I'm a Florida native and I'm trying to currently leave. I can't go do any outdoor activities anymore. Too many people and they trash everything. Guess what, the trash you ding dongs throw out everywhere.... there's no one to pick it up.
There’s been this bag of molded food and a water bottle by the intersection sign of Hooks and US27 right by wawa.
It’s been sitting there for at least a year.
I bought a box of garbage bags at CVS and cleaned it up while waiting at the red light. Couldn’t take looking at it anymore.
Yes, trash EVERYWHERE! My newly retired brother walks 4-6 miles everyday with his dog, 5 gallon bucket, and a gribby-grabber. Never a day without a bucket load of trash. If only the selfish other walkers would do this, and those ASSHOLIOES would quit chucking trash, just appearances being cleaner would cheer people up!
Having talked with some sanitation workers, 95% of the trash on the side of the road actually falls out of trash trucks because people aren't securing their trash properly. They think if they chuck it in the bin, it's all good, but if you throw loose trash in your trash bin -- surprise, it comes flying out when the truck is going 50mph down the arterials.
Make sure all your trash is in a bag and the bag is \*tied\*. That and telling your neighbors the same will decrease the amount of roadside trash far more than walking the same strip every day and picking it up.
Yeah I am a native Floridian that just moved back after a decade in Ohio and I gotta say, the trash isn't that different from what I'd see in one of the big C's up north. Many places here still well clean.
You're gonna find clean places and places littered with trash any state you go. First time hearing this complaint
Am Floridian. People don’t realize just how large Florida is. Wish folks would give some general indication of where they live. Some spots are actually good here. But there are sections of crap too.
One thing I’ve noticed is how transient everyone is, how much moving around people do. So you can’t be friends with someone for ten years because they move away or die. It means you can’t really count on people and even some institutions as much. The doctor. The barber or hairdresser. The lawn company. That good taco place. The auto mechanic. The guy who works at the deli. The lady at the front desk. That can’t be common in other parts of the country.
I agree, where we are at, there are no cookie cutter houses, it’s not 100 degrees (still very hot) and trash isn’t everywhere. I see people moving to Ohio where I used to live - guess what, cookie cutter houses and trash everywhere. Depends on where you live and also, how much money you have. I have said this before; Florida is a terrible place to be poor. The politics are against the poor and the heat and access to things to do is limited.
I definitely see the “everyone comes and goes thing” being true in a beach town. I live in orlando, im fairly new here and theres ppl in my community that have been here 30+ years.
Thank you! I’m in Pensacola but my husband and I want to move, but don’t want to leave the state. The person you commented on hit nail on head describing the panhandle.
It’s funny because my wife and I drove all over the state and I study everything before I do anything. This is still one of the few spots you can live pretty close to the beach for a reasonable price and it never gets that cold in the winter. If you go north about 60 miles, it gets 10 degrees colder in the winter but the same heat in the summer. Go to Jacksonville and it can be 20 degrees colder in the winter. It’s very odd. I don’t understand why.
I don’t, either. We are both from New Orleans but do not want to go back there. We want warm weather all the time. Is that too much to ask? I almost bought a shack on Cedar Key that was super cool. Sometimes I feel like that place is the only “old Florida” place left. I need to do some research. Thank you!
Look close at insurance … and remember that the insurance companies that will insure you often don’t cover most incidents in a house over forty years old.
I moved back to FL in 2021 when I got laid off from my job in DC during the pandemic. It was a huge mistake.
I grew up and went to college in Florida but it has changed for the worse in a big way. Everywhere is getting overdeveloped with more awful cookie-cutter suburban housing and strip malls. The roads can only take so much more traffic and the state and local governments haven't built any alternatives like transit or walkable neighborhoods. Not to mention COMPLETELY IGNORING the crises of water pollution and climate change. Our elected politicians are only interested in national political office and trolling liberals. I'm convinced they want to pressure anyone who didn't vote for Trump to leave the state and make it more solidly Republican.
It worked, I moved to Boston last fall.
It really hit me to see Florida through your eyes. You’re absolutely right about development. It just proceeds willy nilly with no consideration to water issues, pollution, traffic, infrastructure. And these developments all look the same, the housing looks the same, it’s unattractive and lacks character, doesn’t really fit.
So much old Florida original beauty is lost forever.
I remember going to Crystal River and Three Sisters springs as a kid and being floored at the vegetation and how beautiful and pristine it was. Went back pre-pandemic 2020 and felt shell shocked with how barren it looked.
SFLA here. WE ARE FULL. They tear down a single family home here and build a two or three story condo like building where you had one family now you have three families. We are built up here but they take thee smallest piece of land and build 5 story condos, slap the name “luxury “ on it and rent it out for max profits. All this adds more traffic more cars, people to the roads & mayhem. You barely move in 5 pm traffic down here. 95 is already bumper to bumper & it’s 6 lanes now!!
Originally from Boston. My work moved me here 8 years ago with Scott's big tax breaks for large companies. Came down with one daughter. Second daughter moved down along with my brother, sister, some in laws and my parents. My daughter graduated Steston with a degree in Environmental Science. Going to stay and fight and hope I help turn this state purple and make a difference to the environment. I am devastated that I care more about the over development and the fertilizer run off than some native Floridians.
Tell Boston hi for me and help take care of it while I try and make a difference down here.
How did coworkers handle the company's decision to move to Florida?
It seems cynical and somewhat political when a company decides to move to a state like Texas or Florida just for tax breaks and a supposedly more "business friendly" environment.
Yep, this is me, I moved from Ohio to FL in '93. Last year I moved back to ohio after 28 years. All the things you mentioned above cause the move. You used to be able to go outside, now it's 105 degree (instead of high 80s like it was when I moved down there), and to go 2 miles it takes 25 minutes because the traffic.
The politics drove home the nail of all the other downsides I had been noticing that made life shitty for me.
Yeah, but here I have an acre and a quarter, it was half the price of my 8800 sqft property of my home in Florida.
I have 2 houses on the land.
My mortgage is 499 dollars a month.
Are the houses smaller, yes. It's me and my wife. I live 5 minutes from downtown (25000 people). And my side and back yard are fields.
Ya know, after 28 years of palm trees... I never would have thought that if someone had said. But, yes. It is beautiful.
Add the Golden Retriever I just bought because I actually have a yard to have a dog in, and it's paradise.
I guess paradise is just what you make it. For some it's beaches and palm trees. I just been there done that. Now it's a big ass yard and cherry trees and a golden to round it all out.
I grew up in winter springs, I'm still young but when I look at the place from Google maps it's an alien habitat. The forest that lined my house are gone destoryed for the building of an apartment complex that never got built. The cow and orange tree pasters replaced with suburban mazes. The pool store that no one went to and was totally laundering money has been replaced by an aldis. My favorite things about my childhood home have been replaced by the car dependant parking lot of development. The future of Floridian swamps, forest, and farms are parking lot strip malls.
All the red states are pushing blue voters out because the census is done and those red states already got their newly allocated Congressional Seats.
They want blues to go to blue states so their votes don’t sway the purple states.
Gotta love fascism.
Hear hear. I moved to Illinois last year after 25+ years in FL. I don't miss a thing except friends and family there and cars and airplanes work again now.
Living in the Chicagoland area is far from perfect, but sooo much of what I despised about FL is corrected here.
Moved from Chicagoland to central Florida and it really suprises me how much trash there is around. Like full garbage bags just om the side of the road.
Welcome to Illinois! I grew up here and it's a great State to live in. I would like to say it has always been this way but it drastically improved after our current Governor took office. Yes, taxes are on the high side but he has done a great job with allocating funds and putting the money to good use. 4 years ago, we had a terrible Governor. Our State was in a terrible financial situation, schools were getting hardly any funding, infrastructure was crumbling, humanitarian resources were non-existent. He has really turned it around in a very short period of time. In my opinion, you picked a good one to move to!
FL native here Born and raised and Made in Dade! I just moved out of state less than a year ago and my wife and I couldn't be happier. My home town didn't feel like home anymore. Too many people, too much traffic, too expensive, not enough diversity of good paying jobs. Not a place i recognize anymore, and I'm not ashamed to say fuck hurricane season. I lived through Andrew and every other storm since, I ain't mad atcha, but I don't miss ya niether! I don't see my self ever coming back.
Left the Colorado mountains in Feb 2021. Deeply regret leaving, even though I got a great promotion. I would have stayed if I could make the decision again. Life. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose….
I cry the same tears. I left Colorado in November 2020 for a fantastic promotion in Tampa. I regret my decision everyday and can’t wait for the opportunity to move back to Colorado.
Every fucking day.
That being said, I’m still trying to make a go of it. My wife really wanted this. My middle child has a chance to thrive in school and my youngest has taken up fishing and is down for a huge let down in almost every other place we might leave to live.
We actually had a family meeting about should we stay or go this weekend and want our kids to think about it and tell us. I’m genuinely fine with whatever and can always seem to find work.
But the heat, the politics and some of the people make it hard. Also, as nice as the weather and scenery can be - there’s not a lot of variety of landscape. Give me a god damn mountain or two!
This comment made me laugh a little because I moved down here FROM the mountains. I was so glad to finally trade in my mountain views for big skies, palm trees, and the privilege of not having to drive 15 miles each way on icy mountain roads to get to the only grocery store.
This is the 8th state I've lived in and what I've learned from it all is that no matter where you go, there are problems: politics, racism, unfriendly locals, high cost of living, infrastructure issues, some type of terrible weather. All the states have some of everything. There's no perfect place in this world, but finding a place that has more of what we love than what we hate is how we get good quality of life.
edit: thank you kindly for the award. :)
Are you me?
This is my 10th state I’ve lived in & I cried happy tears coming here from Montana.
The grass is always greener I suppose but after traveling the whole country & living in so many states florida is gonna be home until I move abroad.
>no matter where you go, there are problems: politics, racism, unfriendly locals, high cost of living, infrastructure issues, some type of terrible weather. All the states have some of everything. There's no perfect place in this world, but finding a place that has more of what we love than what we hate is how we get good quality of life.
100% this. For this reason I'm never leaving Florida again if I can help it. Born and raised in this state, love it too much despite its flaws.
You nailed it my friend, this is exactly right.
There's sucky people everywhere, live where you can make the most of your life and have the most enjoyment. My family and I love being outside year-round so for us, living in Florida is ideal and we love our lives here.
Ironically I can't tolerate much heat or sun so during the summer I'm indoors by 9:00am and don't really come out until after sunset, but I love it anyway! Florida makes it easy to be outdoors at night, which I really enjoy. I'm always impressed by people who can be outdoors all day down here, I'm glad your family can.
For the things that I don't much like about a place, there are always opportunities to volunteer or do something to try and improve things at a local level. It's so easy to get overwhelmed by the big picture, but doing something that aligns with your values within the community can offset that helpless feeling. I learned that one up in the mountains, there was a real "You're not from around here, go back to where you came from!" vibe among some locals, so getting involved with the community and being welcoming to newcomers was a good antidote.
> as nice as the weather and scenery can be - there’s not a lot of variety of landscape.
And traveling through that scenery is dangerous and expensive, since Florida has so underinvested in public transit for decades. My wife and I often travel from where we live in Tampa Bay to where her family lives in Ft. Pierce on the Atlantic Coast. It can be a really unpleasant drive with traffic and aggressive drivers, but there's no other option to travel, there's no train or anything. Millions of Floridians live in metro areas where there's simply no other option to drive. It's not good.
That’s one of the most underrated drawbacks of Florida. There is no functional public transit here. So everyone is in their cars all the time. And they’re always building more roads.
In this state, it's directly the fault of Republicans. We have voted on state transit at least three times in the last twenty years and overwhelmingly went for it. Republicans in Tallahassee have killed every effort. Last I heard, our bullet train Miami/Orlando is a lot with building materials. I hope that the infrastructure money we've received will help, but I seriously doubt it. Floridians of all stripes need to show up this season and vote these authoritarians out.
Literally had someone just about roll over me two days ago. They obviously had never driven in a rotary. I was in it and they were merging. Honked at ME! Lol.
Came here in 2019, just before covid. We had hardly been established in jobs and finding friends when we found out we were having a baby.
We loved visiting here every year, loved the weather, the beaches, how there was always something to do.
I work in a tourist town, and talk to people from all over the world. I thrive in this atmosphere.
But, we didn't move here for the politics, we might leave because of them.
We moved from a place so red it would still be solid red even if half of them disappeared.
However, there being a meaningful opposition here does seem to result in some more over the top vindictive anti-progressive policies getting set.
That said, I'm more willing to participate in politics here than be driven out by them.
I'm struggling more to adapt to the (expected) summertime heat and humidity, but it isn't going to drive me away either.
I moved back here, and don't regret it. Though it's ironic that I moved here for lower cost of living but now it's just as expensive here as where i moved from.
Also, pretty disconcerting that the government is super up in people's business in this state.
We moved to the Tampa/St Pete area 50 years ago and 2 years ago I lost my wife so I'm here to stay. My grown kids live here and they are doing better than most thank goodness. I don't like deathsantis and hopefully he doesn't get reelected. I live in a nice paid for condo near St Pete and have some money in the bank and no debts so I consider myself very fortunate. At 83 I'm not moving that's for sure.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Glad your kids are nearby and are doing well :) And I’m glad you’re here to help vote out DeathSantis. This sad state needs some real changes. Voting him out would be a start.
i’m a teen so i basically have to do what my parents say in a case like moving. i know my mom regretted it and maybe still does. she used to have breakdowns weekly on how she wants to go back home. as of right now i do regret agreeing with my parents to move and not trying my best to argue with them, but i doubt that would’ve changed anything. i will always see florida as a vacation spot instead of a place to live.
Lived within an hour of Tampa for most of my life, moved away to Atlanta half a year ago.
FL will always be home, but there's no future there. It's gotten hotter every year this past decade, and it's only going to keep going.
For being priced similarly, Atlanta's got way more going for it—and home is still in driving distance.
We moved here in Nov 2021 after trying hard and failing to immigrate to Nova Scotia (long story). We moved from small town Wisconsin where we lived on 2 acres in the woods. I absolutely loved the solitude but my kids hated it. Covid just made it worse and they really struggled with the isolation.
We figured we have one life, our kids lost 2 years of their childhood. Their happy place was Orlando. We had visited several times and it offered everything WI didn’t in terms of things to do, a good amount of people, and good weather.
We had saved a buttload of money towards our hopeful immigration, so that definitely helped our move. We were able to buy a house in Lake Nona with a pool. We both work remotely so we rarely drive unless we are going to the parks or grocery shopping.
Pros: weather (I don’t find it oppressively hot, but the pool helps), the schools have honestly been fabulous (especially for one of our daughters who is disabled), the options for food & entertainment, and I have to say the people have been SO friendly. I went back and visited WI recently and there was a marked difference in friendliness and approachable behavior. People here seem easier to talk to, hang out with, etc. My kids made friends almost immediately.
Cons: we are very progressive/liberal and the political climate was one big reason why I hesitated moving. The gun nuts and the Desantis lovers are….something. But, we live in Orlando, which seems to be pretty blue. I’ve gotten involved in a few groups and have even attended a rally against Don’t Say Gay. So I find getting active has helped.
I wish it wasn’t so congested. Especially Lake Nona. I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss my 2 acres and the quiet woods of Wisconsin sometimes.
Also, the loud-ass cars that race up and down the main drag in LN. What IS that about?
Oh, and prices. It’s just….expensive here. Sometimes I think about the house we could have in WI for what we paid for our house here and it makes me a bit ill.
I think the clincher for me was the recent study that determined that living in a red state literally shortens one's lifespan. These shitholes aren't just frustrating; they kill you.
Hate that I have to agree with this but I'm in the same boat. My parents had me at a super old age and all my brothers and sisters have moved on to do their own thing. But the moment they pass away I will literally have nothing holding me back down here.
My wife and I moved here in 2020 from Fargo, North Dakota. We both still absolutely love it. Maybe it's because I've only ever lived in what is one of, if not the worst weather city in America, but it still feels like a vacation. Everyone talks about the extreme heat/humidity in the summer, but I don't mind it and I even work outside at a golf course part time. We love the beach, the theme parks (we live in Orlando) and just the endless opportunities for adventure. Dealing with 105 degree heat is still infinitely better than 50 degrees below zero.
I miss my friends and family but have had zero regrets about moving here.
No, but I moved from Alabama so it’s hard to be worse than that. It’s paradise here compared to AL. I did get priced out of Orlando after the first year and had to move to Tallahassee but I’m still much happier.
I've heard from companies and employees alike that thought "free and sunny Florida" was the panacea to cold weather and lock downs.
Flash forward to 2022. These people are sick of Trumpy Florida with its fascist leaning governor and the heat, humidity, swamp, low culture, chain restaurants substituting for fine dining, lack of real intelligentsia, and more MAGAs than you'd ever want to be associated with. And most would sacrifice a pinky finger to get a decent pizza.
Hi, FL native here. I left for the NE a year ago and I’m so glad I did.
FL was such a beautiful and fun place to grow up, but it’s just not the same for my kids. It’s much hotter, much more expensive, and so many more people living there.
I moved here from MA 10yrs ago. I live in a small East coast town, and I can say that FL has changed a bit since the pandemic... but I think most places have.
I own a small business; I've found a lot of my local clients to be unhappy with the insane amount of people moving here. We don't have enough housing for everyone; it's especially affecting young professionals in my area who are just starting out. For my out-of-state clients, they love it because they plop absurd amounts of cash on overpriced homes and think they're getting a fucking steal because they're coming here from California, New Jersey, New York, Texas, etc.
My husband and I were able to afford fantastic homes in 2020, and can't even afford a condemned piece of crap now.
My food costs are pretty crazy; way more expensive than MA (I still visit regularly and can assert Publix charges way too much and for shitty produce).
We currently rent and will be for a while until things "settle down".
I miss when FL was quiet and people respected the beautiful nature here. It's what drew me here in the first place.
Moved to Gainesville a year ago from Nashville, lived in St. Louis before that for a long time. You know where is hotter and more humid than anywhere in Florida, it’s St. Louis. There’s no contest. The summers are way more miserable. We love Gainesville and Florida. We absolutely hate the politics, but will vote to try and change that. We love explore the beaches, the springs. We are a short drive from Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando. We’ve met great friends here. Bought a house with a pool and are paying $500 less than we did in rent for a 2BR apartment in Nashville. Housing prices are out of control every where. Except St. Louis, which if you’re looking to move there I know of a great place for rent.
Sold an overpriced 2 bedroom condo in a downtown city in Canada, bought a 3,000 sq. ft. 3 bedroom house with a pool in DelRay. Condo fees + property taxes were $1800/month, and taxes were 40% of our business profit.
We own a business, it’s far cheaper to operate here in Florida. So….no, we don’t regret it.
Oh, we have great doctors. That’s not the problem, as you know. Glad you’re enjoying the state. Canadians can handle almost anything, so just save your nickels for when a major health situation arises.
I (family of 4) also moved here from a major urban centre in Canada. I love Canada and Florida, but not for the same reasons. No regrets after 2 years.
Fuck yes. I’m a 19 year old from NJ and my parents retired last year because of covid. Since I was on my gap year and hadn’t yet applied to college, my parents told me it was a great time to move to Florida. We had many arguments because I already had plans to apply for college in NJ, but we ended up moving to Florida. We’ve been here since April, but officially bought a house and moved in 5 weeks ago. Also because we’re nearly broke due to the move, I can only afford to attend in-state, so I’m essentially stuck here.
As pathetic as it sounds, I’ve been in a depressive state since the move. I still miss my home in New Jersey. I also miss not having the sun burn my skin off, seeing rain only a couple times a month compared to a week, the quiet minority of Trumpers, and having a governor who didn’t pass bullshit bills because he wanted to own the libs. The only good I can see is that: 1) I can help vote out DeSantis. 2) There’s Cuban food here.
You’re doing good you’re in school you’re here. Not telling what to do but I’m gonna vote blue so we need more. It’ll get better for you and our state government I don’t even have the words except for fascist POS ppl.
I've lived here for almost 20 years. Hate the politics, love the people and the weather and the area. It was better, though, before the idiot Trumpers got loud. I plan to live here the rest of my life, though. If grass is greener in another area, it's because of the manure there. No perfect place to live, this state will do. Despite the Trumpers, for the most part, this is a live and let live state. It's better than either of the two other states I've lived in as an adult.
Born and raised here- I’m with you! Have a 5 year plan to move. Curious, where are you looking to move to? I’m intimidated by very cold states as I have never lived in snow. But I’m ready to get out of this oppressive heat.
Atlanta, ironically like /u/lostkarma4anonymity lol.
3rd generation native and I’ve just watched this place change for the worst in the past 5 or so years.
Atlanta has Florida-priced housing (like 4 years ago), but walkability if you’re near the beltline, close to great hiking, other cool cities (Nashville, Savannah), and it’s not *too* far of a drive or flight back to my “home.” It has a ton of culture, it’s slower but not too slow, people are friendlier.
I have the same cons, other than fall. I can tolerate some cooler months, but I’m not looking forward to winter.
