After a 4 mos. search SIL has found a job in Miramar,FL. GSons and DD are not at all happy about it. Dyed in the wool New Englanders. Realistically , what can they expect as far as culture shock? Off group reply is fine. Sad because I expect to ,at best, see them once a year. No one is too happy about this, but it is an exec. position in a major corp. God must have something great planned for them.

I wish them the best. I've never been to FL, but my cousin who was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest ended up there and he HATES it! The only thing he likes about it is the critters that end up in his yard. Hopefully your family will adjust easier and come to love it as home.

Oh, I think I sound awful. I guess what I was trying to say was the my cousin, who grew up in basically a moderate, four season climate hasn't acclimated well to a hot, humid one and a half season climate. My cousin from Texas that moved there has been there a LONG time, and she seems to like it fine, but she came from hot!

Hot Hot Hot! The weather that is! Also depending on the area the winters get crazy with all the snowbirds decending on the south. I live in central FL for 5 yrs and the traffic would just get crazy. Also the stores are crowded and people just get mean. Other than that it's a great area and they'll be fine. Lots to do.
I obviously didn't like it all that well because I'm back in Ohio.

Coming from Mass. myself I found that the pace of everyone is SLOW! Don't expect anything in a hurry. It took a while to get used to it. Contrary to popular belief, the cost of living is not cheaper here. To give a point of reference, my $250k home in MA cost me $420 to insure. My $80k home here cost me $2000...plus another $400 for flood insurance. Groceries are the same or more. Gas is usually more I think. We pay dearly for the sunshine! :)

Wages are about 1/3 of what they were up there.

I hear you there. DD and my granddaughter, 3 months old, are in Denver. At least they will be out at Christmas and then again in July for her sister's wedding. Hang in there. ((( ))) At first I thought you were going to move!

piney

She looked at the Christian schools in FL and they can cost between $12-14 K per year/per child.. Co. has told him it is not necessarily perm. because they have offices all over the USA. No one in the office is from FL. One guy goes home to MD 2x/month. They also just moved into a bigger home(here in NH) last Christmas and if they try to sell they will get caught in a "short sale".Other than the job for him and the "perks" no one can see anything positive in it for the family. He also has the option of flying home 2x/month but , lets face it, 3 boys will do beter with their father around. I guess it is no different than servicemen being deployed. Time will tell....I hope she stops crying pretty soon. He leaves on Monday and will be back home for Thanksgiving. We will take up the slack, but at 79 and 76 our energy level is not what it used to be...but "we will get er done." Lord willing.

i lived in NY until age 30, then relocated to s. FL [just north of Miramar] in 1979. Broward county was great. then hurricane Andrew started things downhill. there were still ok sections and i stayed until early retirement in 2003 and moved to MN. then hurricane Wilma struck. really tore up the county. again, there are still some good sections, but fewer of them. before deciding on a residence, do some very careful research. some of the public schools are good. Plantation is a nice city. the good news is... if they are football fans, the Dolphins stadium is a stone's throw down the road. best wishes.

WOW being born and raised in central FLorida (Tampa) and still living here I was shocked how many negative things people pointed out and no positive. So here you go - I can take out my trash year round and never wear snow shoes, gloves, hats, etc. I spent Christmas 2010 at the beach. We MAY have a hurricane threat this year but you will definitely have snow storms every year. We offer year round outside activities such as fishing, kayaking, surfing, bike riding and even sitting in the park reading. As far as the comment about northern residents and people here being mean I must add - I bought my first home in Zephyrhills, FL (30-40 miles north of Tampa) and 70% winter residents. The stores my be a little more busy when they arrive but it keeps our prices down. Most of the negative attitudes I encounter are winter residents who seem upset having to deal with local residents. Hello - we live here and this is our home - you're just visiting. I have been to Kentucky, Minnesota, Tennessee, Chicago, Conneticut, Georgia, Cape Cod, NY and the Ozark mountains. The people I meet there ar no more or less friendly than here. Sorry if I sound short but being a native my biggest pet peeve is standing in a store and hearing people talk about how much they hate Florida, yet they're in Florida. We have no rule that says you have to stay. I think you're family will find the people here nice as anywhere else and a thousand things to do year round. As far as home owners insurance and taxes I can only speak for mine - I have relatives in CT and NY and both pay almost double what the same house is in our area.

