which is sooo much better than freezing my buns off for six months of the year)
This spring, he and I will be visiting his grandmother in Sarasota to check out the area, and look into things.
Can anyone tell me about some of the cities...Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Pensacola, etc......the good, the bad....good hospitals, etc. Any information and bragging would be greatly appreciated.:kiss
I would also be interested in making pen pals, and maybe meet some of you when I come out in the spring.
As far as the civil war goes...I think that the many different views on the actual purpose of the war boil down to economics..freeing the slaves would have ruined the economy of the south and since slaves were not valued as humans..the confederates fought to retain their wealth (i.e: slaves). Oversimplified? Maybe...but what I believe is the message behind that flag.
I realize I am ultra-sensitive and on defense mode here, but I feel like a fish out of water in this community and it makes me very uncomfortable.
All I can say is that Jax is in part of the Bible Belt. Ultraconservative views of Biblical teaching and doctrine are to be expected. The Lord has led me to where He wants me to be in my Christian walk. I will not judge the beliefs of another. I have enough struggles keeping up with my own.
As far as the Old South is concerned, the Civil War ruined the economy, not the end of slavery. I have studied the Civil War for many years and I am convinced that a number of factors led to the conflict. While slavery alone did not cause it, no doubt it was an agitating influence. I believe that if slavery alone did not exist in the USA, the war would still have happened. There were just too many other causative effects in place for it not to.
The slavery issue has caused me some grief personally. I will give an example. While I was a member of the Sheriff's Office, I worked for a while with an African American officer. We had much in common, we were both Christians, in fact he was a minister of a Baptist Church. We were both pilots and had a lot to talk about. Over time I noticed he became increasingly distant and eventually hostile. I confronted him many times and he eventually gave the answer. He said that he noticed that my surname was common to African Americans, and he knew that many slaves adopted the surname of their masters and deduced that my ancestors had been slave owners. Therefore he came to hate me! The funny thing was that I had researched my family tree and those with my surname had never owned slaves that I could find. Yes, I did find some from other lineal lines that were slave owners. I didn't choose them, that's just the way it was back then. What I found strange was that while he was never a slave and I was never a slave owner, he still hated me based on a family name!
Oh well, enough of my rambling. I just hope you find a happy and comfortable place to live. But we still welcome you in Jax with open arms! :flowersfo
True, but per capita....I've never experienced such saturation. The reason I want to get my kids OUT of here is so they CAN live in a diverse community where all people and religions are accepted. The racism and " if you dont accept our beliefs your going to hell" mentality here is backwoods. I have lived in the Midwest, West Coast, Pacific Northwest, and New England. Trust me, this is not the place to be if you want to raise open minded children. We can teach it at home, but once your kids get "out there", they are easily influenced by peers.
BTW--MANY people see the confederate flag= racism. I am one of them
It actually is not the South but Florida.
If you review data/stats from monitoring groups, Florida has one of the highest rates per capita of racist/racial identity/"Christian" identity groups in the USA, much higher than many of the "real" southern states. Of course many members of those groups are "transplants" from ...the Midwest, West Coast, etc. For that matter, Idaho and Montana are also noted for racial separation groups.
Many of those confederate flags that you see....are on the vehicles of people from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, etc.
The well known burning of a black business man in Plant City was well publicized as a "southern" incident, but was perpetrated by recent (within the year) transplants from Ohio.
Jacksonville also had rather ugly racial incidents in the early 1970s....when busing started. I was there.
Specializes in Neurosciences/Telemetry/Med-Surg/Travel.
I'm in the west side of Jacksonville, I am Filipino and I don't feel racism here. I love it here in Jacksonville. I did feel favoritism at a certain workplace (will be left unmentioned) but I'm glad I don't work full time there. Been here for 10 yrs moved here straight from the Philippines.
I'm in the west side of Jacksonville, I am Filipino and I don't feel racism here. I love it here in Jacksonville. I did feel favoritism at a certain workplace (will be left unmentioned) but I'm glad I don't work full time there. Been here for 10 yrs moved here straight from the Philippines.
We feel :welcome: here.
Hi dona4jc,
Maybe you could help me find any hospital in Jacksonville or any part in Florida who is accepting direct hire. I'm presently working in Dublin, Ireland for over five years now. I have a total of 14 years nursing experience in Medical, Surgical, Geriatrics, Learning Disability and 1 year in Accident and Emergency Dept. I am proud to say am Filipino, recently passed the NCLEX-RN for Florida BON last Sept. 16 '06, pending issuance of permanent license until I submit the SSN. Please share any info re: sponsorship. I think I opt for direct hiring, maybe there's a big cut-off if hired thru an agency. Thanks a million! God Bless Us Always!
If you review data/stats from monitoring groups, Florida has one of the highest rates per capita of racist/racial identity/"Christian" identity groups in the USA, much higher than many of the "real" southern states. Of course many members of those groups are "transplants" from ...the Midwest, West Coast, etc. For that matter, Idaho and Montana are also noted for racial separation groups.
Many of those confederate flags that you see....are on the vehicles of people from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, etc.
The well known burning of a black business man in Plant City was well publicized as a "southern" incident, but was perpetrated by recent (within the year) transplants from Ohio.
Jacksonville also had rather ugly racial incidents in the early 1970s....when busing started. I was there.
Well said Caroladybelle. I have noticed that sometimes the display of the Confederate flag is by people who do it just to offend/intimidate/disrespect others. They have no Southern/Confederate ancestry and have no idea what Southern Nationalism is about.
I remember the incidents you mentioned relating to busing. I was just ahead of that stuff and wasn't bused but some of my neighbors 2-3 years behind me in age were. It got ugly at times.
There was an incident in the mid 80's where a fellow officer shot a suspect and a notorious state rep made an issue of it which resulted in unrest. It was a justified shoot by a very good officer and good person but it got some bad/biased press. It got my not so smiling face on the cover of Newsweek wearing full riot gear.
I'm in the west side of Jacksonville, I am Filipino and I don't feel racism here. I love it here in Jacksonville. I did feel favoritism at a certain workplace (will be left unmentioned) but I'm glad I don't work full time there. Been here for 10 yrs moved here straight from the Philippines.
We feel :welcome: here.
dona4jc, I am happy you found a good home in Jax. We always referred to the Westside as the Bestside. I had many Filipino friends growing up. This may be due to Jax being a Navy town, as many Navy veterans were from the Philippines. Lots of good friendships and memories.
I remember the incidents you mentioned relating to busing. I was just ahead of that stuff and wasn't bused but some of my neighbors 2-3 years behind me in age were. It got ugly at times.
There was an incident in the mid 80's where a fellow officer shot a suspect and a notorious state rep made an issue of it which resulted in unrest. It was a justified shoot by a very good officer and good person but it got some bad/biased press. It got my not so smiling face on the cover of Newsweek wearing full riot gear.
Daddy was stationed at Cecil Field, and we were living in the area nearby, and then for a while, on base. My sister got bused to/went to a couple of the more "problematic" schools in the area. I walked to school (Gregory drive) where we had to deal with fellow students that were angry about being bused. It is sad when an elementary school has that much anger in it. I then went to the "ele" in Baldwin.
Daddy retired and we relocated to Central Florida...he became a police officer. The local county elected a Sheriff...the Sheriff got busted for corruption...later, became high up in the NAAWP (David Duke's group). Daddy was for a bit involved as a witness in a case involving racial issues and a couple of local "sons". My sister and I kept finding those lovely calling cards "You have been visited by a member of the Klan", etc. on our cars when we at school. They were trying to intimidate him into changing testimony.
Florida tends to be a haven for many (what I consider) edgy groups. There are encampments around Melbourne/Vero and Auburndale for Militias, racial separatists, militant antiabortion groups, etc.
Daddy was stationed at Cecil Field, and we were living in the area nearby, and then for a while, on base. My sister got bused to/went to a couple of the more "problematic" schools in the area. I walked to school (Gregory drive) where we had to deal with fellow students that were angry about being bused. It is sad when an elementary school has that much anger in it. I then went to the "ele" in Baldwin.
Daddy retired and we relocated to Central Florida...he became a police officer. The local county elected a Sheriff...the Sheriff got busted for corruption...later, became high up in the NAAWP (David Duke's group). Daddy was for a bit involved as a witness in a case involving racial issues and a couple of local "sons". My sister and I kept finding those lovely calling cards "You have been visited by a member of the Klan", etc. on our cars when we at school. They were trying to intimidate him into changing testimony.
Florida tends to be a haven for many (what I consider) edgy groups. There are encampments around Melbourne/Vero and Auburndale for Militias, racial separatists, militant antiabortion groups, etc.
Some of the places you mentioned, like Cecil Field, Baldwin, Gregory drive elementary, all bring back memories. My first murder arrest as a city policeman was for a suspect who did the deed at Gregory.
I think Florida attracts lots of folks for the same reasons. Some are good and some are bad. The Marion County area is home to some "edgy" people.
Klan and LOS are prevalent but still keep a low profile. Not far from where I live now.
Sunrise or Sunset? Gulf side is beautiful for it's sunsets, water is more friendly and TONS of intercoastal waterways, islands, beaches, friendly people and lots of culture in the Tampa and St. Pete area. Coming from Minnesota you may get sticker shock in the housing market though. We just bout a house built in 1971 for just shy of $400,000 in St. Pete. It was just remodeled though, on a golf course facing west with a pool (can't wait to move in...). Definately Tampa and St. Pete area - include Sarasota in that as well. Orlando is nice, tourist driven, and not really near the big beaches. Atlantic side is not as user friendly either. Good luck and welcome to paradise, the red tide, hurricanes, alligators and sharks ( no swimming in fresh water here - 'gators have that area) quite unlike the land of lakes in Minnisota (or Michigan where I was from). All in all though, it sure is nice (except July and August....)/ Welcome.
Sunrise or Sunset? Gulf side is beautiful for it's sunsets, water is more friendly and TONS of intercoastal waterways, islands, beaches, friendly people and lots of culture in the Tampa and St. Pete area. Coming from Minnesota you may get sticker shock in the housing market though. We just bout a house built in 1971 for just shy of $400,000 in St. Pete. It was just remodeled though, on a golf course facing west with a pool (can't wait to move in...). Definately Tampa and St. Pete area - include Sarasota in that as well. Orlando is nice, tourist driven, and not really near the big beaches. Atlantic side is not as user friendly either. Good luck and welcome to paradise, the red tide, hurricanes, alligators and sharks ( no swimming in fresh water here - 'gators have that area) quite unlike the land of lakes in Minnisota (or Michigan where I was from). All in all though, it sure is nice (except July and August....)/ Welcome.
pyro, sounds like you found a home! I spent most of my life in NE Fla. After changing careers, I went to Sarasota. Lived near Myakka State Park. Worked out of the Venice airport. I was reassigned after 2 years further north. I mostly miss the restaurants. Like Sugar & Spice on Cattleman Rd, Tony's AUCE sushi on Stickney Point, Taste of Tokyo on 41. In Venice on the island there was Carneys with the live Irish band, the little soda and hot dog place on the strip just down from Carney's where they make you a Coke the old fashioned way with about 4 different ingredients, man it's good, and be sure to try the peanut butter hot dog, awesome...on the Venice airport there is the WWII theme restaurant, on the Gulf side west of the airport is Sharkey's on the beach, where I had many a grouper sandwich with lemonade on the open air deck overlooking the sandy white beach and emerald green water. East of the airport on Bus41 is Rogers BBQ, the best BBQ on the planet, bar none. The chicken thigh & leg was a full meal by itself, HUGE, the biggest piece of chicken I've ever seen, and the turkey leg was a treat too. On Saturdays you could ride the iron horse over to Rossiter's Harley for free dogs and soda pop. Ya know, I really kinda miss the place. I may have to go down there for a day or two just to eat. Sounds like a good Harley ride idea.