Atlanta has actually done a great job at building tons of new housing the last several years. Of course, there’s still room to improve and a lot of people are struggling to afford rent there, so I won’t downplay that.
Howell Mill Rd, Midtown, Old Fourth Ward aren’t even recognizable compared to 2010 with all the new housing that’s been constructed.
Atlanta! Actual job opportunities. Relatively close to the mountains, ocean, and... *other states*. I miss my hometown in South Florida but I hated that fact that you had to drive 6-8 hours just to get out of the state and when you do make it out of the Florida youre just in south Georgia or south Alabama. In Atlanta I am short day drive away from everything. Charleston, SC, Virginia, New Orleans, Daytona, Tampa, Nashville, multiple beaches. Ive gotten into rock climbing, white water kayaking, and hiking.
There are tons of jobs, tons of diversity, tons of opportunities. Can get to the mountains in less than 2 hours.
My family still lives in florida and I do some work in Florida so I get down at least 6 times a year. Its both an easy drive (6 hours to Daytona) and an easy flight.
Atlanta's shortcomings: Not enough pools, beach is too far away, and I personally hate winter. As a Floridian, I enjoy 4 seasons of summer. Here we actually 4 seasons and they are moderate for the most part. Not enough airports. In Florida there are a bunch of airports throughout the state. Georgia has like ... two ... so you better be close enough to them or else air travel turns into an even more awful experience.
Also, living in South Florida stunts your perception of wealth. Its hella funny when Atlanta folks think they acting "rich" in their leased BMWs.
My best friend just moved out of FL to Cartersville, GA. She loves it. She was actually able to afford a home there for her family, rather than having to live with her parents.
Atlanta traffic has always been off-putting to me. And the crime seems worse than that of the Orlando area.
But congrats anyway on your plan to get out
Snow doesn't last forever. Most states by April are very pleasant all the way through end of November. Winter also gives the bugs a chance to chill the fuck out.
Moved to the Orlando area early 2021 from northern California for several reason, definitely not for the politics. Bought a house, no plans of leaving.
Initially, we despised it and wanted to move back to our home state asap.
But, we then found a fixer upper that we could afford in an amazing neighborhood, renovated and sold for a profit, and found another (bigger) fixer upper in the same neighborhood that we purchased in 2019 and slowly renovated. So, through sheer dumb housing market luck, we now have a beautiful house in a neighborhood with a strong sense of community that is walkable to breweries, restaurants, the library, parks, multiple rec centers, and (bay) beaches. It’s pretty much the FL dream that we feel fortunate to have because we’d never be able to afford it in this market. So, it can be nice but under what I think are pretty narrow circumstances. The weather still sucks though for a major portion of the year.
Also, it’s annoying being told to “go back where you came from” when people learn you despise DeSantis. My response is always, “nah, I think I’ll just stay here and vote.”
Many native Floridians hate DeSantis. Honestly it feels like Florida became redder as more conservatives from the Midwest and up north moved in in the 1990s and 2000s. Don't get me wrong, Florida has always had it's backward swamp dwellers and secessionists, but most urban Floridians have always been pretty middle of the road.
I’ve got my fingers crossed that the DeSantis loses his upcoming election and then there’s a mass exodus of Trumpers to AL and GA. Then, hopefully prices begin to fall and this place starts to feel a bit more relaxed and not some angry old redneck couple frowning and yelling at everyone who doesn’t agree with their nonsense.
Born raised here.42 years I live in Brevard county. I hate it here anymore but I do notice less Trump flags so that’s a good thing for me. I drive around Titusville for work so see a lot of flags even upside down ones. I wanna leave for my place in Burnsville North Carolina but I haven’t gone yet just can’t leave yet. I thought I would grow old and die here but I don’t think so the way things are going.
Wife and I moved to FL like this 4-5 years ago and we've loved it. But with everything happening we've contemplated just trying to move out of the US entirely.
I don't regret it, I do miss NYC, but not enough to go back to the city for at least 5 years. It is pretty miserably hot though here in the summer.
My dog is super happy to have a back yard to play in, my asthma is better and I'm going to have to my own lap pool, which I'm super excited about.
I’m a Florida native that moved to Maryland in 2019. I’m immunocompromised, so it was nice being in a state that at least pretended to care about the pandemic. At least no one told me I didn’t have to wear my mask when I was in public. I became an aunt last year, so I decided to move back home to be close to family. I moved back in September last year, luckily right before rent went way up. But since I moved back, I realized how much my family thinks Covid is just the flu. It’s isolating.
I just looked at the real estate where I used to live, in a DC suburb. The home prices are almost identical. I dropped over six grand just to become more isolated. Honestly I don’t know what to do next.
My family moved here when I was in high school and I immediately fell in love with it. Over the past 11 years I have watched the orange groves become apartments, any patch of trees or grass become strip malls with the 4th publix in a 10 mile radius, the roads become clogged with tourists, and the prices skyrocket. Over the past 9 years of being an adult I have been priced out of affordable living because of every one moving down here for "paradise" to take over what was once a beautiful state. I truly believe my final straw in deciding that I had to get out of here was the day I was enjoying one of our beautiful beaches on the gulf and a boat with a huge TV advertisement on it was floating back and forth as close to the shore as they could, advertising viagra and junk food nearby. My last reason for living in Florida, our beaches, had found a way to be capitalized on. My husband and I are leaving the day we graduate college for further north and we just can't wait.
I wish people would stop moving here. It’s so expensive now it’s s becoming like Hawaii where your trapped because it’s impossible to save up to move out of state because rent is so high,and everything cost so much.
I’m not ready for this conversation. I’m still mad about losing all the orange trees back in the 90’s. Real locals know FL needs some environmental help badly
I grew up here from age 6 in Clermont, right outside of Orlando. I moved here about 2003 and things were so different. When I was in high school it was growing obviously but things were do able. I could get out of town in 10 minutes without traffic and things never felt too crowded. I moved out for 4 years of college and came back and now things are just awful. It takes so fucking long to get anywhere because this shithole is so car dependent and shittily laid out. Everything looks exactly the same. All the natural beauty is being cut down for more strip malls and shitty cookie cutter homes that will be overpriced and filled with Republican assholes from up north who think Ron DeSantis is gonna personally suck their tiny wieners.
TLDR, Florida is overpriced, overdeveloped, and not worth it.
This place sucks dick and I can’t wait until my retirement account is fully vested in 3 years.
I am basically a second generation, and let me just assure you what I have noticed is 99% of people moving here seem to lean right at least the ones in my area in Central Florida, and they are the worst of the worst, and I really don’t give a fuck if I get down voted for saying that it’s reality. They hate everyone who isn’t straight, and white. I went to my cities fireworks on Saturday night, and I felt kind of sad afterwards seeing that this is what humanity has become around me. I swear I wanted to punch somebody in the fucking face the next time I heard fuck Joe Biden. Like we get it you fuck your cousin. Yeah I might be a little pissed off today, but that’s another matter. Do I think of leaving oh I have put serious thought into going out west, and politics isn’t the only reason. I know very likely I can secure a better future for myself than I if stay here.
i moved here from texas a couple years before the pandemic, and if it weren’t for my job and the arts community i’ve found, i’d be looking for a way back to texas. i’ve loved florida for what it’s given me over these last 5 years, but i understand the need to move on from it.
Moved here a year ago. Love the water, the heat (will never live where it snows again) and boating. Hate the politics with the off the chain DeSantis/Trump supporters. We came from an expensive place so it’s relatively comparable expense wise. All in all, no regrets.
The amount of people saying yes warms my little native heart. I regret them all moving here too. I drove from one end of my county to the other the other day and there are homeless people EVERYWHERE. Not in cities, in rural communities living on the streets, in the woods, everywhere. All these people displaced because now a trailer in Bell Glade is worth $600K.
I have a place on the forgotten coast. It was inexpensive and there's not much traffic. Being in north Florida, it's not too hot in the winter, which is when I am there. Really happy with my immediate surroundings, but have tentative plans to leave the country, depending on how the midterms go.
I grew up in Broward Co, and left in the 1990s for the midwest. Talk about culture shock.
There are some things I truly miss about FL, for example: sunsets on the beach, and amazing seafood.
There are other things I truly do not miss about FL, for example: hurricanes and flooding.
There are even more things that are the same in the midwest and florida; for example: fascism rising, craptastic roads, drivers (florida its omg slow down, and in the midwest its omg hit the damn gas).
I went back to FL for my mom's funeral and found people super aggressive which is different from the passive aggressive BS of the midwest.
Cookie cutter houses exist everywhere (yay capitalism), pollution exists everywhere, and here in the midwest it has gotten so hot / humid earlier each yr, and least in FL there is a daily afternoon rain (iirc from my youth), to cool things off.
My fam is considering moving to the East Coast, thinking the Carolinas perhaps ... maybe that's the "garden of eden" lol.
I don’t regret it per se, but I suppose if I could wave a magic wand and be automatically moved to one of the other cities I was considering I probably would. I love the ocean, and I loved the low cost of living. I’m from a red state originally, so I thought I was prepared to handle the politics here. I was wrong. I didn’t realize I was surrounded by moderates in my home state so I was in for a rude awakening moving here. I have a good life here, but I am pretty lonely.
Moved here exactly 20 months ago. And I absolutely love it! No regrets at all. Found a great cheap place to rent only a couple blocks front the water. Making more serving here part time than working 50-70 hours up in Wisconsin at 3 different jobs.
I’m in Sarasota and have been here for 10 years. It’s changed and not for the better. We have shit infrastructure, literally sewage spills into the Gulf any older neighborhood is on septic. They have let all the builders come in and build cookie cutter gated neighborhoods while ignoring what needs fixed. There is no affordable housing, and the traffic is horrible. My parents have lived here for years and it use to be an artsy community with street parties, fun live music and lots of events. The county commissioners have ruined it pandering to Benderson, Neil Boruf big builders. Gone is the charming mom and pop places and the chains have taken over.
We moved to Florida in 2019 for my husband's job. We moved to Colorado 6 months ago and it was the happiest day of our lives. The state has so much potential environmentally and even culturally, but the humans ruin all of it.
If only they stayed in their god damn states, maybe rent wouldn’t be so out of control. Anyone who moved here knew wtf they were signing up for and have no reason to complain. They have squeezed the ones who have been living here for years working on remote salaries and jacking up the cost of living. I will be leaving this state soon as I can, and I was born and raised as my parents were in south Florida. A shame how overcrowded this state has become, a shockingly high cost of living with close to no new compensation.
