Moving South

[Anonymous]

I am tempted to move from DC to Florida, but am concerned about the quality of middle schools, Florida's economy and the cultural/diversity opportunities (or lack thereof). Anyone know anything about living in Florida with respect to the issues I just raised?

[Anonymous]

I clicked on your question b/c I'm from the South. But I don't consider Florida the South. It's a different place entirely. But, one of my BFF moved to Florida. Her DH has been laid off 3 times in the past 3 years; he sells car insurance and it's mandatory in FL for everyone to have it. The economy is tough; she's a county worker and they have had tons of furloughs. Schools are pretty good. She likes the diversity but I think that's mainly spanish-speaking; her DH is Canadian and she's from Arkansas like me. Not diversity like we have around here.

[Anonymous]

How. on earth did you just pick Florida? It honestly sounds like you picked out the state because you enjoy beaches and waves.

Like me knowing that I love pasta and tomatoes so I think I'll move to Italy but first I just need to check with you all and learn about Italy's economy, people, culture, and cost of living.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Fl and LOVED it. My schools were great. The lifestyle was great and so much fun. We lived on the water and boated almost every weekend. I used to ride my bike to the best beaches EVER with my friends on the weekends. Free and fun. Swimming pool in the backyard, swam almost year round. It's damn hot but it's damn hot here in the summer too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How. on earth did you just pick Florida? It honestly sounds like you picked out the state because you enjoy beaches and waves.

Like me knowing that I love pasta and tomatoes so I think I'll move to Italy but first I just need to check with you all and learn about Italy's economy, people, culture, and cost of living.

You got all that from "I'm tempted to move to Florida?" This seems like a weird thing to reply to in such a nasty tone.

[Anonymous]

You are concerned about the quality of middle schools in the ENTIRE state. I think you can find a great school in any town you decide to live in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are concerned about the quality of middle schools in the ENTIRE state. I think you can find a great school in any town you decide to live in.

For the longest time, Florida ranked 50th in school quality, so yeah, I could see where OP would be concerned about the quality of middle schools in the ENTIRE state. They might actually still be 50th.

[Anonymous]

The honor of "worst" schools has been handed to Nevada. So you're in the clear to move to Florida!

[Anonymous]

Florida's horrible. Don't do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I clicked on your question b/c I'm from the South. But I don't consider Florida the South. It's a different place entirely.

Move about 5 feet inwards from a coastline and you are in the deep south, but its not the "good parts" of the south (southern charm and hospitality), it's the small-minded attitudes, lack of focus on education, health, etc. I have encountered more outright racism in Florida than any other state, southern or northern, where I have spent a substantial amount of time. And don't get me started on the real estate market!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am tempted to move from DC to Florida, but am concerned about the quality of middle schools, Florida's economy and the cultural/diversity opportunities (or lack thereof). Anyone know anything about living in Florida with respect to the issues I just raised?

Hi OP! I am originally from the "south". Florida isn't really a southern state. Having said that, we moved from the D.C. area to North Florida a year ago and absolutely LOVE it! I was skeptical. My husband works for the federal government and this was a transfer (and promotion) for him. I was worried about the schools because I had heard such bad things about Florida schools in general.

While overall Florida schools aren't great, some of the best public high schools in the country are in Florida. I was really surprised when I started researching schools. We assumed we would have to put our kids in private schools.
Link: http://www.newsweek.com/feature/2010/americas-best-high-schools/list.html

We are in St. John's County just outside of Jacksonville. The schools are very good in this county. I have one in college, three in high school, and one in elementary school. I have zero complaints about the schools. My kids are more challenged at their high school here than they were in Fairfax. And the weather....gorgeous. Y'all had snow yesterday. It was 85 and sunny here! We live about 15 minutes from the beach and spend nearly every weekend there. We have a five bedroom house ON THE WATER. We paid $210,000. Our neighborhood has walking trails, golf, tennis, fitness center, clubhouses, three pools, and a water park. When my sister came down to visit, she called it "paradise".

We'll end up back in the D.C. area in a few years. But we're keeping the house. This is where we want to retire. I never thought I would say this: But I love Florida!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the responses. I neglected to say that I am interested in the Orlando area. My children are bi-racial (AA and Caucasian) and I was worried about how accepted they would be by their peers. I have been told that many places in Florida can be racially insensitive/hostile and the schools are not on par with schools in the Northeast. And to answer one DCUMer's nasty response, I am not moving to Florida on a mere whim; rather, it's a combination of weather and lifestyle that I am interested in!!

[Anonymous]

Orlando is the Sacramento of Florida. Charmless, land-locked, oppressively hot. There are many nicer parts of Florida IMO.

[Anonymous]

Borelando. Bleh...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in Fl and LOVED it. My schools were great. The lifestyle was great and so much fun. We lived on the water and boated almost every weekend. I used to ride my bike to the best beaches EVER with my friends on the weekends. Free and fun. Swimming pool in the backyard, swam almost year round. It's damn hot but it's damn hot here in the summer too.

You say your schools were great. What type of work do you do?