Calling all Floridians...

[dafirebird]

Re: Calling all Floridians...

This is GREAT feedback from everyone!! We were thinking of other states too (yes, even AZ), but Florida catches out attention the most - don't know why, just does.

A couple of other questions:

1- car registration/emmissions. Here in Wisconsin, it is a yearly flat fee of $55.00(and talk of increase to $80) Emmission test every other year. Even model years tested odd years, odd model years tested even years. So my 2002 Firebird tested in 2007, 2009...etc.

2- Since there is no state tax, is that not with-held from your paycheck? If not, do they pull that much more from Fed. Here we have State and Federal taxes pulled each paycheck. Sooo, does the paycheck "seem" higher?

[youngsc]

Re: Calling all Floridians...

There's no state tax and no emissions testing. The renewal fee for our cars is 30-40, can't remember exactly how much but less than there for sure. Paycheck may seem higher depending on much your getting paid. If you have a lot of writeoffs like real estate then just claim more exemptions on your w4 then you do get more in your check to offset what you woud have gotten back at the end of the year in a tax return.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: Calling all Floridians...

No emissions or inspections...


Also central FL has a huge car culture if that intrigues you... Gainesville, gatornationals, Orlando speedworld, Sebring, Daytona, Brandonton Motorsport part.


But also alot of the illegal problems you see on the news is an issue as well. People driving around with no licenses/insurance/registration. And they learned how to drive in countries that did not have stoplights. (ever driven in south america/mexico/islands?)



As for metrowest/hunters creek area, it is very nice, but the problem is its not too far from the ghetto, and the ghetto people drive over and steal **** from their.

Its not horrible, but don't think its a crime free paradise.



I live avalon park, wasn't too expensive to get in here awhile ago, but housing has jumped $75k a year since I moved here. There is one governement subsidized apartment complex here, to be honest I reccomend it to anyone that needs cheaper apartments but I see the place being hard to get into. I know 8 people trying to move into it now.

A place that I woudl actually reccomend that will surprise people. Is looking into Bithlo.

Bithlo is known as the "redneck area" its the outeredge of orlando. Its where the junkyards and dragstrip is. When I moved here it was a little bit of a trailer park, redneck joke of a place.


But they are putting up serious housing develeopments. I knwo a few people that moved out there, at first I cracked jokes but they are living in nice 3 bed 2 bath brand new homes.

I mean it is the cookiecutter, very small yard with no trees style home, but thats considered nice in FL.

I mean most would not call Bithlo a "nice" area, but its getting nicer, and as far as I know there really isn't tht much crime.

[dafirebird]

Re: Calling all Floridians...

It seems like the "crime" area's are like they are here, sort of. Much of north Milwaukee is gang, shootings almost nightly, East side is like the "alternative" crowd, kinda cool, South side is Mexican/Hispanic. We are far West, not in Milwaukee county, but Waukesha to stay away from the crappy area's. And just about everywhere, all you hear is rap tunes crankin'. No offence to anyone, but I can't stand rap. Sometimes I feel I'm the only oddball crankin' up Rock/Metal tunes.

I don't suppose I would mind living in an area like Bithlo, I could get along w/the rednecks.

Again, 1,000 thanx for everyone's feedback. - Paul

[DAS BOOT]

Re: Calling all Floridians...

It seems like the "crime" area's are like they are here, sort of. Much of north Milwaukee is gang, shootings almost nightly, East side is like the "alternative" crowd, kinda cool, South side is Mexican/Hispanic. We are far West, not in Milwaukee county, but Waukesha to stay away from the crappy area's. And just about everywhere, all you hear is rap tunes crankin'. No offence to anyone, but I can't stand rap. Sometimes I feel I'm the only oddball crankin' up Rock/Metal tunes.

I don't suppose I would mind living in an area like Bithlo, I could get along w/the rednecks.

Again, 1,000 thanx for everyone's feedback. - Paul

LOL don't worry they don't blast rap here in Orlando... We have something so much better. Reggaetone!


