Catherine has been living in Orlando, Florida since 1995. She loves living there, but wouldn't recommend it to everyone.

Lots of people want to move to Florida, but it isn't all sunshine and alligators. 12019

Why Everyone Wants to Move to Florida

Set in the southeastern United States, Florida's subtropical climate draws millions of visitors each year. It's almost never very cold, and no part of the state is too far from the beach. With its theme parks, golf courses, sunshine and exotic animals, it's no wonder that everyone wants to live in Florida!

Florida is also a hugely popular destination for retirees. It has no state income tax, a low cost of living, and its large population of retirees means that there are lots of recreational activities for seniors. It also has a huge selection of Active Adult Communities and a decent healthcare system.

How Many People Live in Florida?

According to the 2014 Census projections, Florida is the third most populous state in the United States, putting it ahead of New York but behind California and Texas. Currently, almost 21 million people live in the Sunshine State, and its annual growth rate of 1.8% is above the national average. Most of the population increase is due to people moving to Florida from other states.

Sure Florida has sunshine, but it has a lot of drawbacks too. tammon

Thinking of Moving to Florida? Think Again

It’s not all sunshine, seashore, and smiles. Here are 20 reasons not to move to Florida.

1. There are too many old people.

There are a lot of old people in Florida, and they drive too darn slow, their blinkers on the whole time. I know this because I’m one of them. You can’t blame them too much—their hearing and vision are not as good as they used to be. However, you still have to share the road with them.

Most of Florida’s growth is due to its influx of retirees, so this problem is only going to get worse.

2. Too many tourists come to Florida.

About 100 million people visit Florida each year. That’s a lot of people. They clog the airports and roads. In Orlando, where I live, the roads near the theme parks have bumper to bumper traffic pretty much all day.

Being forced to drive at 5 mph will give you plenty of time to enjoy the sight of the tacky and garish souvenir shops and fast-food eateries that line the tourist strip. Inside the parks, everything is shiny and new and clean, and they look like a fantasy land. Outside the parks? Not so much.

Unfortunately, Florida's many theme parks means that it gets a lot of tourists. Pxhere

3. Traffic is terrible.

In Central Florida, the main highway is I-4. It goes from Daytona Beach on the East Coast, through Orlando, and ends in Tampa on the West Coast. It is the main road to access the theme parks. Traffic is very congested, and when there is an accident (and there are plenty), traffic can come to a standstill for hours.

Traffic will be even worse as I-4 undergoes a major renovation to add additional lanes. The renovation will take six years (2015–2021).

I hear I-95, around the Miami area, is just as bad.

4. Florida has bad gun policies.

George Zimmerman, the man who was acquitted for his murder of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teenager, is not the only trigger-happy fool in Florida. Two other notorious cases come to mind. Curtis Reeves shot and killed an unarmed young father in a movie theater because he was texting during the previews, and Michael Dunn shot into a van full of teenagers, killing one, because they were playing their music too loud. The former received a life sentence, so you will be safe from him at least. However, Florida has a "Stand Your Gound" law, which some people interpret as a license to kill.

Florida is NRA territory. Road-rage shootings are so common that the media doesn’t even bother to report on them anymore. Florida has gun ranges where young children can shoot automatic weapons. Someone was killed recently when a nine-year-old girl was firing a UZI and lost control of the gun. Giving a UZI to a nine-year-old—what could go wrong?

In Florida, we routinely hear about someone killed by a bullet shot into the air in celebration of something or other, or of someone shot by a stray bullet in their own backyard fired by someone doing a little target practice.

The influx of people moving to Florida has caused some terrible traffic all over the state. B137

5. The people of Florida make poor voting choices

The people of Florida elected Ron DeSantis as governor. Prior to that, they elected Rick Scott for governor twice. What you have to understand about Rick Scott is that before he ran for governor, he was CEO of Columbia/HCA. The company presided over the biggest Medicare fraud in history, and the company had to pay a $1.7 billion fine. Rick Scott claimed he didn’t know anything about this fraud, but he had to plead the fifth about 75 times during the investigation.

