Why Does Everyone Hate Florida So Much??

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I live in Chicago and have visited almost every part of Florida, I am actually going to be visiting Ft.Lauderdale at the end on January. I ask anyone here that has ever lived in Florida and they have nothing but terrible things to say. They tell me the schools and education systems are bad and that the majority of the population have low Iq's and are poor. I don't know why this is, everyone seemed pretty normal to me?? I would like to move there one day and start a new life with my husband but I'm worried about salary and job placement for both himself and I. Why are some peoples experiences so bad, its so beautiful and the people are very nice. I just don't get it. Can someone help me understand why this is??

Specializes in Medical/Telemetry/Neuro..

Ah, Florida! I lived there for 14 years. I moved there from Northern California. After about 5 years...I was ready to move back to CA. The change we fun. I got to visit/drive to places on the East Coast, experience the most beautiful, loud and flashing tropical storms and experience a frog leg festival! The ocean is warm and the causeways over the intercoastal waterways are beautiful! I don't regret moving there and changing things up for a while in my life.... but I would never move back. My family and I just visited there (we are back in CA). We could not believe that we lasted there 14 years. It is FLAT!!! I need elevations. It's hot in the winter and unbearably humid in the summer (unless you love AC and not going outdoors)....so no change of seasons....the bugs are not as bad as people like to complain about...but there are more. We used to keep ALL are food in the fridge to keep out the ants. And don't get me started on fireants! O.K...the hurricanes! I started nursing school during the 2004 hurricane season. Can you say-I almost lost my mind with anxiety. Hurricane season blows! I would not judge "floridians". There are wonderful ones and not so wonderful ones-just like everywhere. It is a melting pot of people. I got an idea of what work is like in Florida as a student nurse in Clinicals. And working in CA with ratios and strong unions-it is not fare to compare. Florida has lower pay and higher pt load. I would guess your standard of living would be about the same because there is no State Income tax and the property taxes are lower.

If you like shopping, dining-out, fishing, thunder storms, humidity, hot weather 9 months a year and occasionally boarding up your windows....you should give Florida a try! I did and I survived and I'm glad I did!:yeah:

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Specializes in telemetry, medsurg, homecare, psychiatry.

jUST GOT A JOB OFFER IN CLEARWATER. Anyone have any advice or experience with living in that area. Is the Tampa area a good place to raise kids? Also, does anyone have any idea of a nice affordable community in that area. Seems like costs of homes are higher in clearwater than tampa. I would be ok with living in Tampa and working in clearwater, but I wouldn't want to drive any longer than 30 minutes. Advice?

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/Oncology/CSU/Managed Care/ Case Management.

Well said Morn 2006!! :up:I hate hurrricane season too; Sept-Nov--You just pray that a "big one" doesn't come your way. :saint:Fla isn't that bad but I guess I am at a point where I miss Cali and miss traveling. I am going to do that soon...thinking about it. Either Va, Md, Dc--Would love to work for the National Institute of Health!! :yeah:I Love Research and Epidemology!!!:yeah::specs:

Nurseforlife clearwater is nice. Nice beach. As far as Tampa I recommend the New Tampa area. It may be a 45 min drive. depending on traffic. Very nice and quite affordable. There are some homes that may not be within reason but very nice area and pretty safe. Alot of doctors, nurses and other professionals live in that area. I like it there. Let me know if you have any other questions..:wink2:

And welcome to the Sunshine State!!:)

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If you don't like it here GO HOME where you came from!

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Specializes in PP/Nursery/NICU/Ped home care.

I grew up just outside of DC and moved to Florida 2 years ago. I am so glad I did. I live in Sarasota...the people are well educated and friendly. I will never leave!! Very beautiful area.

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Specializes in geriatric, mental health.

Hey I moved from

chicago about 6yrs ago and let me tell you when I first got here I was in such awe of everything I thought this was beautiful and that was beautiful and to be honewst with you it still is how ever... there is nothing to do as far as culture wise or just to be able and go out and walk and look.... I am trying to say there are more attractions that are more or less free than there is here in Florida. I know when first moved here I said of the bat Florida is lacking in "flavor" if you know what I mean. dont get me wrong if I could have things kinda calm like they are now on the south side trust me I would be there in a heart beat. however you cant run from the drugs or the crime so I am here in Clermont where things are trying to build up which is great for me and my kids... I just get frustrated because you have to have transportation, there isn't much for schooling for myself, however my kids are older so I cant say what it would be like if we were in the Chi but they were at a scholl that taught spanish which I thought was great! so to me florida has no real flavor but then again the Chi is my where my heart is sooo its no doubt that people would favor the states up north a lil bit more. but I do like half way decently where I am. good luck!!