You cannot go to a all makes/models meet without seeing a mid 80s Mazda RX7 (aka Puerto Rican Porches) blasting reggaetone, probably the most popular song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCUO_ApQccs

[youngsc]

Re: Calling all Floridians...

^^ other than sounding like stuttering ebonics the rythm and beat isn't half bad. I guess I've been here all my life so crappy music doesn't bother me anymore. I will agree with the rx7 thing, I saw one yesterday.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: Calling all Floridians...

^^ other than sounding like stuttering ebonics the rythm and beat isn't half bad. I guess I've been here all my life so crappy music doesn't bother me anymore. I will agree with the rx7 thing, I saw one yesterday.

thing is every reggaeton song has the same beat and sound to it. I am honestly convinced its just one long song split into 30 individual songs.

[dafirebird]

Re: Calling all Floridians...

hmm, not a bad tune...I can tolerate that FAR more then that friggin' gangsta' rap around here.

This is all very good information, somewhat discouraging though(I would miss the biking trails, would have to live north of Orlando). And finding the right work for the right wage, without having a degree. Although it's the same anywhere. The only reason i'm at $15/hour is cuz I've been here (Manpower) 16 years - started at $5.50/hour in 1990. I'm 36 now, and am actually thinking of moving on to another career, and to a warmer climate. This company is moving to a Downtown Milwaukee site, and is being built as we speak (or, type). Manpower owns this facility, the new one will be leased. They will be eliminating the Data Center (computer room), and have already outsourced the Mail Center. Our jobs in Maintenance may be next, but they tell us not - who knows. So this is why I've been looking at starting fresh and staying warm(I freeze, have almost no insulation). Soooo, I'll probably wait it out, see what happens to our jobs - take the severance pay and run. I've also been looking into being an elevator mechanic w/Otis elevator, could be fun.

I'll probably end up moving to Florida sometime in my life, maybe a little later, but soon enough to be able to enjoy it, not just retire there like many do. I JUST WANT OUT OF THE COLD!!! - Paul

[xmetallicaxguitaristx]

Re: Calling all Floridians...

IMO go to SW florida..

You have all of the good things about FL, but with alot less crime, than say.. Miami.. or something.

I live in cape coral which is one of the fastest growing cities in the US, and its one of the biggest land-wise. VERY residential. IE everywhere you look you see houses.

Naples is a really nice city too, and probably the most popular SW FL city. That is where like the extremely rich celebrities live. I don't know what it's like living there, obviously, because I don't live there.. But it's a really nice city.

I have been to places all over/through FL, and I have stayed in bradenton/ellenton, tampa, ft. lauderdale/miami (you do not want to live here..), orlando, and winter haven, and also obviously all of my surrounding cities... ie naples, punta gorda, pine island, sanibel, fort myers, bonita springs.. etc.

If I could pick somewhere to live other than Cape Coral, it would have to be either tampa or naples.


I would say check out Cape Coral/Fort Myers, Naples, and Tampa.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: Calling all Floridians...

tampa/st pete is alot of OLD people(well everywhere is FL)


but for southwest FL, the cost of living is REDICUOUS. I worked there for 2 weeks.


Kids tearing movie tickets at a movie theatre were getting $9.25 an hour. And they were underpaid. Pushing carts at grocery stores peope were making $11-12 an hour.

a big mac vaue me cost me ike $8, subway sub was ike $8 And I hear rent and homes were worse as bad as California


I mean that is not all bad, if you can get a job and support yourself there it will have its benefits, like if you make a crapload of money because of high cost of living, ordering stuff online and going other places will seem much cheaper because you make alot.




If your handy, and want a decent background with building maintenance stuff, I suggest learning HVAC repair. It opens up alot of oppurtunities. I have considered getting into it myself, but wouldn't help at my current job. People south of Gainesville us AC year round. My AC is running as I type this and its like 75 and muggy outside right now. My AC is only off like 2 weeks a year, and I live in Orlando.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: Calling all Floridians...

btw reggaetone is hispanic gangster rap... and honestly, I think hispanic gangsters are the worse, they seem more into the "Machismo" and always trying to prove they are the tough guy.

and we have regular gangsters and plenty of wiggers *** well.