If Rick Scott was CEO and didn’t know this massive fraud was going on right under his nose, he is a really poor manager. If he did know, he is a really bad criminal. Either way, is he the kind of person you would want running your state? The people of Florida said, “Yes.” Do you want these people, who have such poor judgment, to be your neighbors?

6. Florida is hot!

I realize people are coming to Florida in search of a warm climate, but Florida is really, really, hot—and the humidity is high. There are only two seasons in Florida—summer and August, the latter of which lasts about 150 days.

If you like a 90-degree heatwave in December, then you will like Florida.

7. The roaches are huge.

Roaches like the hot weather just as much as humans do. They grow really, really large—about as big as your fist. OK, not that big—maybe as big as a baby’s fist, and that is still pretty big.

If you move to Florida, the first thing you need to do is sign up with a pest control company. They will come to your home on a regular basis and treat for “pests.” Fortunately, these days the pest control companies use “chemical barriers” that they apply to the outside of your home. They are not 100% effective, but when they fail, the pest control company should provide additional treatments at no additional cost—make sure that they do.

8. Sharknado would probably happen in Florida.

Volusia County in Florida is the shark-bite capital of the world. There are always lots of people in the water and lots of the type of fish that sharks like to eat swimming around—lots of sharks mean lots of shark bites. The sharks often swim in close to shore. However, it is only 20 to 30 attacks per year and most are not fatal. So far, there have been no tornado-borne sharks. So come on in, the water is just fine!

9. You might find a bear in your garage.

Developers rule in Florida. What developers want, developers get. What developers want is more sub-divisions. As the population of Florida grows, the number of sub-divisions increases and the habitat available for wildlife decreases. Often times, homes get built too close to the bears' habitats, and these hungry bears go looking for food. People put their garbage out in unsecured trash cans, which is like putting out an “all-you-can-eat buffet” sign for the bears. These animals are big and strong, and they can break into your garage or patio.

10. You might find an alligator in your pool.

There are over a million wild alligators in Florida. These reptiles prefer freshwater habitats like swamps and marshes, but they can also be found in rivers, lakes, and other small bodies of water, like your swimming pool or retention ponds. If you live near alligator habitat, you may just find an alligator taking a dip in your pool.

11. You might find a python in your backyard.

Pythons are an invasive species in Florida, so they have no natural predators. Every year, there is the Great Burmese Python Hunt for hunters to go out and kill pythons. If you bring back the largest one, you win a cash prize.

Happy Hunting!

12. Florida has hurricanes.

Hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30, although every now and then a hurricane hits outside these months.

I survived the hurricane season of 2004 when four major hurricanes hit—three of them where I live. The first and the worst was Hurricane Charley, with winds up to 150 miles an hour. I had some relatively minor damage to my house, but the worse thing was that I had no electricity for a week. It was kind of fun for the first few—kind like a camping trip—but it gets old fast.

Maybe I shouldn’t even mention the hurricanes—every place has natural disasters. The North has blizzards, and the West has earthquakes. I’d much rather mop up water than shovel snow, and I don’t much like the idea of the earth opening up.

13. The earth opens up in Florida. It is called a sinkhole.

Wait, the earth opening up? That actually happens pretty often in Florida, and it's called a sinkhole. A hole suddenly opens up in the ground, able to swallow up a car, house, or even a whole neighborhood.

A sinkhole occurs because of the Florida Aquifer, which is the source of much of Florida’s drinking water. The ground beneath Florida is composed of porous limestone which is a natural cache for rainwater. When the water level gets too low, the ground can cave in, forming a sinkhole. As the population of Florida grows, more water is taken from the Aquifer. This means more sinkholes.

14. Florida has tornadoes.

Florida has more tornadoes per square mile than any other state. However, to be fair, the tornadoes in Florida are not usually as bad as those in the Midwest. On the other hand, five times more people die from a tornado in Florida than in Kansas.