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Specializes in cardiac, ortho, med-surg.
just got a job offer in clearwater. anyone have any advice or experience with living in that area. is the tampa area a good place to raise kids? also, does anyone have any idea of a nice affordable community in that area. seems like costs of homes are higher in clearwater than tampa. i would be ok with living in tampa and working in clearwater, but i wouldn't want to drive any longer than 30 minutes. advice?

i am a little late here, but i would check the neighborhoods very carefully. go to the fdle website and put in the address of where you are considering living. you may be shocked at the number of predators and offenders that are registered. imagine the ones that are not? i lived there for many years, and my children were born there. we were in sarasota county, about 88 miles south of tampa/clearwater.

we were hurricaned out in 2004 by charley, and moved to tn. my children were behind in their education. i was amazed! my kids went to a "gold seal" school with and "a" rating from the state. and they were still behind tn. as for your travel time, mornings are very busy. if you can get your kids into a private school, and that still doesn't guarantee the best, but it is better, go private. florida is a haven for many, but there is no way your child(ren) can play outside without constant supervision. i don't want to paint a picture of evil, but there must be a lot of diligence in the supervision of your kids.

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Specializes in cardiac, ortho, med-surg.

you must live in deland!:lol2:

i agree with you. since i moved to orlando i have never been around so many diverse people. i am actually the minority here. i am not even kidding! i find it to be opposite about sundays too. if you had cut your grass back home, here i dont think that bothers anyone.
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Hillbilly --Redneck, Same difference!!:yawn: No need to get uptight about symantics. :rolleyes:

I think the point was that there IS a difference, it's NOT semantics. It's all the same to you, but to them while redneck is something they take pride in, hillbilly is people from the Appalachian mountains with no common sense or exposure to modern conveniences (think Beverly Hillbillies). Not the same at all.

To most of my Floridian family, even "cracker" is a term they like- it comes from cracker cowboys cracking their whips in Florida history, not a pejorative to them. Call someone a hillbilly, though, and they are likely to at least threaten to kick your yankee a##. Friendly warning.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Pedi/Tele.

I moved to Florida in May 2005 I couldn't wait to leave by December 2005! I moved from RI and the ONLY thing I liked was the weather. I lived outside of Ft. Myers and it was expensive, dangerous (crime rate), schools were horrible, jobs were low paying. We had palm meadows for foliage, croc's, no-see-ums, fire ants, wild pigs, black snakes. You name it.. ugh!

I also lived through the hurricane Katrina year... the was horrible.

Definitely check out neighborhoods... I didn't know about my neighborhood till after I left. One too many bodies found in a fridge for my liking. :eek:

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Florida has it's good and bad points.

Yes the cost of living is decent.. Post recession will be interesting..

Jobs do not pay anything.. unless it's medical or technical.

School system. I've worked in one school system. I would try for fundamental schools (public magnet), home school or private schools.

Schools like community colleges are reasonable.

Most ppl come down to Fla without doing their research.

I had the local paper sent to me on sundays. I looked at the crime reports pertaining to neighborhoods.

South of Tampa you are going to pay money to breathe.

Again Research living in Florida. It's not milk and honey..

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jUST GOT A JOB OFFER IN CLEARWATER. Anyone have any advice or experience with living in that area. Is the Tampa area a good place to raise kids? Also, does anyone have any idea of a nice affordable community in that area. Seems like costs of homes are higher in clearwater than tampa. I would be ok with living in Tampa and working in clearwater, but I wouldn't want to drive any longer than 30 minutes. Advice?

You want to live in Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor,Carrollwood (Tampa) or Citrus Park (Tampa) or Town n Country (tampa). You do not want to spend ur time in traffic. Tampa locations.. you'll cross the Campbell bridge to work. Palm Harbor or SH . you'll drive up or down US 19. There are some nice subdivision in PH and SH. Good luck

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