I've been here 26 years and I won't go back!!!!!!
I love it both Winter and Summer for all the reasons above!
While we love to see the snowbirds come, we also love to see them go!
It helps to be an outdoor person but it's not a requirement.
There's something for everyone to do here all year round.

I lived in ocala or slowcala for 6 years and the heat and humidity were killers. win dixie had the worst food and publics was not much better. the bonus the ladies at the quilt shop were fantastic when I was learning to quilt. then two hurricans came threw it was time to depart. the tornado warnings and stress were to much also. I would rather have the rocking and rolling of earthquakes in calif again than florida but I must say I love fall winter and spring in NY. summer any where is a killer for me.

I somewhat understand what you are saying...I'm native Georgian, and we have a lot of transplants around here and it just erks me when I overhear "them" talking about the slow backward ways of folks from the south...well, the freeway does run both ways ! Every area, no matter what, is going to be fraught with issues.....nothing is perfect ! Atlanta City Schools are not where I would want my children to be now a days...(however, I was educated in Atl city School and went to Ga State univ in downtown Atl, but was then and not now).

Here in metro Atlanta we have four seasons, if we ever have snow it is a big deal and the entire area shuts down, we have crime, people that are people, adequate and inadequate schools and some folks just can't put kids in private schools but have to get involved in public schools and try to improve what they can.

I would think that living in FL would have a lot of positives, just like another post said......temperate climate year round for example, and yes there are threats of storms but then again snow and ice storms plague other parts of the US.....even here in North Central GA, we've had Thanksgiving on the screen porch and one year my daughter had a pool party....the middle of October !

Most important is that families be families....do whatever it takes within your family to create bonds and encouragement. (ok, off soap box)

OK I will try to start out with the positive. My family relocated to Florida from San Francisco Bay Area when I was 13.

Pros:
Close to Sea World, Disney World and Busch Gardens. Beautiful beaches. Swimming a good 9 months out of the year. The Space Center was cool. It is sunny most of the time and the thunder and lightening storms are very intense, only a pro if you like those, a definite con if you don't. Dolphins and manatees!

As you can see I have a very short list. I got the heck outta Fla as soon as I could and left when I was 19. I did not like Florida, and yes I experienced serious culture shock, literally. Theater and museums are almost non existant. Seasons consist of Hot and Humid. Flat, flat, flat. I think I missed topography in the landscape more than anything. Someone who loves mountains does not belong below sea level! BUGS!! OK Grandson may think that is a pro, I did not. The cockroaches are the size of small dogs (OK I am slightly exaggerating) and they fly! You cannot live down there without having a monthly service come to spray for bugs! If you don't spray you WILL be over run by them. The spiders are huge, varied and some of them build webs that can span across an entire street!! I won't even mention the mosquitos. Suffice to say most towns have to spray. Snakes! loads of em and most of em are poisonous. We had classes in school so we could easily and quickly ID the venomous varieties.

Hopefully this will be a great opportunity for your DSIL and your DD and DGS will adapt and not find Fla. as awful as I did. Obviously tons of people love it down there. I was not one of them. But I do have some fond memories of the area.

FMD36 call me when you come to Florida to visit the kids. I'd love to introduce you to some southern hospitality. It's something you can't get south of the Mason DIxon line and you'll love the cuban sandwiches.

I hope their move goes smoothly and they find lots to love in south Florida.

I moved here with my then husband 34 years ago and have never gone back to NJ. I agree, I had a bit of culture shock. There was no theater or concerts in North Florida without traveling to another major city and yes, things do move a little slower here. But those were the only things that struck me as different than living up north. I didn't miss the snow and the freezing cold weather. I can say N. Florida was a great place for my daughter to grow up and she was able to see a lot of her Dad's family. My Mom (born and bred in NJ) also moved down here to live with me to get away from the snow. She loved it here, she stayed for 28 years.

