Anonymous
07/25/2022 19:16
Subject: Re:Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
Anonymous wrote:I read these threads on dcum and just cannot understand how my experience in Florida is so different from what I read here. I didn't hate living in DC or NoVA, but I certainly don't want to ever move back. We love living in Florida. We lived in St Johns (near Jax) for six years. Our schools were outstanding. My kids that graduated from high school in Florida went to college free thanks to Bright Futures. Our schools were every bit as strong as the schools the kids attended in Fairfax. We still own a home in NoVA but it will likely always be an investment property.
We live about an hour from Tampa and are in the city often. It's a great city! Lots of great restaurants, shopping, entertainment, .... And the Tampa airport is so easy to get in and out of. We love Busch Gardens in Tampa and the Aquarium is fun as well.
Here's the thing - To live in Florida, you need a sense of humor. Yes. It's true. Crazy things happen here. If you are from Florida, you learn to embrace the crazy. It's much better than the traffic, crime, COL, and humorless life in DC.
The good stuff -
🐊We are outdoors all the time. Of course it's hot during the summer. It's hot in the DC swamp during the summer. The difference is, I have an enclosed pool on my lanai. I can be at the beach in less than 20 minutes. We live near several beautiful springs (Three Sisters is my favorite). We swim, kayak, float, scuba dive/snorkel, stand up paddle board, sail, .... There is always something to do. There are hundreds of beautiful national parks all over the state.
🐊We live in a huge community on the golf course. During the summer, we try to get out on the golf course early in the morning before it gets too hot. I can drive my golf cart just about anywhere I need to go. People are very friendly for the most part. Crime in my community is almost non-existent.
🐊 It's an easy, laid back place to live. No traffic in my area. Almost zero crime. People aren't rushing around all the time. Life is just so much easier here.
🐊 Florida Publix. There is nothing else to say. If you know, you know.
The not-so-great stuff -
🐊You have to learn to ignore the Trumpsters and the rednecks. It's really not hard to do. They are a minor annoyance.
🐊The schools in some parts of Florida aren't great. You'll need to be careful if you are moving here with kids. Tampa does have some great schools.
🐊It's hot for a long time. Unlike DC where it starts to cool off in September/October, central Florida is HOT until January. We were still swimming in our pool without turning on the heat until mid-January. It cools off in January and February. It starts to get hot again in March. If you don't like warm weather, you will be miserable.
🐊Some people have a hard time getting used to the wildlife. There are gators, venomous snakes, wild boar, panthers, black bears, coyotes, bobcats, sharks .... all kinds of things that want to kill you. Once you live here for a while, you learn to understand how to live with the animals. We have several gators in the pond behind our house (golf course water hazard). They typically run back into the water if you approach them. They are really only dangerous if you are in the water with them or if you get between a mama and her nest. They don't chase people around on land. You learn to expect any body of fresh water (expect the cold springs) to have a gator in it.
🐊Housing prices are really high right now. We bought our home years ago. We could not afford this house at today's prices.
Again, I read these threads about Florida and wonder where in the world these people visited or lived. I feel like I live in paradise most days. Last night my husband and I played pickleball and then went to the Tikki Bar for drinks. We were there for hours. Great friends, great music, great drinks. And we got there in our golf cart. The only complaint I have is that it's getting crowded. So many yankees moving down here from NY, NJ, and DC.
Tampa is a great city, OP. Come on down!
I always like to come down to Florida. Living in DC is so boring and everything is far away- beaches, mountains, other natural attractions. Humidity in DC is as bad as in Florida, but at least in Florida you have a beach.
Anonymous
07/25/2022 16:41
Subject: Re:Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
I read these threads on dcum and just cannot understand how my experience in Florida is so different from what I read here. I didn't hate living in DC or NoVA, but I certainly don't want to ever move back. We love living in Florida. We lived in St Johns (near Jax) for six years. Our schools were outstanding. My kids that graduated from high school in Florida went to college free thanks to Bright Futures. Our schools were every bit as strong as the schools the kids attended in Fairfax. We still own a home in NoVA but it will likely always be an investment property.
We live about an hour from Tampa and are in the city often. It's a great city! Lots of great restaurants, shopping, entertainment, .... And the Tampa airport is so easy to get in and out of. We love Busch Gardens in Tampa and the Aquarium is fun as well.
Here's the thing - To live in Florida, you need a sense of humor. Yes. It's true. Crazy things happen here. If you are from Florida, you learn to embrace the crazy. It's much better than the traffic, crime, COL, and humorless life in DC.
