Moved to Florida for SO and now I'm miserable

[Anonymous]

Op, seek an academic bubble. Live apart and have a weekend-only relationship, or spilt and you move away from the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister lived in south Florida for a few years. As a DC transplant, she called it Fori-duh...said she was surrounded by conservative gun-toting morons. Most people work in hospitality and have no clue or interest in politics or the community.

She knew she couldn't raise a family there, so she left.

Uhh, south Florida is one of the most reliably Democratic areas in the country, and is populated almost entirely by transplants from the Northeast or immigrants. But okay.

Seriously! South Florida conservative? Gun heavy? I just about spit out my drink.

I just about spit out my drink. Maybe PP’s sister was just scared of brown people or people who speak Spanish and that’s why she decided to leave. Easier to say “it’s the conservatives!!”

Well, it's not Texas but is absolutely gun-heavy compared to DC. They have the death penalty and that's a good indicator of a kill or be killed type atmosphere.

Gun ownership rates:
Well EVERYWHERE is gun heavy compared to DC. At 24.5%, Florida ranks 41st out of 51 states in gunownership- lower than Virginia at 35.1% and about equivalent to Maryland at 21.3%.

Florida's gun ownership rate is like Maryland's, but Florida's murder rate is about one-third lower than Maryland's, according to FBI crime reports. Maryland has no stand-your-ground law, and routinely prosecutes people who defend themselves in their own homes from armed attackers.

Wyoming has a more lenient "stand your ground" law than Florida's, and has a murder rate almost two-thirds lower than Maryland's, and a murder rate one-third lower Florida.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Florida has so many transplants from different states that it's hard to make a blanket statement. The SE coast from Palm Beach to Miami is loaded with people from NY and NJ. The west coast from Tampa to Naples is loaded with people from the mid west. What "type" would you prefer? Pretty easy answer. The people in the middle of the state are straight out of Deliverance. All pick up trucks with gun racks. Much of the panhandle is truly Deep South.

As a northern transplant to Florida, I agree with this description. I'll take the midwestern centric Tampa over the Jersey Shore. Agree with other posters, if you can't find friends here, you are the common denominator.

[Anonymous]

If you think that the past winter in South Florida with temperatures in the 70s and 65% humidity was miserable and "hot and humid and swampy 24/7" then I strongly suggest that you move before summer starts.

I relocated to South Florida to be with my SO and while it took a while to find friends and to get used to the lack of seasons, I was never miserable. I found like-minded people (including other transplants from DC) through meetup groups and local Facebook pages. If you live closer to the beach (within a mile or two) there's almost always a breeze.

[Anonymous]

Start planning your move. I lived there for four years and had the same issues you're mentioning. I nearly killed myself.

[Anonymous]

We have a beach place on the panhandle and we really like it. The weather, the people, everything. We are a mixed family and very liberal. We actually find people very nice and it's relaxing to not have to specifically discuss/dissect politics. But we are only there a few weeks a year. Can you move within Florida/check out more areas?

[Anonymous]

OP, I live near Tampa and love it (from NE) but if you are not happy, you should just go now-before kids and houses and all that. It isn't for everyone, just like DC isn't. You need to be happy too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in DC for the past ten years and loved it. About eight months ago my SO and I relocated to South Florida. My SO is from the area and wanted to move back to be close to family and for a new career opportunity.

I've tried to enjoy it but I'm really unhappy.

The weather is terrible: hot and humid and swampy 24/7. I love the change of seasons and this endless summer is killing me.

It's tough to meet people that we actually have much in common with. Sure, we have a few friends here, but the conversation is just... stupid. Florida gets a bad reputation for dumb/weird people and it's definitely blown out of proportion, but there's some truth to it. The people in DC just seem smarter -- not a huge surprise given the concentration of good jobs there and the concentration of bartender jobs here.

If you're not into clubbing, beaches, or fishing, there's not much to do here. DC has its many problems, but we were rarely bored.

The thought of spending the rest of my life here is depressing but my SO won't move again. Anyone ever been in a similar situation?

Do you have friends, family or people you are close to in DC? If so, you should consider moving back while you and your SO work things out.

[Anonymous]

People are generally more laid back and less career-focused in Florida. The lack of pretension is refreshing. I’m not as familiar with South Florida, but

Yes, people are generally less educated in Florida, but DC is the most educated and affluent city in the country. Coming from there, basically anywhere outside of major cities will seem uneducated and redneck.

Florida is a very random and diverse place, with a combination of Southern, Northern and Latino culture.

[Anonymous]

I'd grow citrus in my back yard and have a year-round vegetable garden. I'd lose 20 pounds running on the beach and swimming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in DC for the past ten years and loved it. About eight months ago my SO and I relocated to South Florida. My SO is from the area and wanted to move back to be close to family and for a new career opportunity.