I agree about cultural opportunities and I also agree about the bugs ! One year we spent Thanksgiving with husband's grands in Jacksonville...we took a walk around the neighborhood and collected several brown grocery bags full of these beautiful big pine cones....we were going to use them at Christmas in various decorations...brought them home and sat them somewhere (?) in house, obviously a warm environment.....these BUGS which we called Palmetto bugs ccame out in force and you are so right, they are HUGE and FLY right at you.....it took us months and several rounds of extermination to get rid of them.....I still remember sitting on the sofa and seeing these bugs hurdling themselves toward me........I totally agree about that !

When you think about living in the Atl area it is great it you are of MEANS....yeah, we have a lot of culture, season symphony, season ballet, all kinds of cultural opportunities, plays, muscials at various venues, other attractions including the Aquarium, Coke Museum, Grant Park Zoo, Piedmont Park, Botantial Gardens, High Museum, Fernbank with IMax and huge telescope, then add in 6 Flags, Whitewater, Stone Mountain, on and on I just can't think of them all, but we just can't afford to take part in all of it....we chose one or two venues a year...time you buy tickets, pay premium for parking, buy a program and hopefully go out to dinner, it is expensive.....then if you were to have to add in babysitting, it is really expensive !

Each area is going to have pros and cons and we just have to research and take part in what is the most meaningful.

do like we military do it...send him down there for the first 6 months to make sure it is a FIT for him...before moving the family down and all...he can make do in a small apt. I am sure...the boys can harden up as will mom...makes seeing dad all the sweeter!

I really appreciate all the feedback...pro and con...it is realistic!.She lived in Tampa(with her bro) in 1991-92 and left in Jan. because she hated it. We are all trying to put a positive spin on this. DD and the GDSons will not go down until June when they have finished school. The company is paying for his lodgings in the meantime and giving him a co. car(his Jeep has no AC and the suspension is gone).
Again, I really appreciate all the responses. Will update as things progress. As her Mom, I just hate to see her so unhappy...and she is not a wuss kind of person. Thanks again.

We moved here when I had to retire from teaching. We came from Southwestern Michigan near Lake Michigan. We absolutely LOVE it here at the Gulf Coast in the Florida Panhandle. We really aren't too happy to return to Michigan to see family because it is too cold there compared to here. I hope their transsition goes well. :)

You just stroke a chord in my heart......your child is not happy and you hate to see her so upset.....I totally understand and no matter how old they are they are still your children and you want them happy. Hopefully things will work out and all will be content.

Born and raised in FL. I would love to move back, but my hubby's job is not easily transferred.

Truly, if they have a pre-conceived notion that they won't like it, maybe they would be better off just staying. There is no sense in moving to be miserable.

Our DD has raised her family in Fl because SIL was born there.When they retire, will move to NC where they have property.It's not easy having your kids/Grkids living so far away.
We spent several winters in diff areas of Fl & one thing I noticed. We seldom saw anyone in their yards or on a porch.Maybe it's just too hot to be out & we are porch people LOL.
The ppl we met were all from somewhere else,There's a lot of ppl moving to/from Fl every day,so you don't get to know neighbors.Groceries...other shops are the same,so are prices.The ocean is beautiful...so is the gulf.
There are always ppl wishing they were somewhere else.Jobs,schools etc have to be considered.Not easy to just up & relocate.Good luck to your DD & family.So many are going thru this to find or keep their job.

Home is where you make it. I was born and raised in Central Florida. My husband drove down here from Indiana when he graduated college. I'd never be able to get him to move from the state. He's a Florida boy now!

It's beautiful here. Why do you think it's called the Vacation Capital of the World? The weather is nice. It never snows. We're surrounded by beautiful beaches and lakes. Theme parks, museums, gardens and natural habitat are everywhere you look. Outdoor play is encouraged. We don't pay a state income tax. Fresh produce is grown year long and it's abundant and cheap. The schools are good. Folks relax and become friendly when they come to Florida. We love our tourists, transplants and snow birds. It's a Southern Hospitality thing.

C'mon down, you're always welcome.

