Why do people like Florida?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone ever want to move to Florida? Vacation during the winter sure, but actually LIVE there?

It's constantly got hurricanes which they are never prepared for, you'd think after so many hurricanes they'd put together a response plan or infrastructure that works, the summers are horrible and humid, there's all kinds of crazy people and crazy politics, there's a lot of crime, the schools are terrible, and now it's getting more expensive. Oh, and the traffic.

But, and this is an important point, YOU and people like YOU are not there, worth any and all disasters not to have to be around YOU.

And lol no we don't have constant hurricanes. There's a hurricane season. It's no fun - but you get through it, then you get the rest of the year to enjoy beautiful weather, nature, and all the rest of it.

I will give you that the politics are dismal. But - ya know. You had Trump living in your city for four years. Not like that's great shakes. Plus no statehood - if you're in DC. Maybe you're in VA where Youngkin is trying to ban abortion and punish trans kids.

We all deal with what we deal with.

I’m not actually surprised that people in DC think Florida is just constantly pounded by hurricanes. But there’s been like 150 hurricanes to hit Florida in the last 200 years. And over 50% of those were under cat 3. So no, Florida is not “constantly” being hit by hurricanes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Lived in DC for 15 years and finally moved back home to South Florida. Never been happier!
-no income tax - ok that’s just wrong on so many levels. It’s like stealing money from people who really need it!
-
-i have no idea what most of the parents do for a living in my kid's class. work and connections are not the leading talking point. Wait - then what do you talk about with them? Makes no sense.
-i have no idea what the political affiliations are of the parents in my kid's class. this is so refreshing to me after life in DC, where tribalism rules.

Seriously- you are ok with your kids being around the kids of ultra-MAGAs supremacists??
-
-
-a lot of people just walk around HAPPY AS F. particularly in winter. because it's a beautiful day. because the color of the water is gorgeous. because in so many ways, life is objectively so much easier than in northern states. because you live where people vacation. whatever your reason is.

. .

1. Florida taxes you elsewhere to make up the difference, no state has a free ride. Plus the tolls, they love tolls down there. In fact, all no tax states do, if you think about it.
2.
3. HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA okay sure. Ask them how they feel about DeSantis and you'll find out real quick.

Floridian here. Sure, if you ask, people will tell you. The point (I believe) that PP is making is that no one tends to ask here. That's true in my circle too. I don't ask, they don't tell. It rarely if ever comes up in conversation. It's a stark contrast from living in DC. One of many.

Its almost as if DC is home to politics thus people are going to ask.

It's almost like they make the assumption that it's like that everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many people who love hot weather and hate cold weather.
There are many people who like having no income tax.
It is a lot cheaper to live there than in most northern states.
There are those who love living within easy drive of many, many beaches and having year-round weather where you can go to the beach.

All of this.

I have liberal relatives who live there. They love sun, beach/pool life year round, low taxes. One has kids in a very affordable private school, the others moved there after their kids graduated high school.

Lived in DC for 15 years and finally moved back home to South Florida. Never been happier!
-no income tax
-cheaper
-no winter
-currently looking out the window at a view of the bay and the ocean in the distance.
-my family is here
-i have no idea what most of the parents do for a living in my kid's class. work and connections are not the leading talking point.
-i have no idea what the political affiliations are of the parents in my kid's class. this is so refreshing to me after life in DC, where tribalism rules.
-10 minute drive to the beach. DH and I will take a day off from work, spend the day on the beach- swimming, having delicious seafood and drinks, and back home for daycare pickup by 530. Feels like we left the country.
-2-4 hour nonstop flights to central and south america have changed the possibilities of long weekend trips
-rats are not taking over the city
-almost perpetual blue skies and sunshine. the way those things alone affect your mood and day...priceless
-i am happiest among color. colorful clothing, buildings, people, design, textures etc. the dc uniform of grey, black blue and brutalist architecture was challenging for me
-i love latin and caribbean culture, music, food, etc.
-a lot of people just walk around HAPPY AS F. particularly in winter. because it's a beautiful day. because the color of the water is gorgeous. because in so many ways, life is objectively so much easier than in northern states. because you live where people vacation. whatever your reason is.