I've tried to enjoy it but I'm really unhappy.

The weather is terrible: hot and humid and swampy 24/7. I love the change of seasons and this endless summer is killing me.

It's tough to meet people that we actually have much in common with. Sure, we have a few friends here, but the conversation is just... stupid. Florida gets a bad reputation for dumb/weird people and it's definitely blown out of proportion, but there's some truth to it. The people in DC just seem smarter -- not a huge surprise given the concentration of good jobs there and the concentration of bartender jobs here.

If you're not into clubbing, beaches, or fishing, there's not much to do here. DC has its many problems, but we were rarely bored.

The thought of spending the rest of my life here is depressing but my SO won't move again. Anyone ever been in a similar situation?

Same situation, but not south Florida. I hate it here. All I want is to go back to DC. There are no jobs in my field here. I did this for my spouse with the understanding that after 1 year we would reevaluate; he swears he never agreed to that. We're in counseling because this move has destroyed my metal health and my marriage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister lived in south Florida for a few years. As a DC transplant, she called it Fori-duh...said she was surrounded by conservative gun-toting morons. Most people work in hospitality and have no clue or interest in politics or the community.

She knew she couldn't raise a family there, so she left.

Uhh, south Florida is one of the most reliably Democratic areas in the country, and is populated almost entirely by transplants from the Northeast or immigrants. But okay.

Seriously! South Florida conservative? Gun heavy? I just about spit out my drink.

I just about spit out my drink. Maybe PP’s sister was just scared of brown people or people who speak Spanish and that’s why she decided to leave. Easier to say “it’s the conservatives!!”

Well, it's not Texas but is absolutely gun-heavy compared to DC. They have the death penalty and that's a good indicator of a kill or be killed type atmosphere.

And the Stand Your Ground law which got Trayvon Martin killed. People forget because of the beautiful beaches but Florida was just as much part of the Confederacy as Georgia and it shares a lot of its population with GA/AL too.

Huh. Well, the murder rates in both Florida and Texas are well-below that of Maryland - where the murder rate is among the highest in the US.

[Anonymous]

OP, I've been in your shoes. A friend recommended this book and I loved it.
https://www.amazon.com/This-Where-You-Belong-Wherever/dp/014312966X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524614366&sr=8-1&keywords=this+is+where+you+belong

It might help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister lived in south Florida for a few years. As a DC transplant, she called it Fori-duh...said she was surrounded by conservative gun-toting morons. Most people work in hospitality and have no clue or interest in politics or the community.

She knew she couldn't raise a family there, so she left.

Uhh, south Florida is one of the most reliably Democratic areas in the country, and is populated almost entirely by transplants from the Northeast or immigrants. But okay.

Seriously! South Florida conservative? Gun heavy? I just about spit out my drink.

I just about spit out my drink. Maybe PP’s sister was just scared of brown people or people who speak Spanish and that’s why she decided to leave. Easier to say “it’s the conservatives!!”

Well, it's not Texas but is absolutely gun-heavy compared to DC. They have the death penalty and that's a good indicator of a kill or be killed type atmosphere.

And the Stand Your Ground law which got Trayvon Martin killed. People forget because of the beautiful beaches but Florida was just as much part of the Confederacy as Georgia and it shares a lot of its population with GA/AL too.

Huh. Well, the murder rates in both Florida and Texas are well-below that of Maryland - where the murder rate is among the highest in the US.

Shhhhh! Don't confuse that poster with facts! Facts are scaaaary!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister lived in south Florida for a few years. As a DC transplant, she called it Fori-duh...said she was surrounded by conservative gun-toting morons. Most people work in hospitality and have no clue or interest in politics or the community.

She knew she couldn't raise a family there, so she left.

Uhh, south Florida is one of the most reliably Democratic areas in the country, and is populated almost entirely by transplants from the Northeast or immigrants. But okay.

Seriously! South Florida conservative? Gun heavy? I just about spit out my drink.

I just about spit out my drink. Maybe PP’s sister was just scared of brown people or people who speak Spanish and that’s why she decided to leave. Easier to say “it’s the conservatives!!”

Well, it's not Texas but is absolutely gun-heavy compared to DC. They have the death penalty and that's a good indicator of a kill or be killed type atmosphere.

And the Stand Your Ground law which got Trayvon Martin killed. People forget because of the beautiful beaches but Florida was just as much part of the Confederacy as Georgia and it shares a lot of its population with GA/AL too.

Huh. Well, the murder rates in both Florida and Texas are well-below that of Maryland - where the murder rate is among the highest in the US.

The OP came from D.C. not Maryland...so I'm not sure how that's relevant.