The good stuff -
🐊We are outdoors all the time. Of course it's hot during the summer. It's hot in the DC swamp during the summer. The difference is, I have an enclosed pool on my lanai. I can be at the beach in less than 20 minutes. We live near several beautiful springs (Three Sisters is my favorite). We swim, kayak, float, scuba dive/snorkel, stand up paddle board, sail, .... There is always something to do. There are hundreds of beautiful national parks all over the state.
🐊We live in a huge community on the golf course. During the summer, we try to get out on the golf course early in the morning before it gets too hot. I can drive my golf cart just about anywhere I need to go. People are very friendly for the most part. Crime in my community is almost non-existent.
🐊 It's an easy, laid back place to live. No traffic in my area. Almost zero crime. People aren't rushing around all the time. Life is just so much easier here.
🐊 Florida Publix. There is nothing else to say. If you know, you know.
The not-so-great stuff -
🐊You have to learn to ignore the Trumpsters and the rednecks. It's really not hard to do. They are a minor annoyance.
🐊The schools in some parts of Florida aren't great. You'll need to be careful if you are moving here with kids. Tampa does have some great schools.
🐊It's hot for a long time. Unlike DC where it starts to cool off in September/October, central Florida is HOT until January. We were still swimming in our pool without turning on the heat until mid-January. It cools off in January and February. It starts to get hot again in March. If you don't like warm weather, you will be miserable.
🐊Some people have a hard time getting used to the wildlife. There are gators, venomous snakes, wild boar, panthers, black bears, coyotes, bobcats, sharks .... all kinds of things that want to kill you. Once you live here for a while, you learn to understand how to live with the animals. We have several gators in the pond behind our house (golf course water hazard). They typically run back into the water if you approach them. They are really only dangerous if you are in the water with them or if you get between a mama and her nest. They don't chase people around on land. You learn to expect any body of fresh water (expect the cold springs) to have a gator in it.
🐊Housing prices are really high right now. We bought our home years ago. We could not afford this house at today's prices.
Again, I read these threads about Florida and wonder where in the world these people visited or lived. I feel like I live in paradise most days. Last night my husband and I played pickleball and then went to the Tikki Bar for drinks. We were there for hours. Great friends, great music, great drinks. And we got there in our golf cart. The only complaint I have is that it's getting crowded. So many yankees moving down here from NY, NJ, and DC.
Tampa is a great city, OP. Come on down!
We live about an hour from Tampa and are in the city often. It's a great city! Lots of great restaurants, shopping, entertainment, .... And the Tampa airport is so easy to get in and out of. We love Busch Gardens in Tampa and the Aquarium is fun as well.
Here's the thing - To live in Florida, you need a sense of humor. Yes. It's true. Crazy things happen here. If you are from Florida, you learn to embrace the crazy. It's much better than the traffic, crime, COL, and humorless life in DC.
The good stuff -
🐊We are outdoors all the time. Of course it's hot during the summer. It's hot in the DC swamp during the summer. The difference is, I have an enclosed pool on my lanai. I can be at the beach in less than 20 minutes. We live near several beautiful springs (Three Sisters is my favorite). We swim, kayak, float, scuba dive/snorkel, stand up paddle board, sail, .... There is always something to do. There are hundreds of beautiful national parks all over the state.
🐊We live in a huge community on the golf course. During the summer, we try to get out on the golf course early in the morning before it gets too hot. I can drive my golf cart just about anywhere I need to go. People are very friendly for the most part. Crime in my community is almost non-existent.
🐊 It's an easy, laid back place to live. No traffic in my area. Almost zero crime. People aren't rushing around all the time. Life is just so much easier here.
🐊 Florida Publix. There is nothing else to say. If you know, you know.
The not-so-great stuff -
🐊You have to learn to ignore the Trumpsters and the rednecks. It's really not hard to do. They are a minor annoyance.
🐊The schools in some parts of Florida aren't great. You'll need to be careful if you are moving here with kids. Tampa does have some great schools.
🐊It's hot for a long time. Unlike DC where it starts to cool off in September/October, central Florida is HOT until January. We were still swimming in our pool without turning on the heat until mid-January. It cools off in January and February. It starts to get hot again in March. If you don't like warm weather, you will be miserable.