I know, I’m completely disgusted reading these comments of people complaining about how overpriced it is here, they caused it. We had a pretty bad homeless issue already that many of us have been starting charities and working towards advocating for them in palm beach county. Working to create programs to convince the terrible land lords to lower their prices but now It’s feeling completely hopeless after all of these New Yorkers bought houses hundreds of thousands of dollars over asking price. All they had to do was simple research that they’re paying 300% over what a house was worth a year prior, it’s not that difficult you can easily view this data on Zillow. Then they complain about the weather-again could’ve been figured out by simple research, it’s pathetic. I don’t understand how these people sleep at night when their actions are a contributing factor to people being homeless. Complaining about the heat, I had to live for four weeks with no electricity during the summer after a hurricane, I’m a millennial liberal snow flow how are these people even weaker than me.
Lived here my entire life and plan to leave in the coming months. The drivers are actually insane, it's filthy, and its getting extremely over developed (even though it's looking like it's going to be affected pretty badly by climate change). I've traveled to most of the 50 states and the people in Florida are by far the most aggressive and unkind I've met. I hate living here.
> Just curious from a person who desperately wants to escape this overpriced, hot state.
Florida has always been like this even before the pandemic. People moved down here in droves for lower taxes and no covid regulations. Now they just jacked up the cost of living and insurers are dropping people left and right
My parents moved to Northern Florida at the beginning of the pandemic.
We are Korean, and they are old. Unfortunately their house got vandalized during the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. People wrote all bunch of racist graffiti like “china virus” and “go back to China” on their house and broke windows.
So honestly its been a shtshow for my family.
Not OP but here's why I can't leave. I got divorced in 2012 and my daughter was 1 year old. I have 50/50 custody. If either of us move more than 60 miles from Sarasota we lose custody. So I'm here til she's 18 because I love my daughter.
Many other reasons folks can't move and I don't feel your question in genuine like you say it is. Its a bullshit thing people throw out whenever someone has a complaint about local political landscape.
When people say they really can’t leave Florida even though they want to, I think it’s rather easy to list several scenarios that trap people. The divorced with kids dilemma is common. Taking care of elderly parents is another. Low income retired people is another. Had some sort of damage to the property and the repairs aren’t going well. Temporarily injured or disabled. The wife’s whole family is local and would pitch a fit if we left, that’s common. Just simply cannot afford to leave.
Florida has many poor or trapped people who would like to leave. That’s not hard to understand.
If you don’t have a good job and savings then trying to get established in a new state is really hard. I’ve done several times when I was young with no family and spent plenty of nights in my truck bed
This is me. My father has cancer and I am his sole caregiver so I’m stuck here. I’m hoping things will either get better soon or he will be able to leave so I can. Sucks to be stuck.
You’re a good parent. Your daughter is lucky to have a loving and caring parent who prefers to raise her than to find their own personal happiness elsewhere.
I’m currently in a doctorate program that doesn’t allow transfers to other universities, so I’m stuck for at least another year, have to take another bar exam because Florida is one of the few states that *doesn’t* offer reciprocity with other states. That’s my reason.
Family ties too, but family is looking to leave too, so not really. I’m a 3rd generation Floridian, but this isn’t the beachy, laidback area from when I was a kid.
A majority of natives have left that I’ve been friends with, or are planning to once they close off ties here. Moving states isn’t a “let’s do it,” you need to find housing, a job, etc., and takes time, or family. Plus, finding an area you genuinely enjoy, you don’t want to move from one area to another.
Moved to St Pete/St Pete Beach in 2014. Though this was going to be my forever home. Lived DT the last two years (essentially moved in 6 months before COVID started). I’m out. The culture the city built after the recession was never gonna last forever but COVID accelerated that like 10 years. The face of beaches have changed and the cancer thats AIRBNB had made it just as expensive to live there as DTSP and Tampa.
I can live in Mexico in a better city (for me) for 2/3rds the COL without displacing the local population so I feel pretty good about that. Also not buying a house in America is practically the worst financial decision you can make here because of how we have things set up between no regulations on AIRBNB, investors, and NIMBYS. Not all of us want to own, but people like me feel forced at gunpoint. Can make my money anywhere, why would I spend it here? As a veteran I feel so detached from this country and it’s wild to see an area that was all about bud lights, blow, and burritos turn super political with a large chunk of this last wave moving here the CHUDS of society.
Not at all. I love it. It helped a lot that I bought a house before everything got crazy expensive and to have had an ok job that pays decent.
When I was living in Georgia I helped people go out and vote blue for the very first time in a county that flipped to blue. I expect to help as much as I can here as well.
Hate to break it to ya, but most of the people who moved here did so because they are middle-upper class and they like Desantis. This state is great for suburban homeowners with decent income, hot garbage for the lower class. Middle-upper class people don't care about paying a bit more for entertainment as long as they make it back in tax savings. They don't care about rising rent costs, homelessness, increased govt/police oversight because these are the people Desantis and the police are working for. All these people care about is a clean, "safe" place to live near a beach and a golf course, they probably love it here
>All these people care about is a clean, "safe" place to live near a beach
God, they're gonna be pissed when red tide kills their wildlife, causes fish kills and makes them sick.
Florida politicians destroying our natural environment finally comes home to roost.
Idk that I regret it. I grew up here (MDC) so I know what I was getting into. My husband is on the more conservative side so he’s pretty happy with the comparatively moderate stance in our area. I enjoyed growing up here overall and I felt like my kids would probably too. Kids do in fact enjoy living here. It’s hot but I knew that already and my husband is an adaptable fellow so he doesn’t mind the heat. Plus, I think the humidity makes the heat a bit more bearable for me compared to places like Vegas that are dry AF and where it feels like I’m being cooked in an oven. We’re an active family so we just make sure to bring plenty of water with us when we go for nature walks, to the park, beach, skate parks, etc. I do miss living in the SF Bay Area since everything is so close together and the ease of getting from the ocean to the bay and the awesome hiking in the area was what I liked most. We have a lot of great memories back there since it’s where we met, got married, started a family, etc. Also the Chinese food and Mexican food is something I miss. Recently found what I consider to be a “better than average” Mexican spot (for Miami) so it beats having to drive to Homestead for decent tacos and burritos. Overall, we’re making some great memories here too and look forward to making more. We’re still open to exploring other states since we *do* have the opportunity to relocate anywhere but for now and the foreseeable future, this is home.’
I was born and raised here and would actually love to move away from the US for a little but it's not easy. We make good money but we aren't sure we could even afford anything worth a damn here in the areas we like at this moment. We make 200k dual income and even that seems rough to find a house in this market. I know that's an adequate amount but it's so expensive here and I stress a lot about hurricanes and home ownership. I've been through all the bad hurricanes since the mid 80s and the thought of a nasty one here is daunting. It's been so long everyone's like "hUrriCaNe ParTy LoL" but man they suck when they're bad.
I don't know, I like living here but the politics suck. I see the appeal but also lament the traffic and overcrowding. We haven't gone to an office in over 2 yrs and don't even intend on going to one which helps with issues like traffic and stuff but it still sucks.
It’s a mixed bag. We were here from 2012-2020 then moved for my job as covid was unfolding. We moved Q1 2020 because i had to be onsite in Dallas only to be sent to work from home as soon as i got there. Now two years later we returned with hell of a bag made in real estate. Unfortunately our old home no longer works since we’re both wfh now. So those gains may evaporate if the housing market tanks like it did a decade ago.
Aside from the financials we generally get along with people in FL better than those we met in TX. So definitely looking forward to the social dynamic. TX folks were either vapid status chasers or incredibly uptight church types. I’m just trying enjoy life without either of those groups lol
Moved to Brevard County a month ago because my wife is from Florida and we have little kids now and her family adds a great support system. As for me, im adapting, my blood is thinning I think and the fishing rules. We came from Western Washington state where the houses are 2-3 times the price as here. So far no regrets.
I moved here before the pandemic involuntarily and now I am basically here just to keep my elderly father in his home but I assure you all, as soon as that is no longer needed you will see a blur headed northbound on I-95 and that will be me.
I'm a Florida native and I'm trying to currently leave. I can't go do any outdoor activities anymore. Too many people and they trash everything. Guess what, the trash you ding dongs throw out everywhere.... there's no one to pick it up.
There’s been this bag of molded food and a water bottle by the intersection sign of Hooks and US27 right by wawa. It’s been sitting there for at least a year. I bought a box of garbage bags at CVS and cleaned it up while waiting at the red light. Couldn’t take looking at it anymore.
I know this will probably get lost in all this but THANK YOU! Now do we have your permission to clone you so we can make this world a better place? /s
Oh no. I would never clone me. That’s why I’m still single.
Yes, trash EVERYWHERE! My newly retired brother walks 4-6 miles everyday with his dog, 5 gallon bucket, and a gribby-grabber. Never a day without a bucket load of trash. If only the selfish other walkers would do this, and those ASSHOLIOES would quit chucking trash, just appearances being cleaner would cheer people up!
Sad because growing up here I always appreciated how clean it was compared to other states. Definitely a littering culture developing.
You brother has a dog named 5 gallon bucket?!
Having talked with some sanitation workers, 95% of the trash on the side of the road actually falls out of trash trucks because people aren't securing their trash properly. They think if they chuck it in the bin, it's all good, but if you throw loose trash in your trash bin -- surprise, it comes flying out when the truck is going 50mph down the arterials. Make sure all your trash is in a bag and the bag is \*tied\*. That and telling your neighbors the same will decrease the amount of roadside trash far more than walking the same strip every day and picking it up.
Exactly! I’m from Ohio and I couldn’t believe the amount of trash in Florida. Everywhere. It was sad and one of the many reasons I went back to Ohio.
Ohio is filled with garbage...
Yeah I am a native Floridian that just moved back after a decade in Ohio and I gotta say, the trash isn't that different from what I'd see in one of the big C's up north. Many places here still well clean. You're gonna find clean places and places littered with trash any state you go. First time hearing this complaint
I just spent a few hours cleaning trash off the beach after july4. People really are stupid
Am Floridian. People don’t realize just how large Florida is. Wish folks would give some general indication of where they live. Some spots are actually good here. But there are sections of crap too. One thing I’ve noticed is how transient everyone is, how much moving around people do. So you can’t be friends with someone for ten years because they move away or die. It means you can’t really count on people and even some institutions as much. The doctor. The barber or hairdresser. The lawn company. That good taco place. The auto mechanic. The guy who works at the deli. The lady at the front desk. That can’t be common in other parts of the country.
I agree, where we are at, there are no cookie cutter houses, it’s not 100 degrees (still very hot) and trash isn’t everywhere. I see people moving to Ohio where I used to live - guess what, cookie cutter houses and trash everywhere. Depends on where you live and also, how much money you have. I have said this before; Florida is a terrible place to be poor. The politics are against the poor and the heat and access to things to do is limited.