I'm originally from Maine and came to FL via Cuba. My DH and I were stationed there 4 yrs and believe me, we learned to make any location we were in the best it could be so we could be together. When we finally got to FL in '76,it was like paradise. First we went to Key West, then Jacksonville and finally over here near Clearwater. I don't miss the winter in Maine at all. The last winter I was there ('70-'71) was the worst winter in years.
I think bottom line is will your daughter like it better living in New England while her DH is working elsewhere for however long this job lasts or would she rather be by his side? She should be soooooo thankful he has a job. June is 8 months away, that will give her plenty of time to decide what sacrifices she's willing to make to keep her family together. I wish her all the best.

Havent been on in a long while.. husband health probs. But had to ans. this I am a Born,bred,married,raised 2 DD..helped raise 5 grndsons..until 2006 FLORIDIAN... Transplanted to GEORGIA Love my FL. and i am a muck child so that means really south on Lake Okeechobee... never lived any further than Polk City FL. That is Central FL... The Glades or Everglades that is where I am from..Would still be there except for Life and God taking a hand putting me and my DH here in SE GA.. South FL. is hot,humid,rainy and sometimes even cold.. My DD played a many time in Jan. with shorts on.. People from a small town where everyone knows everyone.. I loved it.. Buuuuttt I love SE Georgia too..for its hot,humid,sometimes rainy cold weather.. SNOWBIRDS are a nessary for FL. pocketbooks...Some are rude,crazy acting people..Buut so are the natives at times..it is a give and take situation..we need them they need us... I am ask all the time why did you leave FL. as someone stated it can be an exspensive place to live determined where you live though...Palm Beach county,where I am from is wonderful..expensive in housing etc. but so is most towns that are connected to the ocean in some way..Georgia is a cheaper place to live for seniors that can not start over..Hurricanes? Deadly if you don't prepare and listen to the reports..We lost our home in 2004..But when I saw reports of Fires in Calif... Earthquaks,Volcanoes,Mud slides and then in the Tornado ally JEEEZE!!! FL and Ga. are a paradise...FL. is only a 40 min. drive from where I am in GA. LOL!!! :thumbup:

My hubby and I moved from Iowa to Southern Alabama a year ago. I absolutely love it down here. Yes, we left lots of friends and family (4 young grandchildren) behind in Iowa. That was and still is the only hard part. We love our new home here and make it back to Iowa a few times a year to see everyone.

I have been back and forth starting in MN to FL in 59 went to NJ in 63 back to FL in 79 and the first yr is the hardest to adjust to but it gets easier every yr after I lived in Ft Myers Cape Coral and moved north to Ocala and love it here when my DH died my neighbors were right there and took me to the hospital and used one of their cell phones to call the kids. You can't get better neighbors than that.

good morning, Fl. is a great state to live in. We have no personal tax and some prices are better then the rest of the country. I am a Mountaineer by birth and will not give up my adopted atate. It may be hot but we do not have to shovel heat as in the snow in winter. Enjoy what our state has to offer which is soo much. The best to them. from Largo

My daughter has lived in Fl. for 20 years and loves it I think it is a great place to visit ..but..not to live!!!
I like the mountains and the seasons to much:)

I just moved to the Sarasota area a month ago...it was a voluntary move for us. I absolutely love it here and I have found that the majority of people here are very nice and seem to have better manners than where I moved from. I agree with the "no snow" comment....and it is getting cold up north...while I can enjoy my morning coffee sitting by the pool! Their experience will be what they make of it.

We are snowbirds from Dec to April. In the Gainesville area,
Every year I love it more and more. You get use to the weather,Just like WNY snow!!!!!! We are blessed to have met nice people,and blessed to be able to do this,

We are snowbirds from Dec to April. In the Gainesville area,
Every year I love it more and more. You get use to the weather,Just like WNY snow!!!!!! We are blessed to have met nice people,and blessed to be able to do this,

Talk about a big change! I moved from Alaska after spending 54 years there to the Florida Panhandle in 2007. It was a big shock weather wise and other wise, but have grown to love it. I can go outside and not freeze my butt off any day of the year. I don't have to change tires on my vehicle twice a year. I don't have to try and shovel 10 feet of snow and I never get snowed in. I might have to stay indoors and SEW some on those very hot & humid days. I might have to put on a warmer jacket on those mornings when I wake up and it's in the 30's (like this morning). I have to drive 15 miles to the grocery store as opposed to 125 miles ONE WAY. I had to get use to some places closing at noon on Saturdays. Outdoor workers start working at 5:30 in the morning during the summer, but they quit very early afternoons. It also warmed my heart to hear the young people saying "yes mam" or "no mam", and you don't hear that from the young kids up north. Alaska is home & will always be home, but Florida is now my home, and like others say, "Home is what you make it".

We are snowbirds from Dec to April. In the Gainesville area,
Every year I love it more and more. You get use to the weather,Just like WNY snow!!!!!! We are blessed to have met nice people,and blessed to be able to do this, when I get pinecones I always spray them before I bring them home.

We are snowbirds from Dec to April. In the Gainesville area,
Every year I love it more and more. You get use to the weather,Just like WNY snow!!!!!! We are blessed to have met nice people,and blessed to be able to do this, when I get pinecones I always spray them before I bring them home.

I lived in West Palm Beach for awhile and found the schools to be really bad! Look for private school if there are children involved.

I live about 40 min. from there. Yes the weather is hot, but If you are not in air conditioning work place, house, car, stores, then you are in the pool, or at beach. Look at the fun they will have. And best of all we have Blue sky's and wonderful sun shine. My family lives in OH. I see them about twice a year. But talk to them everyday.
LC

We just moved to Gulf Breeze, FL (northeast FL) outside of Pensacola last month and just have to comment. Previously, we lived in Newfoundland, mainland Japan, southern Japan (Okinawa several tours)), Germany (several tours), and Iowa where we retired in 2006. As someone mentioned, home is where you make it. My husband loves the heat, I love the cold - hence our choice of Northwest FL since it does have a seasonal change. We will head north for the summers (his concession to my needing cooler climate) and head back here in Sep (my concession to him needing more warmth), but it really doesn't matter where we live, we made our HOME everywhere and our kids are now living in Newfoundland, Michigan and Kentucky and all love to come to FL any chance they can, so we may see more of them in FL than we did in IA.

I love the people here, really outgoing and friendly. Everyone, and I mean everyone, we have met so far has been courteous and kind and outgoing. We have been exhausted at the amount of events going on in our area and have signed up the the opera season, have toured SOME of the museums, are looking forward to spending more time on the beaches and seeing those lovely porpoises playing around in the water, taking in some of the lectures at the various colleges. Will be attending a gallery night in downtown Pensacola tonight where all the galleries and events are open til midnight, Tri State Fair going on right now. Big and Rich are at the Naval Air Station tonight. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this area!!!!! In IA we were about 100 miles RT from any town with more than 2 stores, now we're 5 to 15 miles from anything we need or want. Plus we're only 1 hour from Mobile, AL, 3 hrs from New Orleans, LA or 6 hours from Atlanta, GA. How cool is that! Life is what you make of it, try it with a positive attitude and open yourself to the local customs and habits and you will enjoy it. Separation from family is not easy, military members have known that for centuries, yet they have adapted and become stronger for it.
Sorry for the long post, but relocation is something close to my heart and something I've experienced so often.

I came to FL in 1955 as a newly wed. Have relocated several times to various States. Tennessee, VA, CA, NDakota, Mississippi,KS., mostly for short periods of a year or a little better. But kept coming back to South FL. This is Paradise to me. There are lots of things to do here, all year round. Lots of crafters and (on negative side...crafty people.. pardon the pun). I recently discovered that the SAV-A-Lot stores in this area really are that, best meat, best prices.. Milk, 1.32 per gal. WD is $1.79, Publix about the same. Dollar General stores prices on Cat/dog food, litter, and soaps/cleaning products...better than other stores. At my age (76 in a few days), I have time to shop.

And on the other side of this debate...Our youngest daughter was raised in MN. When she married the 2 of them were transferred to Hawaii and they loved the warm weather. He was then transferred to GA where they still there. They love it, heat and all. DSIL attended law school in FL (travelled back & forth each week) and DD was in school in GA. There are always things to do (they love the outdoors), have met many very nice people and whine like crazy when they come home to the cold. So...have to say that our DS also loved it when he was stationed there.