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Moving to Florida: What You Should Know

My move to Florida did not come without a lot of preparation and thought. Now that I’ve lived in Florida for about a decade, I can reflect on all those things I wish I had known before moving to Florida.

Whether you are just considering a move to Florida, or have already packed the bags, hired the movers and settled into a place in the Sunshine state, here are a few things “they” don’t tell you about living in Florida:

No. 1: It’s always going to be something – a hurricane, environmental disaster. I love living in Florida, but I keep my eyes open, knowing Florida is often vulnerable to disasters whether man-made such as the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico or natural (hurricanes and storms).

No. 2: Alligators and snakes aren’t friendly creatures. When you move to Florida, be aware of your surroundings when you are on land or in the water. Try to avoid actually being in water unless you like being with poisonous water moccasins and alligators. I had to urge the school children not to feed the alligators that would roam the golf course and parking lots in my subdivision.

No. 3: When you buy a house (even new ones) in Florida, have it checked for Chinese Drywall. You also need to check the home for mold and mildew since many homes, especially bank-owned properties and foreclosures, have been sitting vacant for months, possibly years without electricity. Be careful about buying overpriced new homes. You could find the exact same house in the same neighborhood that was owned for only a short amount of time, but being sold for $50,000 less.

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No. 4: If you are moving to Florida, you need to know Florida schools are still not the best. Florida has had a bad reputation for years – and it’s still the same. On the plus side, Florida does have an excellent FLVS (Florida Virtual School) program which is a free on-line program with certified teachers for all grades. FLVS is especially helpful for parents who choose to home school their children. Florida is an excellent state with regard to laws for homeschooling.

No. 5: Florida is like a mixing pot of people. You will meet Native Floridians who are your more traditional, down-to-earth folks with Southern charm and accents. They might not always take kindly to the folks from up north who are ruining their Everglades. Speaking of which, Florida draws a lot of mid-Westerners and New Yorkers and everyone in between.

No. 6: It’s not always fun to drive in Florida. Watch your speed limit because there are many speed traps. And, the Florida drivers, I’ve found, don’t really follow rules such as yield.

No. 7: Housing is inexpensive but grocery store prices may shock you if you are from the mid-west or west coast. Grocery store prices aren’t crazy, but I definitely noticed an increase in my grocery bill immediately after moving to Florida. The less expensive items include strawberries and some produce.

No. 8: If you are moving to Florida, you should know you will get sick of going to the pool and the beach. Maybe not for the first year, but eventually you won’t care about getting a tan or swimming every day.

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No. 9: People who move to Florida find out Floridians are not skinny. You aren’t moving to California. Some Floridians do exercise, especially in the evenings. But don’t expect people to be consumed with their health and exercise or appearance. It’s more likely they are looking for a good sports bar to unwind in the air-conditioning.

No. 10: Floridians move at a slower pace. You may still want to work 60 hour weeks, but don’t expect your peers to be doing the same. There’s an unspoken rule about taking your time – to the frustration of the manic and energetic. You are surrounded by a lot of people on vacation and some who are retired.

Florida is a beautiful place to live. Why move to Florida? You will never be depressed due to cloudy days. You will enjoy a bigger home for less money. You will find many retirement communities but just as many or more subdivisions for young families.

Moving to Florida can be an exciting adventure if you know what to expect. Expect heat! Plant shade trees in your yard, wear sunglasses and exercise in the evenings. When it’s snowing, your friends up north will be jealous.