Wow! I just read through the pages of this thread and I am shocked at all the nagatives people see in Florida and more so by the attitude of many. But I would like to add my two cents.
I am 28 years old, grew up and graduted college in Michigan, never liked winters there and summers were far too short although beautiful. After graduating college, I traveled all over the states (and the world) spending three months in different places for work, and do you know what I discovered? We live in a BEAUTIFUL country. Gorgeous I tell ya. From the oceans, to the mountains and everything in between, so varied and so full of life. And I also discovered that no place is perfect and home is where your family is.
While we were living in Hawaii, hubby and I were looking (finally) for a permenanat place to live. We both tolerate the heat way better than the cold, so we concentrated on warm states and finally CHOSE FL, been here for two years and never regreted it. Yes, summers are hot, but I spent the hottest summer of my life in Omaha, Nebraska. Bugs can be an issue, but only on Maui did I ever have issues with bugs inside the house. Hurricanes are always a threat, but New England was the region hit hardest this year. I guess I am just trying to say that all of these natural disasters/variables are so unpredictable and you really can't make them a reason to terrify yourself. Just be prepared, at least with hurricanes you always have advance notice unlike earthquakes.
I am currently up in the Boston area and although we love it here, I can't wait to go home. Florida is a beautiful state, no less beautiful than New England, but a different kind of beautiful. What does your DD and Gsons like to do? Do they like outdoor activites? Husband and I bike for 9 months out of the year, we stop in July and August because it can be too hot and in January because a high of 50 is too cold for me to be outside, lol. Do they like the beach? We have beautiful beaches here. And I was shocked by the critisizm of the grocery stores, I live five minutes away from a clean and well maintained Publix where I have yet to stand in line for more than a couple of minutes. Shopping here in the Andover area, I am in line forever.. It is just going to depend on the area they live and shop in. And as far as the culture, it is very interesting and there is always something going on. Tell them to move with an open mind and judge for themselves.
And as I always tell my friends, at least you don't have to shovel heat :mrgreen: