Hello - another Coloradoan here. I actually did the move about 15 years ago, stayed for three years then got homesick for the Rockies. My daughters had both decided to go "home" for college and the thought of being so far away from them was too much for me at the time. I love April through October in Colorado and hope one day to find a way to be a snowbird. I crave humidity and this landlocked mermaid misses the sea.
As far as summers, I think you either pay for heat or air conditioning. Heat for the bulk of the year here, air conditioning for the bulk in Florida. Good luck with your decision.
Dawn
Playing with this idea ourselves. We would be moving from Indiana. My husband has allergy induced asthma and does SO MUCH better when we are in Florida. It's just so busy and full of people and I don't know how we would adjust as we live in the woods, in the middle of nowhere and are introverts. Will be watching this post!And willing to share how you like it and have adjusted to FL?
We are considering moving from CO (we are native Texans) where we have lived since graduating from college. It's something we have been talking about for about 10 years. We're both a bit weary of the cold and longing for more of a 'warm weather state'. Our oldest graduates this year so it seems like an ok time to move and she is chronically ill and the cold here in CO is very hard on her physically. She does really well when we are in FL or back home in TX.
Moving back to TX is high on our list since all our family is there but we aren't closed to other states. I grew up vacationing in FL, and we vacation there once a year (mostly WDW). He has job alerts set up for both TX and FL and lots more comes up for FL.
Just wondering if anyone else has moved to FL, if you were not from there and knew no one, and how you like it? My dh sees a lot of jobs in jacksonville but I've never been to Jacksonville so I have trouble getting on board. I'm not 'married' to having to live in Orlando and just curious what the other cities are like...for families...I've got 4 kids, 1 will enter college, other 3 homeschooled but we stay very active in community activities.
Anyone want to share with me? I'd so appreciate it!
I moved to the Panhandle (so still quite a drive to Disney but nothing of course like from other places) in 2001. The summers are long and hot and humid but winters are pretty mild (usually) and wet. Having attended college and post graduate school in Texas (College Station and Temple) I was also accustomed to summers so no big deal, really.
I agree with PP who stated schools require parental involvement (but don't all, really?) and disagree with the stereotyping of Florida as being just another southern (which unfortunately seems to be an insult?) state...feel it is pretty diverse (DD has friends whose parents immigrated from Senegal, India and Morocco) and at least in our little section of paradise, fairly tolerant.
I truly enjoy time spent by our pool and the emerald coast beaches are gorgeous.
Insurance rates are high (especially if you're as close to the coast as we are), wages tend to be lower, property taxes fairly low and of course no state income tax. Food and medications are not taxed. Social services are variable (we live in one of the poorest "mid sized" county to you can guess how some of our funding is) so hard to say whether the overall COL would be an improvement for your situation or not.
Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida (everyone thinks it's Miami but not according to Alex Trebek and Jeopardy!). There are wonderful neighborhoods there and not so great neighborhoods. It has a lot of dining, professional football, and an energized feeling. I haven't spent much time there lately but like any large city, there are lots of opportunities for civic involvement and activities. WDW isn't too far (?maybe 2 hours depending on where you live I believe) and beaches aren't too far (while they're not as good as "my" beaches at least they're there).
Now, since I also love the great state of Texas...if you asked me to chose between them...it would be very difficult. I love the spirit of Texas and the smell of bluebonnets is the greatest perfume ever. But...the gorgeous white sands and green waters of our beaches also have my heart. I'd hate to have to make a choice like that...so many good things about both
I think my kiddos may be in trouble either way with the allergies. Two of my four kids also test positive to every tree, grass, pollen, and mold in our area. Many here in CO don't have a/c but we had to get it because we couldn't open our windows. My kids stay half-drugged on allergy meds too. Eczema and allergies are just part of their life. However, when we visit FL or TX, we notice the humidity seems to help some. Not sure how long that would last though. I think the body just adjusts and then begins reacting again.
Yes! We did a little over 6 years ago. Funny story-we went to Orlando for a work conference for H a year before we moved here. H told me he would "never move to FL-too hot." A year later he got an amazing job opportunity and now we love it and cannot imagine living anywhere else.
The car license was the biggest shock. It was over $1k for both of us to register/get licenses for FL. We were warned, and thought it was a joke. NOPE.
Not having income tax is nice
It was also a challenge finding home insurance that covers FL due to hurricane/flood risks.
The summers can be brutal, I am used to it. 65 degrees is cold to me now.
If you like cruising like we do, it's really easy to do that, as we have 5 ports.
Good luck in whatever you decide!
If your DD did really well on her PSAT, there is a scholarship that may allow her to go to a Florida public college for next to nothing.
We also lived on the Gulf side for about a year and I prefer the water over there to the ocean here.