15. Florida is the lightning capital of the United States.

Sea breezes from the East and West Coasts meet in the middle of the state, causing severe thunderstorms during the summer months. They occur, on average, 100 times a year, and are often accompanied by lightning.

16. Florida is flat.

The highest elevation in Florida is 345 feet. It is called "Britton Hill.” In comparison, the Empire State Building in New York is 1,454 feet high, including the spire.

17. Florida can’t run a national election right.

In the 2000 election, Florida earned the nickname "Flori-duh,” because of the Bush-Gore presidential election recount. Years later, Florida still has election problems. In 2012, some people had to stand in line for 7 to 8 hours in order to vote.

18. Florida is not pedestrian-friendly.

Pedestrian deaths are significantly higher in Florida than the national average. There are many roads without traffic lights—and even when there are lights, there are often long stretches between them. This leads to people trying to cross six lanes of traffic in the middle of the street.

Although pedestrians in Florida have the right of way, drivers don’t like to yield. If you stop for a pedestrian, the cars behind you will probably start honking their horns. Please stop anyway.

Living in Florida is not all sunshine—it's flat, has extreme weather, and its government is poorly run. Mariamichelle

19. Many Florida public schools are not very good.

The failures of the public schools are not due to bad teachers as governors Jeb Bush and Rick Scott would have you believe. It is due to low funding and a deliberate attempt to undermine the schools. Luckily, there are some nonprofit organizations trying to combat this issue.

Also, school starts in the middle of August in Florida. Everyone knows school is not supposed to start until after Labor Day!

20. Florida’s government is rife with corruption.

It’s not just a Florida problem, but Florida under former governors Jeb Bush and Rick Scott may be among the worst.

South Dakota's landscape, low cost of living, and nonexistent state income tax make it a great destination for retirees. 12019

Other Great States to Live In

Not all retirees have to move to Florida—it is not the only state with good weather, no state income tax, or a low cost of living! Do your research. There are 50 states to choose from, so you're bound to find someplace the checks all your boxes.

Here are some other great states for retirees:

South Dakota

South Dakota's population reports a generally high quality of life. There is plentiful nature, a low cost of living, and it's the second most tax-friendly state in the US. It's home to Mount Rushmore and is the 5th least densely populated state in the country. You'll practically have it to yourself! However, it does have harsh winters, so keep that in mind if you have an aversion to the cold.

Utah

For you nature lovers out there, Utah has four national parks and is filled with stunning landscapes. There's plenty to do, especially if you're the active type! In addition, it also boasts a low crime rate, a low cost of living, and low taxes. On the downside, however, it does get a lot of snowfall in the winter.

Idaho

If you're not worried about how much you pay in taxes, Idaho could be a good option. It is very affordable, safe, and has pretty good healthcare. The bad news is that it's Idaho—there's not much diversity there, and it ranks low on culture rankings.

Florida has many beautiful beaches, making it a great place to live. Mariamichelle

Is Florida a Good Place to Live?

Florida has a lot to offer—the warm climate, natural beauty, theme parks, resorts, and no state income tax. Orlando, where I live, is an up and coming cosmopolitan region—it has good colleges, a thriving arts community, great museums, and fine restaurants. We even have a shiny new commuter rail line called Sun-Rail, which may help with traffic congestion on I-4.

That's why so many people want to live in Florida. It's why I'm glad I moved to Florida in 1995.

If You are Thinking of Moving to Florida...

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Questions & Answers

Question: Is Florida getting hotter?

Answer: The answer is "yes" according to an October 2018 article in the Orlando Sentinel: "The Natural Resources Defense Council released a study and map of the nation showing where extremely hot days — equaling the hottest 10 percent of summer days from past decades — are on the rise. Florida is among states with the biggest uptick." (https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-florida-we...

According to "The Climate Reality Project," Florida is one of the states most vulnerable to climate change. But Governor Rick Scott has ordered government agencies not to use thew words "climate change." How can you combat a threat that you are not allowed to name?

Florida is hot and it is projected to get even hotter. Increasing temperatures in the state present many challenges and public health dangers. These include an increase in harmful air pollutants, an increase in algae blooms that suffocate fish and change the ecosystems of Florida's waters, a decrease in crop productivity due to drought, and a rise in heat-related illnesses, which put the elderly, the very young, and the impoverished most at risk.

Question: I'm concerned about the rising sea levels and the possible effects on Century Village in Deerfield Beach. Is it foolish to worry, or should I steer clear so I'm not underwater in five or ten years?

Answer: Deerfield Beach is in Broward County. It is a coastal area and therefore rising sea level is something you should consider if you plan to buy property near the coast.

In the past century, the sea level has risen 8 to 10 inches in South Florida. The rate of sea level rise is expected to increase due to the effects of global climate change.

Broward County is highly vulnerable to sea level rise because it is a low-lying coastal area. The low-lying areas of Broward County can experience flooding and drainage issues due to saltwater intrusion.

This is a particular threat during the summer months due to frequent thunderstorms (almost daily) and, of course, hurricanes. It is projected that Deerfield Beach could experience a one- foot sea level rise between 2040 - 2070 and a two-foot rise between 2060 – 2115. (Source: http://www.broward.org/Climate/Toolbox/Documents/R...

In Dade County, which is adjacent to Broward County, Miami and Miami Beach are already experiencing serious flooding related to sea-level rise — even when there is no rain.

Century Village Deerfield is located 3 miles from the beautiful Broward County white sand beaches.

I found an interesting map that shows what Deerfield Beach would look like with a five-foot rise in sea level. Here's a link to the map. (You will need to type in "Deerfield Beach" in the search box at the top right.)

https://ss2.climatecentral.org

The line on the extreme right of the map the map is a coastal highway named A1--it is underwater. The next solid line on the right side of the map is the highway named I 95. It is not underwater. Century Village is just to the left of I 95, so with even a 5-foot rise, Century Village would still be OK.

Since the projection is for only a 1-foot rise in the next 20 to 50 years, you won't be underwater if you move to Century Village Deerfield. However, I'm not sure how long the beautiful white sand beaches will still be there.

Question: What are your thoughts on moving from Florida to Ohio? My family of five are looking forward to a fresh start.

Answer: Many people decide that Florida is not right for them. Deciding on what state to move to depends on many different things. Will you be able to find a better job there? Do you have family and friends living there? Will you have enough money to buy or rent a home there? Think about the issues that are important to you, and then research the state you would like to move to.

I don't know anything about Ohio, so I can not advise you specifically about Ohio. Realtors know a lot about their area.

Try contacting one in the area you are interested in and see what advice they have for you.

Question: Is Florida also home to wildlife?

Answer: Florida has an abundance of wildlife, on land, in the waters, and in the air.

I mentioned some of the wildlife in the article: alligators, sharks, pythons, and bears.

My favorite Florida wildlife is manatees (sometimes called sea cows). I find them endearing.

Manatees are very large mammals (up to 3,500 pounds), but they are peaceable slow-moving herbivores. They are native to Florida and have been designated the official marine mammal of the state. They are an endangered species.

The official state animal is the panther (Felis concolor coryi), (also an endangered species). The official state bird is the Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). The official state freshwater fish is the Florida Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus). The official Florida saltwater fish is the Atlantic Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus). There are other categories of official Florida animals, but these are the main ones.

You can get more information about Florida's wildlife at this website:

http://www.stateofflorida.com/wildlife-in-florida....

Question: Why is Florida such a poor state, and why is the rental housing mostly only for rich people or poor people, but little to none for middle-income people?

Answer: Florida ranks 38 on the 50 stats in the U.S. for personal income. The median income was around $54,000 in 2016. Wages are low in Florida because tourism and service industries account for most of the jobs. Wages in these fields tend to be low.