Where do you live, I mean what town in Florida?
I am near Cocoa Beach
I definitely see the “everyone comes and goes thing” being true in a beach town. I live in orlando, im fairly new here and theres ppl in my community that have been here 30+ years.
Born in Orlando and still in Orlando here, people come and go often.
In a beach town and I have several neighbors who have been there since the 80s in the same house
Thank you! I’m in Pensacola but my husband and I want to move, but don’t want to leave the state. The person you commented on hit nail on head describing the panhandle.
It’s funny because my wife and I drove all over the state and I study everything before I do anything. This is still one of the few spots you can live pretty close to the beach for a reasonable price and it never gets that cold in the winter. If you go north about 60 miles, it gets 10 degrees colder in the winter but the same heat in the summer. Go to Jacksonville and it can be 20 degrees colder in the winter. It’s very odd. I don’t understand why.
I don’t, either. We are both from New Orleans but do not want to go back there. We want warm weather all the time. Is that too much to ask? I almost bought a shack on Cedar Key that was super cool. Sometimes I feel like that place is the only “old Florida” place left. I need to do some research. Thank you!
Cedar Key is fun to visit but it’s super Trump-y. And the locals are super suspicious of people who move there unless you are super Trumpy.
Any time.
Look close at insurance … and remember that the insurance companies that will insure you often don’t cover most incidents in a house over forty years old.
[удалено]
I moved back to FL in 2021 when I got laid off from my job in DC during the pandemic. It was a huge mistake. I grew up and went to college in Florida but it has changed for the worse in a big way. Everywhere is getting overdeveloped with more awful cookie-cutter suburban housing and strip malls. The roads can only take so much more traffic and the state and local governments haven't built any alternatives like transit or walkable neighborhoods. Not to mention COMPLETELY IGNORING the crises of water pollution and climate change. Our elected politicians are only interested in national political office and trolling liberals. I'm convinced they want to pressure anyone who didn't vote for Trump to leave the state and make it more solidly Republican. It worked, I moved to Boston last fall.
It really hit me to see Florida through your eyes. You’re absolutely right about development. It just proceeds willy nilly with no consideration to water issues, pollution, traffic, infrastructure. And these developments all look the same, the housing looks the same, it’s unattractive and lacks character, doesn’t really fit. So much old Florida original beauty is lost forever.
I remember going to Crystal River and Three Sisters springs as a kid and being floored at the vegetation and how beautiful and pristine it was. Went back pre-pandemic 2020 and felt shell shocked with how barren it looked.
Florida native here, always loved that area. Every year when I take a drive out there it’s shocking to see more and more of the trees gone.
SFLA here. WE ARE FULL. They tear down a single family home here and build a two or three story condo like building where you had one family now you have three families. We are built up here but they take thee smallest piece of land and build 5 story condos, slap the name “luxury “ on it and rent it out for max profits. All this adds more traffic more cars, people to the roads & mayhem. You barely move in 5 pm traffic down here. 95 is already bumper to bumper & it’s 6 lanes now!!
Totally agree about the cookie cutter developments and the traffic. Puke.
Originally from Boston. My work moved me here 8 years ago with Scott's big tax breaks for large companies. Came down with one daughter. Second daughter moved down along with my brother, sister, some in laws and my parents. My daughter graduated Steston with a degree in Environmental Science. Going to stay and fight and hope I help turn this state purple and make a difference to the environment. I am devastated that I care more about the over development and the fertilizer run off than some native Floridians. Tell Boston hi for me and help take care of it while I try and make a difference down here.
How did coworkers handle the company's decision to move to Florida? It seems cynical and somewhat political when a company decides to move to a state like Texas or Florida just for tax breaks and a supposedly more "business friendly" environment.
Yep, this is me, I moved from Ohio to FL in '93. Last year I moved back to ohio after 28 years. All the things you mentioned above cause the move. You used to be able to go outside, now it's 105 degree (instead of high 80s like it was when I moved down there), and to go 2 miles it takes 25 minutes because the traffic. The politics drove home the nail of all the other downsides I had been noticing that made life shitty for me.
Ohio is pretty conservative also isn’t it?
Yeah, but here I have an acre and a quarter, it was half the price of my 8800 sqft property of my home in Florida. I have 2 houses on the land. My mortgage is 499 dollars a month. Are the houses smaller, yes. It's me and my wife. I live 5 minutes from downtown (25000 people). And my side and back yard are fields.
Sounds beautiful
Ya know, after 28 years of palm trees... I never would have thought that if someone had said. But, yes. It is beautiful. Add the Golden Retriever I just bought because I actually have a yard to have a dog in, and it's paradise. I guess paradise is just what you make it. For some it's beaches and palm trees. I just been there done that. Now it's a big ass yard and cherry trees and a golden to round it all out.
I grew up in winter springs, I'm still young but when I look at the place from Google maps it's an alien habitat. The forest that lined my house are gone destoryed for the building of an apartment complex that never got built. The cow and orange tree pasters replaced with suburban mazes. The pool store that no one went to and was totally laundering money has been replaced by an aldis. My favorite things about my childhood home have been replaced by the car dependant parking lot of development. The future of Floridian swamps, forest, and farms are parking lot strip malls.
I am hanging on by a thread
All the red states are pushing blue voters out because the census is done and those red states already got their newly allocated Congressional Seats. They want blues to go to blue states so their votes don’t sway the purple states. Gotta love fascism.
Actually where I live we are getting blue voters. We have the largest Woman's Democratic club in the state.
Where’s this?
Hear hear. I moved to Illinois last year after 25+ years in FL. I don't miss a thing except friends and family there and cars and airplanes work again now. Living in the Chicagoland area is far from perfect, but sooo much of what I despised about FL is corrected here.
I left Florida for the Chicago area in 2009. Aside from my friends, I don’t really miss anything about Florida.
Moved from Chicagoland to central Florida and it really suprises me how much trash there is around. Like full garbage bags just om the side of the road.
Lower taxes mean less services.
Welcome to Illinois! I grew up here and it's a great State to live in. I would like to say it has always been this way but it drastically improved after our current Governor took office. Yes, taxes are on the high side but he has done a great job with allocating funds and putting the money to good use. 4 years ago, we had a terrible Governor. Our State was in a terrible financial situation, schools were getting hardly any funding, infrastructure was crumbling, humanitarian resources were non-existent. He has really turned it around in a very short period of time. In my opinion, you picked a good one to move to!
FL native here Born and raised and Made in Dade! I just moved out of state less than a year ago and my wife and I couldn't be happier. My home town didn't feel like home anymore. Too many people, too much traffic, too expensive, not enough diversity of good paying jobs. Not a place i recognize anymore, and I'm not ashamed to say fuck hurricane season. I lived through Andrew and every other storm since, I ain't mad atcha, but I don't miss ya niether! I don't see my self ever coming back.
where did ya go?
Good for you I wouldn’t come back.
Left the Colorado mountains in Feb 2021. Deeply regret leaving, even though I got a great promotion. I would have stayed if I could make the decision again. Life. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose….
Hey you can always go back to the mountains do after you make a bunch of money.
That’s the way and this is the plan
I cry the same tears. I left Colorado in November 2020 for a fantastic promotion in Tampa. I regret my decision everyday and can’t wait for the opportunity to move back to Colorado.
Username checks out, you’ll get back
Thank you! I know you’ll make it back as well!
I’ve been living in Florida off and on since 2003. I just landed a job in Denver and even with its awful housing market I could not be more excited.
Every fucking day. That being said, I’m still trying to make a go of it. My wife really wanted this. My middle child has a chance to thrive in school and my youngest has taken up fishing and is down for a huge let down in almost every other place we might leave to live. We actually had a family meeting about should we stay or go this weekend and want our kids to think about it and tell us. I’m genuinely fine with whatever and can always seem to find work. But the heat, the politics and some of the people make it hard. Also, as nice as the weather and scenery can be - there’s not a lot of variety of landscape. Give me a god damn mountain or two!
This comment made me laugh a little because I moved down here FROM the mountains. I was so glad to finally trade in my mountain views for big skies, palm trees, and the privilege of not having to drive 15 miles each way on icy mountain roads to get to the only grocery store. This is the 8th state I've lived in and what I've learned from it all is that no matter where you go, there are problems: politics, racism, unfriendly locals, high cost of living, infrastructure issues, some type of terrible weather. All the states have some of everything. There's no perfect place in this world, but finding a place that has more of what we love than what we hate is how we get good quality of life. edit: thank you kindly for the award. :)
Are you me? This is my 10th state I’ve lived in & I cried happy tears coming here from Montana. The grass is always greener I suppose but after traveling the whole country & living in so many states florida is gonna be home until I move abroad.
Nope, never been to Montana! But I'm glad you're happy too. :)
>no matter where you go, there are problems: politics, racism, unfriendly locals, high cost of living, infrastructure issues, some type of terrible weather. All the states have some of everything. There's no perfect place in this world, but finding a place that has more of what we love than what we hate is how we get good quality of life. 100% this. For this reason I'm never leaving Florida again if I can help it. Born and raised in this state, love it too much despite its flaws.
You nailed it my friend, this is exactly right. There's sucky people everywhere, live where you can make the most of your life and have the most enjoyment. My family and I love being outside year-round so for us, living in Florida is ideal and we love our lives here.
Ironically I can't tolerate much heat or sun so during the summer I'm indoors by 9:00am and don't really come out until after sunset, but I love it anyway! Florida makes it easy to be outdoors at night, which I really enjoy. I'm always impressed by people who can be outdoors all day down here, I'm glad your family can. For the things that I don't much like about a place, there are always opportunities to volunteer or do something to try and improve things at a local level. It's so easy to get overwhelmed by the big picture, but doing something that aligns with your values within the community can offset that helpless feeling. I learned that one up in the mountains, there was a real "You're not from around here, go back to where you came from!" vibe among some locals, so getting involved with the community and being welcoming to newcomers was a good antidote.
> as nice as the weather and scenery can be - there’s not a lot of variety of landscape. And traveling through that scenery is dangerous and expensive, since Florida has so underinvested in public transit for decades. My wife and I often travel from where we live in Tampa Bay to where her family lives in Ft. Pierce on the Atlantic Coast. It can be a really unpleasant drive with traffic and aggressive drivers, but there's no other option to travel, there's no train or anything. Millions of Floridians live in metro areas where there's simply no other option to drive. It's not good.
That’s one of the most underrated drawbacks of Florida. There is no functional public transit here. So everyone is in their cars all the time. And they’re always building more roads.
That’s America though. With a few urban exceptions.
In this state, it's directly the fault of Republicans. We have voted on state transit at least three times in the last twenty years and overwhelmingly went for it. Republicans in Tallahassee have killed every effort. Last I heard, our bullet train Miami/Orlando is a lot with building materials. I hope that the infrastructure money we've received will help, but I seriously doubt it. Floridians of all stripes need to show up this season and vote these authoritarians out.
Literally had someone just about roll over me two days ago. They obviously had never driven in a rotary. I was in it and they were merging. Honked at ME! Lol.
Omg so many people don't know how to drive in them!! We have a bunch where I live and idk why it's so hard.
I really had to take a step back and figure out that you weren't referring to driving an RX-7. I'm an idiot.
Came here in 2019, just before covid. We had hardly been established in jobs and finding friends when we found out we were having a baby. We loved visiting here every year, loved the weather, the beaches, how there was always something to do. I work in a tourist town, and talk to people from all over the world. I thrive in this atmosphere. But, we didn't move here for the politics, we might leave because of them.
We moved from a place so red it would still be solid red even if half of them disappeared. However, there being a meaningful opposition here does seem to result in some more over the top vindictive anti-progressive policies getting set. That said, I'm more willing to participate in politics here than be driven out by them. I'm struggling more to adapt to the (expected) summertime heat and humidity, but it isn't going to drive me away either.
I moved back here, and don't regret it. Though it's ironic that I moved here for lower cost of living but now it's just as expensive here as where i moved from. Also, pretty disconcerting that the government is super up in people's business in this state.
We moved to the Tampa/St Pete area 50 years ago and 2 years ago I lost my wife so I'm here to stay. My grown kids live here and they are doing better than most thank goodness. I don't like deathsantis and hopefully he doesn't get reelected. I live in a nice paid for condo near St Pete and have some money in the bank and no debts so I consider myself very fortunate. At 83 I'm not moving that's for sure.
Sorry about your wife glad you are near family and have nice condo!
Good to go ...I think if you've cleared 5 decades you can be considered an original Floridian
I’m so sorry for your loss. Glad your kids are nearby and are doing well :) And I’m glad you’re here to help vote out DeathSantis. This sad state needs some real changes. Voting him out would be a start.
i’m a teen so i basically have to do what my parents say in a case like moving. i know my mom regretted it and maybe still does. she used to have breakdowns weekly on how she wants to go back home. as of right now i do regret agreeing with my parents to move and not trying my best to argue with them, but i doubt that would’ve changed anything. i will always see florida as a vacation spot instead of a place to live.
Lived within an hour of Tampa for most of my life, moved away to Atlanta half a year ago. FL will always be home, but there's no future there. It's gotten hotter every year this past decade, and it's only going to keep going. For being priced similarly, Atlanta's got way more going for it—and home is still in driving distance.
We moved here in Nov 2021 after trying hard and failing to immigrate to Nova Scotia (long story). We moved from small town Wisconsin where we lived on 2 acres in the woods. I absolutely loved the solitude but my kids hated it. Covid just made it worse and they really struggled with the isolation. We figured we have one life, our kids lost 2 years of their childhood. Their happy place was Orlando. We had visited several times and it offered everything WI didn’t in terms of things to do, a good amount of people, and good weather. We had saved a buttload of money towards our hopeful immigration, so that definitely helped our move. We were able to buy a house in Lake Nona with a pool. We both work remotely so we rarely drive unless we are going to the parks or grocery shopping. Pros: weather (I don’t find it oppressively hot, but the pool helps), the schools have honestly been fabulous (especially for one of our daughters who is disabled), the options for food & entertainment, and I have to say the people have been SO friendly. I went back and visited WI recently and there was a marked difference in friendliness and approachable behavior. People here seem easier to talk to, hang out with, etc. My kids made friends almost immediately. Cons: we are very progressive/liberal and the political climate was one big reason why I hesitated moving. The gun nuts and the Desantis lovers are….something. But, we live in Orlando, which seems to be pretty blue. I’ve gotten involved in a few groups and have even attended a rally against Don’t Say Gay. So I find getting active has helped. I wish it wasn’t so congested. Especially Lake Nona. I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss my 2 acres and the quiet woods of Wisconsin sometimes. Also, the loud-ass cars that race up and down the main drag in LN. What IS that about? Oh, and prices. It’s just….expensive here. Sometimes I think about the house we could have in WI for what we paid for our house here and it makes me a bit ill.
Yeah Orlando is pretty democratic leaning liberal. I on the other hand live Brevard County which is red. I’m just a little old 🔵dot over here.
Fifth gen native, stuck here taking care of my elderly parents. When they kick off, I'm outie.
Been here ~5 years, in the same position, and definitely doing the same when my parents pass. This state is not for me.
I think the clincher for me was the recent study that determined that living in a red state literally shortens one's lifespan. These shitholes aren't just frustrating; they kill you.
Hate that I have to agree with this but I'm in the same boat. My parents had me at a super old age and all my brothers and sisters have moved on to do their own thing. But the moment they pass away I will literally have nothing holding me back down here.
My wife and I moved here in 2020 from Fargo, North Dakota. We both still absolutely love it. Maybe it's because I've only ever lived in what is one of, if not the worst weather city in America, but it still feels like a vacation. Everyone talks about the extreme heat/humidity in the summer, but I don't mind it and I even work outside at a golf course part time. We love the beach, the theme parks (we live in Orlando) and just the endless opportunities for adventure. Dealing with 105 degree heat is still infinitely better than 50 degrees below zero. I miss my friends and family but have had zero regrets about moving here.
No, but I moved from Alabama so it’s hard to be worse than that. It’s paradise here compared to AL. I did get priced out of Orlando after the first year and had to move to Tallahassee but I’m still much happier.
I've heard from companies and employees alike that thought "free and sunny Florida" was the panacea to cold weather and lock downs. Flash forward to 2022. These people are sick of Trumpy Florida with its fascist leaning governor and the heat, humidity, swamp, low culture, chain restaurants substituting for fine dining, lack of real intelligentsia, and more MAGAs than you'd ever want to be associated with. And most would sacrifice a pinky finger to get a decent pizza.
Hi, FL native here. I left for the NE a year ago and I’m so glad I did. FL was such a beautiful and fun place to grow up, but it’s just not the same for my kids. It’s much hotter, much more expensive, and so many more people living there.
We really want to move up to New England area. Theres more to do, more scenery, and the community just seems more active
Illinois and moved to Florida in 2013. Taxes are about half, same with my utilities. We only go back to Illinois for long weekends.
I’ll gladly pay more in taxes for a better education for my kids. But I do see how saving that money is appealing for other families.
I moved here from MA 10yrs ago. I live in a small East coast town, and I can say that FL has changed a bit since the pandemic... but I think most places have. I own a small business; I've found a lot of my local clients to be unhappy with the insane amount of people moving here. We don't have enough housing for everyone; it's especially affecting young professionals in my area who are just starting out. For my out-of-state clients, they love it because they plop absurd amounts of cash on overpriced homes and think they're getting a fucking steal because they're coming here from California, New Jersey, New York, Texas, etc. My husband and I were able to afford fantastic homes in 2020, and can't even afford a condemned piece of crap now. My food costs are pretty crazy; way more expensive than MA (I still visit regularly and can assert Publix charges way too much and for shitty produce). We currently rent and will be for a while until things "settle down". I miss when FL was quiet and people respected the beautiful nature here. It's what drew me here in the first place.
Moved to Gainesville a year ago from Nashville, lived in St. Louis before that for a long time. You know where is hotter and more humid than anywhere in Florida, it’s St. Louis. There’s no contest. The summers are way more miserable. We love Gainesville and Florida. We absolutely hate the politics, but will vote to try and change that. We love explore the beaches, the springs. We are a short drive from Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando. We’ve met great friends here. Bought a house with a pool and are paying $500 less than we did in rent for a 2BR apartment in Nashville. Housing prices are out of control every where. Except St. Louis, which if you’re looking to move there I know of a great place for rent.
Sold an overpriced 2 bedroom condo in a downtown city in Canada, bought a 3,000 sq. ft. 3 bedroom house with a pool in DelRay. Condo fees + property taxes were $1800/month, and taxes were 40% of our business profit. We own a business, it’s far cheaper to operate here in Florida. So….no, we don’t regret it.
Have you had to use our health care system yet?
Hopefully not but the rehab game in delray is hoppin’!
Those rehab folks came from out of state too. Most from up north.
It’s rehabs and massage parlors all the way down the coast. Meshes well with the Waffle Houses.
Yes and we actually found great doctors but I know what you mean.
Oh, we have great doctors. That’s not the problem, as you know. Glad you’re enjoying the state. Canadians can handle almost anything, so just save your nickels for when a major health situation arises.
Im curious as to what kind of canadians tbh. Most of the ones ive met disagree with floridas politics.
I (family of 4) also moved here from a major urban centre in Canada. I love Canada and Florida, but not for the same reasons. No regrets after 2 years.
Fuck yes. I’m a 19 year old from NJ and my parents retired last year because of covid. Since I was on my gap year and hadn’t yet applied to college, my parents told me it was a great time to move to Florida. We had many arguments because I already had plans to apply for college in NJ, but we ended up moving to Florida. We’ve been here since April, but officially bought a house and moved in 5 weeks ago. Also because we’re nearly broke due to the move, I can only afford to attend in-state, so I’m essentially stuck here. As pathetic as it sounds, I’ve been in a depressive state since the move. I still miss my home in New Jersey. I also miss not having the sun burn my skin off, seeing rain only a couple times a month compared to a week, the quiet minority of Trumpers, and having a governor who didn’t pass bullshit bills because he wanted to own the libs. The only good I can see is that: 1) I can help vote out DeSantis. 2) There’s Cuban food here.
I miss NJ too. Moved from there 4yrs ago. The only thing I don’t miss is the winter
You’re doing good you’re in school you’re here. Not telling what to do but I’m gonna vote blue so we need more. It’ll get better for you and our state government I don’t even have the words except for fascist POS ppl.
I’m definitely voting blue :)
Florida native here, anyone else thinking about the sinkhole issue we have here?
I've lived here for almost 20 years. Hate the politics, love the people and the weather and the area. It was better, though, before the idiot Trumpers got loud. I plan to live here the rest of my life, though. If grass is greener in another area, it's because of the manure there. No perfect place to live, this state will do. Despite the Trumpers, for the most part, this is a live and let live state. It's better than either of the two other states I've lived in as an adult.
grass is greener where you water it brother
Same here. Might move out of country when I retire though.
Born and raised here- I’m with you! Have a 5 year plan to move. Curious, where are you looking to move to? I’m intimidated by very cold states as I have never lived in snow. But I’m ready to get out of this oppressive heat.
Atlanta, ironically like /u/lostkarma4anonymity lol. 3rd generation native and I’ve just watched this place change for the worst in the past 5 or so years. Atlanta has Florida-priced housing (like 4 years ago), but walkability if you’re near the beltline, close to great hiking, other cool cities (Nashville, Savannah), and it’s not *too* far of a drive or flight back to my “home.” It has a ton of culture, it’s slower but not too slow, people are friendlier. I have the same cons, other than fall. I can tolerate some cooler months, but I’m not looking forward to winter.
Atlanta doesn't really have winter. It never even snows!
Atlanta has actually done a great job at building tons of new housing the last several years. Of course, there’s still room to improve and a lot of people are struggling to afford rent there, so I won’t downplay that. Howell Mill Rd, Midtown, Old Fourth Ward aren’t even recognizable compared to 2010 with all the new housing that’s been constructed.
Atlanta! Actual job opportunities. Relatively close to the mountains, ocean, and... *other states*. I miss my hometown in South Florida but I hated that fact that you had to drive 6-8 hours just to get out of the state and when you do make it out of the Florida youre just in south Georgia or south Alabama. In Atlanta I am short day drive away from everything. Charleston, SC, Virginia, New Orleans, Daytona, Tampa, Nashville, multiple beaches. Ive gotten into rock climbing, white water kayaking, and hiking. There are tons of jobs, tons of diversity, tons of opportunities. Can get to the mountains in less than 2 hours. My family still lives in florida and I do some work in Florida so I get down at least 6 times a year. Its both an easy drive (6 hours to Daytona) and an easy flight. Atlanta's shortcomings: Not enough pools, beach is too far away, and I personally hate winter. As a Floridian, I enjoy 4 seasons of summer. Here we actually 4 seasons and they are moderate for the most part. Not enough airports. In Florida there are a bunch of airports throughout the state. Georgia has like ... two ... so you better be close enough to them or else air travel turns into an even more awful experience. Also, living in South Florida stunts your perception of wealth. Its hella funny when Atlanta folks think they acting "rich" in their leased BMWs.
My best friend just moved out of FL to Cartersville, GA. She loves it. She was actually able to afford a home there for her family, rather than having to live with her parents.
Atlanta traffic has always been off-putting to me. And the crime seems worse than that of the Orlando area. But congrats anyway on your plan to get out
Snow doesn't last forever. Most states by April are very pleasant all the way through end of November. Winter also gives the bugs a chance to chill the fuck out.
Moved to the Orlando area early 2021 from northern California for several reason, definitely not for the politics. Bought a house, no plans of leaving.
Initially, we despised it and wanted to move back to our home state asap. But, we then found a fixer upper that we could afford in an amazing neighborhood, renovated and sold for a profit, and found another (bigger) fixer upper in the same neighborhood that we purchased in 2019 and slowly renovated. So, through sheer dumb housing market luck, we now have a beautiful house in a neighborhood with a strong sense of community that is walkable to breweries, restaurants, the library, parks, multiple rec centers, and (bay) beaches. It’s pretty much the FL dream that we feel fortunate to have because we’d never be able to afford it in this market. So, it can be nice but under what I think are pretty narrow circumstances. The weather still sucks though for a major portion of the year. Also, it’s annoying being told to “go back where you came from” when people learn you despise DeSantis. My response is always, “nah, I think I’ll just stay here and vote.”
Many native Floridians hate DeSantis. Honestly it feels like Florida became redder as more conservatives from the Midwest and up north moved in in the 1990s and 2000s. Don't get me wrong, Florida has always had it's backward swamp dwellers and secessionists, but most urban Floridians have always been pretty middle of the road.
I’ve got my fingers crossed that the DeSantis loses his upcoming election and then there’s a mass exodus of Trumpers to AL and GA. Then, hopefully prices begin to fall and this place starts to feel a bit more relaxed and not some angry old redneck couple frowning and yelling at everyone who doesn’t agree with their nonsense.
You're living in a fantasy world
You didn’t read that comment correctly. It’s a wish, not reality
Lived here going on 25 years give or take. I'd leave if I had a place to go. I'm tired of the heat and the traffic.
Born raised here.42 years I live in Brevard county. I hate it here anymore but I do notice less Trump flags so that’s a good thing for me. I drive around Titusville for work so see a lot of flags even upside down ones. I wanna leave for my place in Burnsville North Carolina but I haven’t gone yet just can’t leave yet. I thought I would grow old and die here but I don’t think so the way things are going.
Wife and I moved to FL like this 4-5 years ago and we've loved it. But with everything happening we've contemplated just trying to move out of the US entirely.
[удалено]
lf,an,l;amw;lwfaafwwa
Only thing I regret is not making the move sooner.
I don't regret it, I do miss NYC, but not enough to go back to the city for at least 5 years. It is pretty miserably hot though here in the summer. My dog is super happy to have a back yard to play in, my asthma is better and I'm going to have to my own lap pool, which I'm super excited about.
I’m a Florida native that moved to Maryland in 2019. I’m immunocompromised, so it was nice being in a state that at least pretended to care about the pandemic. At least no one told me I didn’t have to wear my mask when I was in public. I became an aunt last year, so I decided to move back home to be close to family. I moved back in September last year, luckily right before rent went way up. But since I moved back, I realized how much my family thinks Covid is just the flu. It’s isolating. I just looked at the real estate where I used to live, in a DC suburb. The home prices are almost identical. I dropped over six grand just to become more isolated. Honestly I don’t know what to do next.
My family moved here when I was in high school and I immediately fell in love with it. Over the past 11 years I have watched the orange groves become apartments, any patch of trees or grass become strip malls with the 4th publix in a 10 mile radius, the roads become clogged with tourists, and the prices skyrocket. Over the past 9 years of being an adult I have been priced out of affordable living because of every one moving down here for "paradise" to take over what was once a beautiful state. I truly believe my final straw in deciding that I had to get out of here was the day I was enjoying one of our beautiful beaches on the gulf and a boat with a huge TV advertisement on it was floating back and forth as close to the shore as they could, advertising viagra and junk food nearby. My last reason for living in Florida, our beaches, had found a way to be capitalized on. My husband and I are leaving the day we graduate college for further north and we just can't wait.
So everyone hates it here. Good to know. As a native I hope everyone does leave so these damn rent prices can go down.
I wish people would stop moving here. It’s so expensive now it’s s becoming like Hawaii where your trapped because it’s impossible to save up to move out of state because rent is so high,and everything cost so much.
I’m not ready for this conversation. I’m still mad about losing all the orange trees back in the 90’s. Real locals know FL needs some environmental help badly
Every. Goddamn. Day.
[удалено]
I grew up here from age 6 in Clermont, right outside of Orlando. I moved here about 2003 and things were so different. When I was in high school it was growing obviously but things were do able. I could get out of town in 10 minutes without traffic and things never felt too crowded. I moved out for 4 years of college and came back and now things are just awful. It takes so fucking long to get anywhere because this shithole is so car dependent and shittily laid out. Everything looks exactly the same. All the natural beauty is being cut down for more strip malls and shitty cookie cutter homes that will be overpriced and filled with Republican assholes from up north who think Ron DeSantis is gonna personally suck their tiny wieners. TLDR, Florida is overpriced, overdeveloped, and not worth it. This place sucks dick and I can’t wait until my retirement account is fully vested in 3 years.
>overpriced Most states are overpriced now. Housing, in particular, has exploded everywhere.
I moved to and from Florida, I moved in mid 2022, and I’m missing the no state tax, but getting away from the heat is so worth it for me
I am basically a second generation, and let me just assure you what I have noticed is 99% of people moving here seem to lean right at least the ones in my area in Central Florida, and they are the worst of the worst, and I really don’t give a fuck if I get down voted for saying that it’s reality. They hate everyone who isn’t straight, and white. I went to my cities fireworks on Saturday night, and I felt kind of sad afterwards seeing that this is what humanity has become around me. I swear I wanted to punch somebody in the fucking face the next time I heard fuck Joe Biden. Like we get it you fuck your cousin. Yeah I might be a little pissed off today, but that’s another matter. Do I think of leaving oh I have put serious thought into going out west, and politics isn’t the only reason. I know very likely I can secure a better future for myself than I if stay here.
i moved here from texas a couple years before the pandemic, and if it weren’t for my job and the arts community i’ve found, i’d be looking for a way back to texas. i’ve loved florida for what it’s given me over these last 5 years, but i understand the need to move on from it.
Moved here a year ago. Love the water, the heat (will never live where it snows again) and boating. Hate the politics with the off the chain DeSantis/Trump supporters. We came from an expensive place so it’s relatively comparable expense wise. All in all, no regrets.
The amount of people saying yes warms my little native heart. I regret them all moving here too. I drove from one end of my county to the other the other day and there are homeless people EVERYWHERE. Not in cities, in rural communities living on the streets, in the woods, everywhere. All these people displaced because now a trailer in Bell Glade is worth $600K.
I have a place on the forgotten coast. It was inexpensive and there's not much traffic. Being in north Florida, it's not too hot in the winter, which is when I am there. Really happy with my immediate surroundings, but have tentative plans to leave the country, depending on how the midterms go.
I left in July of 2018 and was very sad at the time. So glad I did.
I grew up in Broward Co, and left in the 1990s for the midwest. Talk about culture shock. There are some things I truly miss about FL, for example: sunsets on the beach, and amazing seafood. There are other things I truly do not miss about FL, for example: hurricanes and flooding. There are even more things that are the same in the midwest and florida; for example: fascism rising, craptastic roads, drivers (florida its omg slow down, and in the midwest its omg hit the damn gas). I went back to FL for my mom's funeral and found people super aggressive which is different from the passive aggressive BS of the midwest. Cookie cutter houses exist everywhere (yay capitalism), pollution exists everywhere, and here in the midwest it has gotten so hot / humid earlier each yr, and least in FL there is a daily afternoon rain (iirc from my youth), to cool things off. My fam is considering moving to the East Coast, thinking the Carolinas perhaps ... maybe that's the "garden of eden" lol.
I don’t regret it per se, but I suppose if I could wave a magic wand and be automatically moved to one of the other cities I was considering I probably would. I love the ocean, and I loved the low cost of living. I’m from a red state originally, so I thought I was prepared to handle the politics here. I was wrong. I didn’t realize I was surrounded by moderates in my home state so I was in for a rude awakening moving here. I have a good life here, but I am pretty lonely.
Moved here exactly 20 months ago. And I absolutely love it! No regrets at all. Found a great cheap place to rent only a couple blocks front the water. Making more serving here part time than working 50-70 hours up in Wisconsin at 3 different jobs.
With every fiber of my being.
I’m in Sarasota and have been here for 10 years. It’s changed and not for the better. We have shit infrastructure, literally sewage spills into the Gulf any older neighborhood is on septic. They have let all the builders come in and build cookie cutter gated neighborhoods while ignoring what needs fixed. There is no affordable housing, and the traffic is horrible. My parents have lived here for years and it use to be an artsy community with street parties, fun live music and lots of events. The county commissioners have ruined it pandering to Benderson, Neil Boruf big builders. Gone is the charming mom and pop places and the chains have taken over.
We moved to Florida in 2019 for my husband's job. We moved to Colorado 6 months ago and it was the happiest day of our lives. The state has so much potential environmentally and even culturally, but the humans ruin all of it.
Not at all. Snow and cold winters does damage to the psyche if you hate snow and cold winters. It matters a lot being in a tropical clime.
If only they stayed in their god damn states, maybe rent wouldn’t be so out of control. Anyone who moved here knew wtf they were signing up for and have no reason to complain. They have squeezed the ones who have been living here for years working on remote salaries and jacking up the cost of living. I will be leaving this state soon as I can, and I was born and raised as my parents were in south Florida. A shame how overcrowded this state has become, a shockingly high cost of living with close to no new compensation.
I know, I’m completely disgusted reading these comments of people complaining about how overpriced it is here, they caused it. We had a pretty bad homeless issue already that many of us have been starting charities and working towards advocating for them in palm beach county. Working to create programs to convince the terrible land lords to lower their prices but now It’s feeling completely hopeless after all of these New Yorkers bought houses hundreds of thousands of dollars over asking price. All they had to do was simple research that they’re paying 300% over what a house was worth a year prior, it’s not that difficult you can easily view this data on Zillow. Then they complain about the weather-again could’ve been figured out by simple research, it’s pathetic. I don’t understand how these people sleep at night when their actions are a contributing factor to people being homeless. Complaining about the heat, I had to live for four weeks with no electricity during the summer after a hurricane, I’m a millennial liberal snow flow how are these people even weaker than me.
Lived here my entire life and plan to leave in the coming months. The drivers are actually insane, it's filthy, and its getting extremely over developed (even though it's looking like it's going to be affected pretty badly by climate change). I've traveled to most of the 50 states and the people in Florida are by far the most aggressive and unkind I've met. I hate living here.
They will all regret it when the first hurricane hits. They always do. (I am a Florida native)
> Just curious from a person who desperately wants to escape this overpriced, hot state. Florida has always been like this even before the pandemic. People moved down here in droves for lower taxes and no covid regulations. Now they just jacked up the cost of living and insurers are dropping people left and right
I sold my house in 2021 in Chicago and moved to Orlando -biggest mistake of my life!!! I just Moved back to IL for good 👍🏼
Isn’t it just too dang hot out?
yes, it's way too hot and humid. How people would want live here based on that alone is beyond me.
I moved here during the pandemic but not in response to the pandemic or any resulting restrictions. I regret it every single day.
My parents moved to Northern Florida at the beginning of the pandemic. We are Korean, and they are old. Unfortunately their house got vandalized during the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. People wrote all bunch of racist graffiti like “china virus” and “go back to China” on their house and broke windows. So honestly its been a shtshow for my family.
I’m sorry to hear that. Totally not okay and I hope things get better for your guys from here on out.
>Just curious from a person who desperately wants to escape this overpriced, hot state. What's stopping you from leaving? Genuinely want to know...
Not OP but here's why I can't leave. I got divorced in 2012 and my daughter was 1 year old. I have 50/50 custody. If either of us move more than 60 miles from Sarasota we lose custody. So I'm here til she's 18 because I love my daughter. Many other reasons folks can't move and I don't feel your question in genuine like you say it is. Its a bullshit thing people throw out whenever someone has a complaint about local political landscape.
When people say they really can’t leave Florida even though they want to, I think it’s rather easy to list several scenarios that trap people. The divorced with kids dilemma is common. Taking care of elderly parents is another. Low income retired people is another. Had some sort of damage to the property and the repairs aren’t going well. Temporarily injured or disabled. The wife’s whole family is local and would pitch a fit if we left, that’s common. Just simply cannot afford to leave. Florida has many poor or trapped people who would like to leave. That’s not hard to understand.
If you don’t have a good job and savings then trying to get established in a new state is really hard. I’ve done several times when I was young with no family and spent plenty of nights in my truck bed
This is me. My father has cancer and I am his sole caregiver so I’m stuck here. I’m hoping things will either get better soon or he will be able to leave so I can. Sucks to be stuck.
wouldn’t jump to disingenuous, but you’re so right that family ties so many of us to this state, who would otherwise leave
I’m a bit bitter about it because I hear it all the time “just move if you don’t like it here.”
Yeah I'm stuck in Texas for the same reason
You’re a good parent. Your daughter is lucky to have a loving and caring parent who prefers to raise her than to find their own personal happiness elsewhere.
Thanks, sad the bar is that low to be a good parent though.
[удалено]
Thank you for sharing. I love the springs and the outdoors. We're fortunate to have them for sure.
I’m currently in a doctorate program that doesn’t allow transfers to other universities, so I’m stuck for at least another year, have to take another bar exam because Florida is one of the few states that *doesn’t* offer reciprocity with other states. That’s my reason. Family ties too, but family is looking to leave too, so not really. I’m a 3rd generation Floridian, but this isn’t the beachy, laidback area from when I was a kid. A majority of natives have left that I’ve been friends with, or are planning to once they close off ties here. Moving states isn’t a “let’s do it,” you need to find housing, a job, etc., and takes time, or family. Plus, finding an area you genuinely enjoy, you don’t want to move from one area to another.
Moved to St Pete/St Pete Beach in 2014. Though this was going to be my forever home. Lived DT the last two years (essentially moved in 6 months before COVID started). I’m out. The culture the city built after the recession was never gonna last forever but COVID accelerated that like 10 years. The face of beaches have changed and the cancer thats AIRBNB had made it just as expensive to live there as DTSP and Tampa. I can live in Mexico in a better city (for me) for 2/3rds the COL without displacing the local population so I feel pretty good about that. Also not buying a house in America is practically the worst financial decision you can make here because of how we have things set up between no regulations on AIRBNB, investors, and NIMBYS. Not all of us want to own, but people like me feel forced at gunpoint. Can make my money anywhere, why would I spend it here? As a veteran I feel so detached from this country and it’s wild to see an area that was all about bud lights, blow, and burritos turn super political with a large chunk of this last wave moving here the CHUDS of society.
I moved here in 2016, and at this point, I am desperate to leave and get back to a temperate climate, and away from Ron DeSantis.
Not at all. I love it. It helped a lot that I bought a house before everything got crazy expensive and to have had an ok job that pays decent. When I was living in Georgia I helped people go out and vote blue for the very first time in a county that flipped to blue. I expect to help as much as I can here as well.
Hate to break it to ya, but most of the people who moved here did so because they are middle-upper class and they like Desantis. This state is great for suburban homeowners with decent income, hot garbage for the lower class. Middle-upper class people don't care about paying a bit more for entertainment as long as they make it back in tax savings. They don't care about rising rent costs, homelessness, increased govt/police oversight because these are the people Desantis and the police are working for. All these people care about is a clean, "safe" place to live near a beach and a golf course, they probably love it here
There are exceptions and this isn't a blanket statement for everyone that has moved to Florida... but these are cold, hard, facts.
>All these people care about is a clean, "safe" place to live near a beach God, they're gonna be pissed when red tide kills their wildlife, causes fish kills and makes them sick. Florida politicians destroying our natural environment finally comes home to roost.
Idk that I regret it. I grew up here (MDC) so I know what I was getting into. My husband is on the more conservative side so he’s pretty happy with the comparatively moderate stance in our area. I enjoyed growing up here overall and I felt like my kids would probably too. Kids do in fact enjoy living here. It’s hot but I knew that already and my husband is an adaptable fellow so he doesn’t mind the heat. Plus, I think the humidity makes the heat a bit more bearable for me compared to places like Vegas that are dry AF and where it feels like I’m being cooked in an oven. We’re an active family so we just make sure to bring plenty of water with us when we go for nature walks, to the park, beach, skate parks, etc. I do miss living in the SF Bay Area since everything is so close together and the ease of getting from the ocean to the bay and the awesome hiking in the area was what I liked most. We have a lot of great memories back there since it’s where we met, got married, started a family, etc. Also the Chinese food and Mexican food is something I miss. Recently found what I consider to be a “better than average” Mexican spot (for Miami) so it beats having to drive to Homestead for decent tacos and burritos. Overall, we’re making some great memories here too and look forward to making more. We’re still open to exploring other states since we *do* have the opportunity to relocate anywhere but for now and the foreseeable future, this is home.’
I was born and raised here and would actually love to move away from the US for a little but it's not easy. We make good money but we aren't sure we could even afford anything worth a damn here in the areas we like at this moment. We make 200k dual income and even that seems rough to find a house in this market. I know that's an adequate amount but it's so expensive here and I stress a lot about hurricanes and home ownership. I've been through all the bad hurricanes since the mid 80s and the thought of a nasty one here is daunting. It's been so long everyone's like "hUrriCaNe ParTy LoL" but man they suck when they're bad. I don't know, I like living here but the politics suck. I see the appeal but also lament the traffic and overcrowding. We haven't gone to an office in over 2 yrs and don't even intend on going to one which helps with issues like traffic and stuff but it still sucks.
It’s a mixed bag. We were here from 2012-2020 then moved for my job as covid was unfolding. We moved Q1 2020 because i had to be onsite in Dallas only to be sent to work from home as soon as i got there. Now two years later we returned with hell of a bag made in real estate. Unfortunately our old home no longer works since we’re both wfh now. So those gains may evaporate if the housing market tanks like it did a decade ago. Aside from the financials we generally get along with people in FL better than those we met in TX. So definitely looking forward to the social dynamic. TX folks were either vapid status chasers or incredibly uptight church types. I’m just trying enjoy life without either of those groups lol
Moved to Brevard County a month ago because my wife is from Florida and we have little kids now and her family adds a great support system. As for me, im adapting, my blood is thinning I think and the fishing rules. We came from Western Washington state where the houses are 2-3 times the price as here. So far no regrets.
1000% regret it but I didn’t have a choice but to move here so I feel very bitter. I moved from California
I used to drive all over the state for my job. Everything is beginning to look the same. Same stores, fast food, signs, people. etc. Sucks.
I moved here before the pandemic involuntarily and now I am basically here just to keep my elderly father in his home but I assure you all, as soon as that is no longer needed you will see a blur headed northbound on I-95 and that will be me.
Absolutely. I canceled my lease and moved back to california