🐊Some people have a hard time getting used to the wildlife. There are gators, venomous snakes, wild boar, panthers, black bears, coyotes, bobcats, sharks .... all kinds of things that want to kill you. Once you live here for a while, you learn to understand how to live with the animals. We have several gators in the pond behind our house (golf course water hazard). They typically run back into the water if you approach them. They are really only dangerous if you are in the water with them or if you get between a mama and her nest. They don't chase people around on land. You learn to expect any body of fresh water (expect the cold springs) to have a gator in it.
🐊Housing prices are really high right now. We bought our home years ago. We could not afford this house at today's prices.
Again, I read these threads about Florida and wonder where in the world these people visited or lived. I feel like I live in paradise most days. Last night my husband and I played pickleball and then went to the Tikki Bar for drinks. We were there for hours. Great friends, great music, great drinks. And we got there in our golf cart. The only complaint I have is that it's getting crowded. So many yankees moving down here from NY, NJ, and DC.
Tampa is a great city, OP. Come on down!
Anonymous
07/25/2022 16:40
Subject: Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
Anonymous wrote:I live in St Pete, just over the bridge from Tampa, and I never recognize the Florida people post about here.
It's definitely not cheap around here anymore, though. Ship's sailed for that one.
Maybe a year ago, but the ship looks like its sinking.
Anonymous
07/25/2022 16:35
Subject: Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
I live in St Pete, just over the bridge from Tampa, and I never recognize the Florida people post about here.
It's definitely not cheap around here anymore, though. Ship's sailed for that one.
It's definitely not cheap around here anymore, though. Ship's sailed for that one.
Anonymous
07/25/2022 16:31
Subject: Re:Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
Anonymous wrote:We have a house in Clearwater on the beach. We were there earlier this summer and in front of the city hall, there was some sort of demonstration, so we stopped to watch. There was this woman in her 50s/60s (?), rail thin with some gigantic over the muscle breast implants, HUGE ones, shaped like cantaloups, with leathery, wrinkled, saggy, very sun damaged skin and fried platinum blonde hair. She was waving a Trump flag and she was so drunk she fell from her mobility scooter and then flashed my brother and my teenage sons. It was 11 am in the morning.
This is awesome. So Clearwater. Magda.
Anonymous
07/25/2022 15:56
Subject: Re:Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We moved to Florida (Windermere), last year and just moved back to the DMV. For us, it was the people and the culture. Having lived in the DMV area for 10+ years, it felt like a third world country from every aspect. OP - do your homework before deciding to move. Spend a few weeks there if you can. Many people love it, but it is not for everyone.
Sorry but I have a hard time believing this. I work in so-called third world countries in South America and southeast Asia. Windermere does not feel like a third world country in any aspect. And I've lived in DMV for 20+ years.
My "world country" comment was targeted towards Orlando/Florida in general. Even if you live in Windermere, you get to experience the rest of Florida frequently. Sure, Windermere is upscale, but it is surrounded by very impoverished and crime ridden areas. I found this to be pretty sad, and based on my experience, this is the theme in most of the Florida. You have islands of very affluent areas, surrounded by very sad looking neighborhoods.
I'm the poster with the house in Clearwater and I've always wondered about this Florida thing - you have multi million dollar houses on the water and then you go walk your dog and maybe 2 blocks away you see shacks with unfixed pitbulls in the front yard and trash everywhere. I'm not from the US and where I'm from, poverty is concentrated in certain areas.
Anonymous
07/25/2022 12:03
Subject: Re:Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We moved to Florida (Windermere), last year and just moved back to the DMV. For us, it was the people and the culture. Having lived in the DMV area for 10+ years, it felt like a third world country from every aspect. OP - do your homework before deciding to move. Spend a few weeks there if you can. Many people love it, but it is not for everyone.
That is pretty dramatic. Can you give examples?
Sure. Here are a few.
- High crime rate
- Mostly beaten down and poor neighborhoods (except for pockets of upscale gated communities)
- Crazy drivers (Hence high auto insurance rates and thriving injury attorneys)
- No sense of customer service
- Prevalent fraud
Anonymous
07/25/2022 11:52
Subject: Re:Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We moved to Florida (Windermere), last year and just moved back to the DMV. For us, it was the people and the culture. Having lived in the DMV area for 10+ years, it felt like a third world country from every aspect. OP - do your homework before deciding to move. Spend a few weeks there if you can. Many people love it, but it is not for everyone.
Sorry but I have a hard time believing this. I work in so-called third world countries in South America and southeast Asia. Windermere does not feel like a third world country in any aspect. And I've lived in DMV for 20+ years.
My "world country" comment was targeted towards Orlando/Florida in general. Even if you live in Windermere, you get to experience the rest of Florida frequently. Sure, Windermere is upscale, but it is surrounded by very impoverished and crime ridden areas. I found this to be pretty sad, and based on my experience, this is the theme in most of the Florida. You have islands of very affluent areas, surrounded by very sad looking neighborhoods.
Anonymous
07/24/2022 22:39
Subject: Re:Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
Anonymous wrote:We have a house in Clearwater on the beach. We were there earlier this summer and in front of the city hall, there was some sort of demonstration, so we stopped to watch. There was this woman in her 50s/60s (?), rail thin with some gigantic over the muscle breast implants, HUGE ones, shaped like cantaloups, with leathery, wrinkled, saggy, very sun damaged skin and fried platinum blonde hair. She was waving a Trump flag and she was so drunk she fell from her mobility scooter and then flashed my brother and my teenage sons. It was 11 am in the morning.
No one else in this thread has offered such an accurate slice of life in Florida. Thank you, PP.
Anonymous
07/24/2022 22:34
Subject: Re:Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
We have a house in Clearwater on the beach. We were there earlier this summer and in front of the city hall, there was some sort of demonstration, so we stopped to watch. There was this woman in her 50s/60s (?), rail thin with some gigantic over the muscle breast implants, HUGE ones, shaped like cantaloups, with leathery, wrinkled, saggy, very sun damaged skin and fried platinum blonde hair. She was waving a Trump flag and she was so drunk she fell from her mobility scooter and then flashed my brother and my teenage sons. It was 11 am in the morning.
Anonymous
07/24/2022 16:42
Subject: Re:Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We moved to Florida (Windermere), last year and just moved back to the DMV. For us, it was the people and the culture. Having lived in the DMV area for 10+ years, it felt like a third world country from every aspect. OP - do your homework before deciding to move. Spend a few weeks there if you can. Many people love it, but it is not for everyone.
I’m from around there and am wondering how you found a bland upscale suburb to be “third world.” Personally, I find DMV people so insufferable that I dream of leaving every day. Different strokes, I guess.
DP.
Of course it's different strokes.
I grew up here in NoVA and I strongly dislike FL for a multitude of reasons, if I never set foot in FL again it would be too soon. To each his own.
The HATE for FL is comical. Really comical.
We are so dang crowded...so many people moving here it's crazy...I can't complain about the hate! Glad there are at least some people who will stay away!
I'm with you! The value of my condo a few miles from the beach just keeps going up up up everyday, it's fun to watch! So glad I moved to Florida in 2020. It's not as hot here today as it is in the DC area.
Anonymous
07/24/2022 15:30
Subject: Re:Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We moved to Florida (Windermere), last year and just moved back to the DMV. For us, it was the people and the culture. Having lived in the DMV area for 10+ years, it felt like a third world country from every aspect. OP - do your homework before deciding to move. Spend a few weeks there if you can. Many people love it, but it is not for everyone.
I’m from around there and am wondering how you found a bland upscale suburb to be “third world.” Personally, I find DMV people so insufferable that I dream of leaving every day. Different strokes, I guess.
DP.
Of course it's different strokes.
I grew up here in NoVA and I strongly dislike FL for a multitude of reasons, if I never set foot in FL again it would be too soon. To each his own.
The HATE for FL is comical. Really comical.
We are so dang crowded...so many people moving here it's crazy...I can't complain about the hate! Glad there are at least some people who will stay away!
Anonymous
07/24/2022 15:25
Subject: Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
Anonymous wrote:Fl is nice to visit but living there, in the summer? No thanks.
It’s not the real summer that’s the problem. It’s the 90+, super humid days in May, September, and October that will get to you.
Anonymous
07/24/2022 15:05
Subject: Re:Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We moved to Florida (Windermere), last year and just moved back to the DMV. For us, it was the people and the culture. Having lived in the DMV area for 10+ years, it felt like a third world country from every aspect. OP - do your homework before deciding to move. Spend a few weeks there if you can. Many people love it, but it is not for everyone.
I’m from around there and am wondering how you found a bland upscale suburb to be “third world.” Personally, I find DMV people so insufferable that I dream of leaving every day. Different strokes, I guess.
DP.
Of course it's different strokes.
I grew up here in NoVA and I strongly dislike FL for a multitude of reasons, if I never set foot in FL again it would be too soon. To each his own.
The HATE for FL is comical. Really comical.
Anonymous
07/24/2022 14:58
Subject: Talk to me about Tampa, FL?
Fl is nice to visit but living there, in the summer? No thanks.