I miss my friends in DC and the museums. And Rose ave bakery. And the Obama years.

Sounds idyllic.

Agree - I just moved back from dc
I’ll add: delicious Cuban coffee and guava pastry shops, live music to the backdrop of an ocean

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Climate change and the horrible weather for half the year deters me.

I think there are some nice cities there -- Tampa, St Augustine -- but I don't think those places will last long with climate change.

Bet me $1,000 dollars those cities won't be there in 10 years.

Rube.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to say the unpopular thing that I know many have privately thought.
We were miserable in DC during the pandemic. Schools closed, rec space and playgrounds shuttered, challenges of winter, businesses and people closing and leaving.
Many Floridians had the CHOICE of getting kids back to in person school quickly, living relatively normal lives, not being cooped up inside during cold weather.

My best friend in Ft Lauderdale had her kids back in person school by Fall 2020, was able to live pretty normally, and was vaccinated 2 months before we were able to get appts in DC. We lived on different planets. I was jealous. We all ended up in the same place- vaxxed and boosted. Yet the road to get there was so vastly different.


There is no prize for being more miserable...

This. DC is ground zero for political identity liberals. They're livid that people want to move to a state even though DeSantis is Governor. The fact is he got it right and DC and other blue states got it wrong. Now the DMV has an entire generation of public school kids with trauma and burnt out parents (mostly moms), but the progressives refuse to admit it. So they start stupid threads like this and scream at everyone who said eff it I'm moving to Florida.

I remember taking my kids down to see my folks for Christmas of 2020. We got off the plane, and didn't see more than a handful of masks the week we were down there. Everything was open, kids had been in school all fall, with few, if any, restrictions. Everyone was basically living like it was 2019. It was like a different world compared to our NW neighborhood where people where other people (not us) were still wearing masks outdoors.

When we flew back, it was like coming back to some dystopian hellscape full of beaten down, scared, people.

I despise the mask mandate but please. You need therapy if that's what you felt like.

People in this area, especially in places like NW DC and the close-in Maryland suburbs, went really deep into pandemic paranoia. By brother-in-law didn't let his family interact with anyone outside of their household for 18 months. Weirdos would scream at you for not wearing a mask at the park (well, they'd scream at my wife, not me. I'm a big guy). People around here got really, really weird.

This is so true. I had people yell at me for walking around outside without a mask in my NW DC neighborhood. Another parent chastised us for not requiring masks at our kid's outdoor birthday party Fall of 2021 (after vaccines for ages 12+) and boycotted it. Over half the parents in our scouts troop refused to meet inside even in Spring 2022. We found ourselves escaping to Florida every chance we got during the pandemic. We finally made the move and couldn't be happier. Like another pp said, you don't realize quite how much crazy is normalized in DC is until you leave.

[Anonymous]

I loved DC and it is way different here but i love it here in florida too. I am close to the beach and have my kids at the beach every day in the winter. They learned to surf and respect the environment at an early age. We can afford extracurricular like horseback riding and sailing that we could not afford up North. The kids also are eligible for free private school tuition because their dad is a first responder. They will get free in state college tuition if they maintain good grades. We are close to grandparents and good hospitals (we have special needs).we bought a huge 5 br 3 bath house with a pool for less than my little 850 sq for ranch in Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved here four years ago. I came kicking and screaming for all of the stereotypes listed here, but we came to be near aging parents. Within a year, I absolutely loved it, but I think it has more to do with the community I found myself in. I have a better circle of friends than I ever have had in my adult life. I mean, the kind that drop everything when someone needs something. My kid likes her school, and it's a good district - my condition of moving here.

People who move here by choice have the attitude of "I'm just happy to be here." There is a sense of relaxation, flip-flop attitude that's nice. We have a pool that we use regularly and we just enjoy life here. The no taxes are a bonus.

Say what you want about the conservative politics - I tolerate it because it exists. I'm a Democrat and there's space for me here. And I vote. I hope that helps in November.

I've lived in 13 different states all over the country with varying cultures, and I've loved something about every single one. Florida is no different. I find it just so bizarre how much hatred can be directed at a state. People are people, everywhere you go. Just be kind, enjoy your life, and everything will be OK.

Where are you in FL? I'm a Miami native, and I find FL to be nuanced, but ultimately very self-centered and fake. Honestly curious about the community you've found. Sounds great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to say the unpopular thing that I know many have privately thought.
We were miserable in DC during the pandemic. Schools closed, rec space and playgrounds shuttered, challenges of winter, businesses and people closing and leaving.
Many Floridians had the CHOICE of getting kids back to in person school quickly, living relatively normal lives, not being cooped up inside during cold weather.

My best friend in Ft Lauderdale had her kids back in person school by Fall 2020, was able to live pretty normally, and was vaccinated 2 months before we were able to get appts in DC. We lived on different planets. I was jealous. We all ended up in the same place- vaxxed and boosted. Yet the road to get there was so vastly different.


There is no prize for being more miserable...

This. DC is ground zero for political identity liberals. They're livid that people want to move to a state even though DeSantis is Governor. The fact is he got it right and DC and other blue states got it wrong. Now the DMV has an entire generation of public school kids with trauma and burnt out parents (mostly moms), but the progressives refuse to admit it. So they start stupid threads like this and scream at everyone who said eff it I'm moving to Florida.

I remember taking my kids down to see my folks for Christmas of 2020. We got off the plane, and didn't see more than a handful of masks the week we were down there. Everything was open, kids had been in school all fall, with few, if any, restrictions. Everyone was basically living like it was 2019. It was like a different world compared to our NW neighborhood where people where other people (not us) were still wearing masks outdoors.

When we flew back, it was like coming back to some dystopian hellscape full of beaten down, scared, people.

I despise the mask mandate but please. You need therapy if that's what you felt like.

People in this area, especially in places like NW DC and the close-in Maryland suburbs, went really deep into pandemic paranoia. By brother-in-law didn't let his family interact with anyone outside of their household for 18 months. Weirdos would scream at you for not wearing a mask at the park (well, they'd scream at my wife, not me. I'm a big guy). People around here got really, really weird.

This is so true. I had people yell at me for walking around outside without a mask in my NW DC neighborhood. Another parent chastised us for not requiring masks at our kid's outdoor birthday party Fall of 2021 (after vaccines for ages 12+) and boycotted it. Over half the parents in our scouts troop refused to meet inside even in Spring 2022. We found ourselves escaping to Florida every chance we got during the pandemic. We finally made the move and couldn't be happier. Like another pp said, you don't realize quite how much crazy is normalized in DC is until you leave.

I like Florida, and am generally a defender of it on DCUM, but there’s a whole bunch of crazy in Florida too. Let’s be honest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to say the unpopular thing that I know many have privately thought.
We were miserable in DC during the pandemic. Schools closed, rec space and playgrounds shuttered, challenges of winter, businesses and people closing and leaving.
Many Floridians had the CHOICE of getting kids back to in person school quickly, living relatively normal lives, not being cooped up inside during cold weather.

My best friend in Ft Lauderdale had her kids back in person school by Fall 2020, was able to live pretty normally, and was vaccinated 2 months before we were able to get appts in DC. We lived on different planets. I was jealous. We all ended up in the same place- vaxxed and boosted. Yet the road to get there was so vastly different.


There is no prize for being more miserable...

This. DC is ground zero for political identity liberals. They're livid that people want to move to a state even though DeSantis is Governor. The fact is he got it right and DC and other blue states got it wrong. Now the DMV has an entire generation of public school kids with trauma and burnt out parents (mostly moms), but the progressives refuse to admit it. So they start stupid threads like this and scream at everyone who said eff it I'm moving to Florida.

Preach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to say the unpopular thing that I know many have privately thought.
We were miserable in DC during the pandemic. Schools closed, rec space and playgrounds shuttered, challenges of winter, businesses and people closing and leaving.
Many Floridians had the CHOICE of getting kids back to in person school quickly, living relatively normal lives, not being cooped up inside during cold weather.

My best friend in Ft Lauderdale had her kids back in person school by Fall 2020, was able to live pretty normally, and was vaccinated 2 months before we were able to get appts in DC. We lived on different planets. I was jealous. We all ended up in the same place- vaxxed and boosted. Yet the road to get there was so vastly different.


There is no prize for being more miserable...

This. DC is ground zero for political identity liberals. They're livid that people want to move to a state even though DeSantis is Governor. The fact is he got it right and DC and other blue states got it wrong. Now the DMV has an entire generation of public school kids with trauma and burnt out parents (mostly moms), but the progressives refuse to admit it. So they start stupid threads like this and scream at everyone who said eff it I'm moving to Florida.

I remember taking my kids down to see my folks for Christmas of 2020. We got off the plane, and didn't see more than a handful of masks the week we were down there. Everything was open, kids had been in school all fall, with few, if any, restrictions. Everyone was basically living like it was 2019. It was like a different world compared to our NW neighborhood where people where other people (not us) were still wearing masks outdoors.

When we flew back, it was like coming back to some dystopian hellscape full of beaten down, scared, people.

I despise the mask mandate but please. You need therapy if that's what you felt like.

Disagree. I also left DC during the pandemic and it was unreal returning. Florida was operating mostly business as usual. People were heads down wearing a mask in DC and everyone was miserable. My kid attended a kids camp in Florida while on vacation and I couldn’t believe how much happier he was by the end of the vacation. It was like a weight had lifted. I felt mean returning him to DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to say the unpopular thing that I know many have privately thought.
We were miserable in DC during the pandemic. Schools closed, rec space and playgrounds shuttered, challenges of winter, businesses and people closing and leaving.
Many Floridians had the CHOICE of getting kids back to in person school quickly, living relatively normal lives, not being cooped up inside during cold weather.

My best friend in Ft Lauderdale had her kids back in person school by Fall 2020, was able to live pretty normally, and was vaccinated 2 months before we were able to get appts in DC. We lived on different planets. I was jealous. We all ended up in the same place- vaxxed and boosted. Yet the road to get there was so vastly different.


There is no prize for being more miserable...

This. DC is ground zero for political identity liberals. They're livid that people want to move to a state even though DeSantis is Governor. The fact is he got it right and DC and other blue states got it wrong. Now the DMV has an entire generation of public school kids with trauma and burnt out parents (mostly moms), but the progressives refuse to admit it. So they start stupid threads like this and scream at everyone who said eff it I'm moving to Florida.

Preach.

I can understand the frustration with decisions that were made during Covid, but that’s the past. I find censorship, Don’t Say Gay, and the Stop WOKE act as detrimental, politically motivated decisions. You might not like left wing virtue signaling, but this legislation is just unnecessarily cruel and adds ZERO value to society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved here four years ago. I came kicking and screaming for all of the stereotypes listed here, but we came to be near aging parents. Within a year, I absolutely loved it, but I think it has more to do with the community I found myself in. I have a better circle of friends than I ever have had in my adult life. I mean, the kind that drop everything when someone needs something. My kid likes her school, and it's a good district - my condition of moving here.

People who move here by choice have the attitude of "I'm just happy to be here." There is a sense of relaxation, flip-flop attitude that's nice. We have a pool that we use regularly and we just enjoy life here. The no taxes are a bonus.

Say what you want about the conservative politics - I tolerate it because it exists. I'm a Democrat and there's space for me here. And I vote. I hope that helps in November.

I've lived in 13 different states all over the country with varying cultures, and I've loved something about every single one. Florida is no different. I find it just so bizarre how much hatred can be directed at a state. People are people, everywhere you go. Just be kind, enjoy your life, and everything will be OK.

Where are you in FL? I'm a Miami native, and I find FL to be nuanced, but ultimately very self-centered and fake. Honestly curious about the community you've found. Sounds great.

Miami is a great place to visit - the food, music, people watching are fabulous! But it's also home to the most shallow and self-centered people in the entire country (ok, ties with parts of LA). The rest of FL is very different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I loved DC and it is way different here but i love it here in florida too. I am close to the beach and have my kids at the beach every day in the winter. They learned to surf and respect the environment at an early age. We can afford extracurricular like horseback riding and sailing that we could not afford up North. The kids also are eligible for free private school tuition because their dad is a first responder. They will get free in state college tuition if they maintain good grades. We are close to grandparents and good hospitals (we have special needs).we bought a huge 5 br 3 bath house with a pool for less than my little 850 sq for ranch in Alexandria.

Ok but why are you still hanging out here? You're like the guy who graduated last year but hangs out in the parking lot after school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved DC and it is way different here but i love it here in florida too. I am close to the beach and have my kids at the beach every day in the winter. They learned to surf and respect the environment at an early age. We can afford extracurricular like horseback riding and sailing that we could not afford up North. The kids also are eligible for free private school tuition because their dad is a first responder. They will get free in state college tuition if they maintain good grades. We are close to grandparents and good hospitals (we have special needs).we bought a huge 5 br 3 bath house with a pool for less than my little 850 sq for ranch in Alexandria.

Ok but why are you still hanging out here? You're like the guy who graduated last year but hangs out in the parking lot after school.

Well, there is nothing like DCUM. I come back here when I need to be told what to wear, vote for and get passionate about, lest I start thinking for myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to say the unpopular thing that I know many have privately thought.
We were miserable in DC during the pandemic. Schools closed, rec space and playgrounds shuttered, challenges of winter, businesses and people closing and leaving.
Many Floridians had the CHOICE of getting kids back to in person school quickly, living relatively normal lives, not being cooped up inside during cold weather.

My best friend in Ft Lauderdale had her kids back in person school by Fall 2020, was able to live pretty normally, and was vaccinated 2 months before we were able to get appts in DC. We lived on different planets. I was jealous. We all ended up in the same place- vaxxed and boosted. Yet the road to get there was so vastly different.


There is no prize for being more miserable...

This. DC is ground zero for political identity liberals. They're livid that people want to move to a state even though DeSantis is Governor. The fact is he got it right and DC and other blue states got it wrong. Now the DMV has an entire generation of public school kids with trauma and burnt out parents (mostly moms), but the progressives refuse to admit it. So they start stupid threads like this and scream at everyone who said eff it I'm moving to Florida.

Preach.

I can understand the frustration with decisions that were made during Covid, but that’s the past. I find censorship, Don’t Say Gay, and the Stop WOKE act as detrimental, politically motivated decisions. You might not like left wing virtue signaling, but this legislation is just unnecessarily cruel and adds ZERO value to society.

Because that’s all fear mongering by the left. People who actually live in Florida and send their kids to school there know this.
If you read the actual legislation it’s not remotely concerning. Besides the fact that the average parent does Not want their child being taught about gender reassignment and whatnot. They want their kids going to school for math, science, literature Etc. NOT someone trying to push a political agenda about being gay, anti-white etc.

Someone like you needs to spend a day in a school in Florida. It’s like you’re so brainwashed that you truly deep down believe that the government in Florida is trying to harm or discriminate against children.