Hey 58, I lived in North Port before getting hurricaned away ( I worked at St. Joe's. during Charley). I didn't want you to forget Englewood! If you've been there. I prefer the quiet and Manasota Beach is my favorite place on the face of this earth. Many a birthday party and sunset there. Also, Cafe 776 had THE BEST grouper sandwich, I don't care what anyone says!:bowingpurI miss it tremendously.
Hey 58, I lived in North Port before getting hurricaned away ( I worked at St. Joe's. during Charley). I didn't want you to forget Englewood! If you've been there. I prefer the quiet and Manasota Beach is my favorite place on the face of this earth. Many a birthday party and sunset there. Also, Cafe 776 had THE BEST grouper sandwich, I don't care what anyone says!:bowingpurI miss it tremendously.
Hi Nancy! That's a sweet name. I have some friends in North Port. I almost built a house in Englewood. There was a lot for sale on the Buchan Airport and I was all fired up to build there and have my house and hangar on the airport. The foreign owner backed out of the deal. That's when I bought a place at another airport community.
I flew over Manasota a lot when we flew enforcement missions out of Venice targeting the illegal netters down in Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island. You may have seen my silver and black helicopter flying along the beach.
I moved out before Charley, but I returned to fly relief supplies to Sanibel and Pine Isl, Captiva too, staging out of Page Field in Ft Myers and the Charlotte County Airport. Where I live now, Francis tore my place up, and while I was away working Ivan in Pensacola, along came Jeanne and did more damage.
You might have competition for the grouper sandwich. I can't remember the name of the place, but to get there you take BUS41 over the north bridge coming out of Venice. At the first place you can turn left, turn there and the restaurant is on the water (inland side) and has a nice deck overlooking the water. They had a superb grouper sandwich! Whenever we had aircraft vendors or equipment suppliers visit, we would take them there. They usually bought lunch :wink2: .
I see you moved to Knoxville?
Gee it's a small world. I have a lot near Rogersville, TN up near Tri-Cities. I plan to retire there when I get old and gray. Really pretty area. About an hour or less NE of Knoxville on 11. One of my best friends lives in Sevierville which is very close to Knoxville, and we go to the shows in Pigeon Forge every year. If I come across any grouper sandwich places up that way I will let you know. :Santa1:
(which is sooo much better than freezing my buns off for six months of the year)
58flyer
290 Posts
All I can say is that Jax is in part of the Bible Belt. Ultraconservative views of Biblical teaching and doctrine are to be expected. The Lord has led me to where He wants me to be in my Christian walk. I will not judge the beliefs of another. I have enough struggles keeping up with my own.
As far as the Old South is concerned, the Civil War ruined the economy, not the end of slavery. I have studied the Civil War for many years and I am convinced that a number of factors led to the conflict. While slavery alone did not cause it, no doubt it was an agitating influence. I believe that if slavery alone did not exist in the USA, the war would still have happened. There were just too many other causative effects in place for it not to.
The slavery issue has caused me some grief personally. I will give an example. While I was a member of the Sheriff's Office, I worked for a while with an African American officer. We had much in common, we were both Christians, in fact he was a minister of a Baptist Church. We were both pilots and had a lot to talk about. Over time I noticed he became increasingly distant and eventually hostile. I confronted him many times and he eventually gave the answer. He said that he noticed that my surname was common to African Americans, and he knew that many slaves adopted the surname of their masters and deduced that my ancestors had been slave owners. Therefore he came to hate me! The funny thing was that I had researched my family tree and those with my surname had never owned slaves that I could find. Yes, I did find some from other lineal lines that were slave owners. I didn't choose them, that's just the way it was back then. What I found strange was that while he was never a slave and I was never a slave owner, he still hated me based on a family name!
Oh well, enough of my rambling. I just hope you find a happy and comfortable place to live. But we still welcome you in Jax with open arms! :flowersfo