Housing for middle-income people is a problem not just in Florida but just about every state. The poorest people can get subsidized housing or dilapidated housing. The richest people can get luxury homes. The people in the middle are often left out.

However, when I first moved to Florida, I found the cost of a home to be very reasonable. Of course, I moved here from the New York/New Jersey area where homes are very expensive. I guess it depends on what you are comparing it to. The median price of a home in Florida is $179,000. Depending on what county you wish to love at the median price can be from $409,000 to as little as $50,000.

Rents are above average in Florida--$1,587 for a two-bedroom apartment, $366 higher than the U.S. average.

Florida has an advantage over most other states because it has no income tax, but the lack of an income tax doesn't do yo much good if you have a very low income.

(However, Florida does have property taxes and school taxes based on the value of your home. The sales tax is 6%.)

Question: How is public education bad when we have AICE, and the IB program with magnet schools as well as dual enrollment offered almost everywhere?

Answer: I didn't say that every school, or every student was terrible. There are certainly some good schools and students in Florida.

However, overall education in Florida lags behind that in other states. According to an article in the Jan. 17, 2018 edition of the Orlando Sentinel newspaper, Florida ranks 29th in a report on education quality and 45th in education financing. This means that Florida is sub-par compared to other states.

However, on the upside, the article notes that Florida is improving.

Question: Why is Orlando not considered on the list of places for retirees? I like it due to the close proximity to the airport and the low airfares. I plan to fly back and forth to the northeast a lot.

Answer: I think Orlando is a great place for retirees for the reasons you mention and more. Orlando is a cosmopolitan city with a home town feel. There are universities and colleges here, there is a Performing Arts Center, and lots of entertainment options. There are some great restaurants along with the familiar chain restaurants. In short, people from Northeastern cities should feel right at home here.

So why isn't Orlando on the list of "The 10 Best Places to Retire in Florida." Perhaps because Orlando, unlike the other places, is not primarily a retirement community. In fact, the age demographics make it similar to other cities. The demographic mix is what I like about Orlando.

On the other hand, if you want to live among retirees, there are plenty of 50+ complexes in Orlando to accommodate you.

And finally, as you said, you have easy access to a major airport. And you can thank Disney for the low fares. Orlando is a major tourist destination because of the theme parks located here and that keeps air fares low.

Question: We are thinking of retiring in Punta Gorda in 15 years. I live in Connecticut, and we have some family on the Gulf side of Florida. I like the hot weather and love the beach. Is Florida a lot better to retire to and buy a little house there?

Answer: Punta Gorda is on the southwest coast of Florida. If you like the beach and year-round hot weather you will like Southwest Florida. But please don't move to Florida thinking it is a paradise. Florida has plenty of problems, just like Connecticut.

I suggest that you talk to your family members who live in Punta Gorda. Then come for a visit to see how you like it. Talk to the locals in the area where you want to live. Read the local newspaper every day to get a sense of what is going on in the area. Go online and check out the housing listings to get an idea of how much the type of house you want will cost. In other words, do your homework to be sure that this is the right move for you. If you move here and then decide you don't like it, you will have made an expensive mistake.

Question: What is the estimated salary I should make to purchase a home worth $200,000 to $250,000 in Florida?

Answer: The rule of thumb is that your total cost for your home (mortgage, homeowners insurance, and property tax) should be no more than 35% of your pre-tax income. The amount of income you would need for a $200,000 to $250,000 home would depend on many variables, such as the amount of the down payment, the interest rate on the mortgage, the cost of insurance, and the tax rate for property tax in the locality in which the house is situated. This applies no matter where the home is located; not just for Florida homes.

You can find mortgage calculators online. You fill in your income, and other financial information, as well as estimates of homeowners insurance and the property tax rate and the calculator, will tell you what price you can afford to pay for a home. Google "What house can I afford," and you should see a few of them.

© 2015 Catherine Giordano

Evan on August 26, 2020:

Don’t worry, us actual Florida natives would love if you knuckleheads from the Northeast would all go back home. You Yankees are the reason this beautiful state is getting so messed up. Quit moving down, we don’t want you here!

Alex on July 22, 2020:

This list has so many things that are so likely to never happen. Like sharknado, and alligators in your pool, and pythons in your backyard. We have alligators yah but they wont go in your pool and pythons are only in south florida

Rico on April 29, 2020:

Don’t move here if your not used to crime

brook smith on April 06, 2020:

Born and raised here in Miami, moved to Ft. Myers to raise family 20 years ago. Had a brief 5 year hiatus in an area called Faragut outside Knoxville. More pollution, black lung, been all over country, nothing perfect. But all you really had to do was mention 2 people, Rick Scott and Kathleen (plastic face) Harris, and that would have been enough. Feel sorry for you in Orlando though.

Ken on March 09, 2020:

We are frrom Ma, and have the chance to move to Florida. The area Is Davenport. We hate humid weather, terrified of snakes, alligatators. Should we back out? Also how is healthcare in Florida?. Thanks

Tony on February 16, 2020:

Most people who complain about Florida probably never lived somewhere that is truly horrible. I’m in NYC $8,000 a Year in tolls commuting to work, $25, 000 a year in state income and property tax, crazy high insurance. You wanna talk about rude people come to Brooklyn N.Y where you ask someone how they’re doing and it’s....Who the **** are you. Traffic? You people don’t know traffic try going 50’ in 30 minutes and that’s the norm!!! Summers are brutal as well and winters are so cold your skin cracks. You ever shovel 2 feet of wet snow? How about coming home after working 10 hours and a 2 hour commute to go 15 miles only to have to drive around for 30 minutes hoping to find a parking spot. God forbid your hung over in the morning on alternate side day....what’s that? That’s when you can’t park on that side of the street on mondays/Thursday’s so they can come around and sweep up the garbage before the rats infest it.

Bill on February 15, 2020:

I'm a Southerner with deep family ties to the South. I've lived in Florida since 1976. We moved from Charlotte NC. Florida was a beautiful place years ago. Even south Florida was Okay, (before the Miami Vice era). Orlando was a busy little town back then because of Disney, but it was still managable.

Until about the mid 1990's , I never really noticed a problem of overpopulation in the North Florida region. I live in St Augustine. I loved Florida back then. St Augustine was my Granddad's favorite town too. Many days it seemed like I'd have the whole beach to myself. It was still a Southerner's town. Now, I'm nearly 60. I've lost most of my family and i can't relate to the people that have literally invaded and destroyed the beauty of this town. St Augustine is now the Lil' Orlando of North Florida. Crowded roads, overdevelopment, corrupt government, and the list goes on and on. I have now developed a real dislike for tourists and northern transplants in particular, for their brazen disrespect of Southerners and southern culture. Florida has become unbearable and I'm tired of feeling the resentment. I hate to let her go, but I im being pushed out of my own home by the obnoxius "progress". Maybe I'll find home in Alabama or Miss. I just can't relate to Florida anymore.

Jeffrey kasman on February 11, 2020:

I live in Florida and it's a great place to live U-Pick places like Utah Oregon Idaho biggest meth heads it whether are you delusional or what

Guest on January 14, 2020:

Thanks for the heads-up. I can cross Florida off the list of states I am considering moving to.

To those readers who took issue with the writer's political stance, she's only experienced Republican governors in Florida ever since moving there in 1995. Had her fellow residents elected a Democrat to be governor and s/he'd performed just as badly, she'd have something to say about that as well.

Tommy on January 02, 2020:

I lived in Florida for 16 years. Moved from Pennsylvania. I remember being very excited to move there and get away from the winters. But there is one sole reason I am thankful I am no longer living in Florida: the humidity coupled with the heat. It is unbearable in the summer (which is most of the year). I am the type of person that attracts mosquitos immediately so if that's you forget about going outside "enjoying the sunshine" if you are even remotely close to water (which is pretty much everywhere). You'll spend most of your time inside with the A/C cranked.

I moved to California (I know, right, someone MOVED to CA as opposed to all the media reports lately) two years ago and I absolutely love it. No mosquitos. I can actually sit outside and enjoy the PERFECT weather! I turn my A/C on maybe 10 times a year. Imagine the cost of electricity in FL vs CA. I would pay upwards of $350/month in FL, and max $40 here in CA. No joke.

Aside from the heat and humidity (which, again, is enough to avoid this place for anything other than a beach vacation), some of the points in this article are accurate. There are a LOT of old people. I have nothing against old people at all, but old people now are boomers. And, well, we all know about the boomers...

If you want to move somewhere because all you care about is not paying state tax, having an excessively large house that will require constant cooling and maintenance, and having politicians with (R) behind there name, then Florida is just right for you!

If you want to move somewhere where you can enjoy an active outdoor life, almost any other state is better. Having lived in FL, the NE, and now California, California is by FAR the best place I've lived and has SOOOOO much to offer.

Tommy on January 02, 2020:

I lived in

Michael OBrien on December 20, 2019:

I moved to Florida in 2019. I realized that vacation in Florida is great in the winter but while on vacation you are site seeing, eating out and swimmng etc. Living here is a whole different ball game. The traffic here is SWF is like driving on the LA Freeway. So many accidents. The weather is too hot and between June and November the rain and lighting is frighting. Its flat and site seeing is expensive. True gas is less than upstate NY where I come from and true no State income tax but I never paid that much when I lived in NY. I am from upstate NY close to the Adirondack Mountains and to be honest I miss the four seasons. Fall being my favorite. Not crazy about winter but being retired I dont have to go out in bad weather. I miss my family also. So that being said I am moving back. This has not worked out for at all. I live in a 55+ community but feel I am living in a nursing home. I am only 66 but those here are old and i get tired of having to maneuver around their golf carts. The rent here is costly and come o find out my rent is being raised by $50 each year. I can rent an apartment for $450 less than I am paying now with just about the same square footage. Yes being here in the winter is great but once Spring and Summer arrives it sucks. At least I gave it a try.

Chase on December 15, 2019:

Youre argument is so weak, everything that you listed happens in other states too. Florida positives outnumber its negatives 10 to 2, also all those problems are easily avoidable. I dont understand how the heat is a problem with air conditioning and pools plus you get awesome winters. When you can actually find something wrong with florida specificaly instead of just saying stuff that happens in other states too then let me know.

Ben on December 12, 2019:

Yes, Florida to me is awesome, and I go there all the time from North Carolina. Nobody in my area knows of the Island that I go to. It is off the coast of Fort Meyers ago they are and I love it a lot of people from my area go to the Outer Banks when it comes to other states they go to South Carolina Georgia California and Texas not too many North Carolinians know about certain parts of Florida I have discovered the undiscovered from North Carolina plus I love the fact that it’s always warm 24/7, (I can’t stand the Outer Banks in the Wintertime, by the ways), and I love Florida!! Florida to me is paradise no matter what happens on the outside of Florida!! If I could I would move there!! I can’t wait to go back!!

Sam on November 21, 2019:

This article is not a good source to make a relocation decision. In fact it’s a pretty dumb article. Obviously written by a liberal who wants to blame everything on Republican politicians. I had to relocate here from the north about 4 years ago. There are both many pros and cons. I was determined to learn the life of the south and not push my northern way here. But to be honest the south can learn a lot from the north. Vice versa also. Here’s a few honest tips for those thinking of moving here from the north. The weather is awesome. Floridians will complain about the summer like northerners do the winter. But they have no idea what bad weather is. None. If you have family or friends here it will help. It is very hard to make close relationships here. It is very common for people to say one thing and do another. People driving in front of you are in no hurry and literally crawl but people driving behind you are in a hurry & 6 inches from your bumper. Until they pass you. 100%. You can be late for anything and it doesn’t matter. Everything is extremely slow compared to what you’re used to. EVERYTHING. Getting a medical diagnosis can take a year unless you push. If you have kids in high school as I did, they will feel as though they went from the military to a picnic. No discipline. No rules enforced. High intelligence is rare. Sorry. But you will learn to slow down. Learn to relax. They think the cops give speeding tickets but have no idea. They give almost zero speeding tickets compared to the north. No white lines painted everywhere on the roads. No parked cop cars hidden every mile. Awesome to ride bikes. Very flat. Sidewalks everywhere. If you know people or family then I’d say try it. It’s a beautiful state. If you do not know anyone it will be tough. I would research a location that fits you politically. Your chances will increase in fitting in. Good luck!

Esther on November 06, 2019:

Very honest, FL is not United States of America!

Pros... NOTHING

Cons... People don’t speak English

Everyone want to take advantage of you.

Everyone always late and everything cancel last minute.

A lot of traffic freeways always have construction.

Expensive State

The laws are not enforce or doesn’t apply “like a zoo”

Very corrupted State.

A lot of foreign that don’t care about the language or culture of United States of America

Very dangerous

A lot of prostitution and human trafficking

Joanne on November 01, 2019:

Donald Trump just moved to Florida and I can't think of one witty thing to say.

Me on October 22, 2019:

To many transplants. I was born and raised here and the people NOT frfom here have only made it worse. Don't like it, leave and let us have our land and jobs back. Thenks!

Twilly on October 17, 2019:

I don’t hate Florida - I just don’t “get it”.

I am a resident technically, because I ended up being a primary caregiver for a severely disabled family member. Not to be negative but there is a high confidence that the family member does not have long to live. When they pass I will be immediately leaving back to my hometown and never coming back.

suthinman on October 09, 2019:

Too many yankees

Hussein Obama on October 05, 2019:

So much for an honest article about Florida. Someone is suffering from the wonderful Florida heat. Don’t buy into the garage folks. Come on down!!!!

Kathleen on August 16, 2019:

I grew up in central Florida in the 50's and 60's. Had a great childhood of lower working class parents, but we had fun. Now live in Illinois. When i visit FL now it's so commercialized....Mickey everywhere! BUT our nice neighborhood here is now being overtaken by so many druggies running home businesses, and our new Governor is an idiot, and our taxes are mostly supporting Chicago so we have very few opportunities downstate since the wealth is not distributed evenly for programs. Am thinking of returning to FL but to a 55+ coomunity that is affordable where i don't have rap music next door until 3 a.m. and drug deals in front of my house and my garage broken into.....any ideas? We are on a fixed income but are afraid to dtay here in central Illinois.

Bob on August 01, 2019:

I'm not even a conservative, but your political bias in writing this list is really nauseating. Why not stick to just giving the facts and leave the political stuff out of it?

Stacy on August 01, 2019:

Lived in Florida for five years to give it a try and would not wait to get out. Way too hot, bugs galore who all wish to eat, kill, or poison you. Government corrupt. Depressed wages. Anti-labor. Military presence all over the place. Ugly. Much is rundown. Ruined beaches. Flat. There are way too many old people (PS: I'm old.) More strip clubs than I've seen in one place. Happy I'm out.

Dimitra Nicastro on July 17, 2019:

I love the State, even though traffic we have too much traffic and too many tourists. Been here 8 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I sense you may be a liberal (fake news believer) and anti-gun opinionated rant. If you don't like it here, I believe there are 49 other States or even Puerto Rico you can choose to go to.

J Lippe on July 08, 2019:

Why get political? You sound strange when you should be offering helpful advice. Too bad.

Rick on June 18, 2019:

I fled Florida 25 years ago this August. I’ve never looked back. