Hubby's in med school in TX. We have family in FL - he grew up there, South Florida/Miami area specifically. No offense to the nice people there, but in our experience, the jerk-factor was higher there than everywhere else we've lived, including New York City. Miami ranks #2 in Travel & Leisure.
Seriously, in NYC, they don't hold the door open, but they push it open really hard so it stays open for you by the time you get there. I've had people in S. Florida let the door close in my face and they were right in front of me - alternately, I held the door open for someone and they were shocked.
We're thinking about his Residency, and perhaps specialty time and looking at programs in Florida so we can be near his parents - love them, and our kiddo loves his grandparents.
If you live in South/Central Florida:
- Have you lived anywhere else and do you know what I'm talking about?
- What's your favorite place?
- If you work there, do you like your clients?
I know, there are nice and not-so-nice people everywhere, but
I lived in Naples for years and have family there still.
It's an awesome place - various income levels and such nice people.
Schools are great and the area as a whole is growing very rapidly. Where it used to be all retirement aged people, it's now VERY family oriented. I love it there.
I'm in central Florida and the nickname for my town is "the Heart of Florida".
I am just between Orlando and Tampa on the outskirts among the cattle & horse ranches and orange groves. Disney World is about 30 minutes away and the beaches are 1.5 hours away.
I love where I live, but I prefer living in the country. We used to live closer to Disney and that was nice, but too many tourists coming and going. I don’t think I would be happy in or around Miami, too many people.
There are many nice areas here in Central Florida, I also like Clermont. It’s close to everything and there are hills (it’s very flat where I am). Upper Orlando areas are also very nice. It really depends on what kind of place you want to be in. City, suburb or country.
Is there any way you could visit a couple of areas before coming?
Also, we don't get hit that badly with hurricanes in the middle of the state.
I'm in NE Florida. St. Johns County has the best public schools in the state, it is the healthiest county in the state, has the oldest city in the U.S., gorgeous beaches, great quality of life. A residency at UF Health Jax (trauma) or Mayo, both an easy commute, would look great on a resume!
Hi P. -
I grew up in South Florida so I know what you mean - the people in DC are much, much nicer.
That said, I moved from several years in SW Virginia and then several in DC back to Miami - Doral specifically. Awful, they use their cars to run over ducks on purpose!!! My husband and I moved out of Miami-Dade as fast as we could and bought a house in Cooper City, FL. Cooper City is a small "town" in suburbia. About 10K residents, very much small town feel. However, the whole place is sprawling and I am not sure where your husband is thinking of for a residency...and that will make a difference. If he is thinking UM or Jackson, living up near Fort Lauderdale is a heck of a commute.
Personally, I think people are a bit nicer on the west coast of FL and further north. But, I now live in downtown Fort Lauderdale and am happy for the most part. I don't commute (my office is 1 stop sign away) and my children's school is 3 blocks - we walk there.
I do like my clients and my colleagues. So does my husband. I will NOT work in Miami again nor will I live there.
Feel free to ask more specific questions. C.
Not south/central so sorry - but Pensacola is by far the best place I've visited in Florida. Love it there. You have everything you could possibly want, and the people are nice too, but it's still not "big city" feeling. Not to mention P'cola beach is a great little area. (Not as little as it used to be but still not as overcrowded and insane as some of the bigger beaches in Florida.)
We have friends in Clermont. They love it there.
I too am a Texas transplant and I feel your pain! I live in Orlando & when my daughter graduates from high school I will be moving back to Texas. Every time I visit Texas I come back feeling refreshed.
You are very perceptive about the difference in people. Florida is such a melting pot that you have so many different people from different cultures. Not necessarily bad, just different. When you are used to a certain type of culture it can be a little shocking. Just be ready to occasionally have someone look at you like you have a third eye when you smile & say hello. But don't stop holding doors open for people! I love the surprised look I get when I do that! And Sapphire is right it isn't the true Floridians that are that way, it's "some" of the transplants...
I would suggest as some of the other moms that you try suburbs or planned communities of the larger cities. I find these areas to have more of a community feel. I think you will have to pick 2 or 3 locations & come & stay a day or two to check out the school system (you can schedule a tour) and community. I live close to the downtown area & am established here. I love my daughter's school & enjoy the area. However if I were to relocate here in central Florida I would probably go with Winter Springs, Dr. Phillips, Windemere (suburbs) or Lake Nona (planned community). If I was going to live near the beach I would probably go with the Jupiter area, north of West Palm. I would also find a community with a great YMCA. You can definitely meet people there & its a great way to keep the little ones busy.
Anywhere you go here in Florida you will just have to search for areas that give you a sense of community. You will have to visit to figure that out!
My brother and his family lived in Jacksonville for a few years. They really liked it there. How about looking at getting a residency at Mayo Clinic there? It's a tough program to get into, but having Mayo on your resume can be a really good thing.
Born and raised here in Orlando. I would like to point out it is not true Floridians that have this attitude. The majority of people living here moved here from somewhere else in the country. I work retail and travel around to the different malls in the city. Lots of tourists and we get the snowbirds during the winter, all kinds of cultures/backgrounds/ethnicities here. One of the things I love about this town, the diversity. Most people are nice, but there are always a few....
That being said, I have lived in Naples/Bonita Springs area and it is beautiful and clean, but expensive. Lots for families to do there. They also have a "season" during the winter time and restaurants and movie theaters and beaches are crowded during that time.
Now I live in total suburbia, just north of Orlando, in Seminole county. We are one of the top rated school districts in the state. All the schools are great here. Families everywhere, great communities, an hour to the beach. Close to theme parks, zoo, water parks, museums, natural springs to swim in. So much to do.
Look into Oviedo, Winter Springs, Casselberry, Longwood.
Lake Nona has a whole medical city being constructed right now. Nemours childrens hospital is open and the V.A. hospital just opened there. UCF has their medical school in this medical city, but the main campus is about 20 miles away.Lots of growth in that area, new homes/townhomes etc. This is in Orange County, south of where I am.
Good Luck!
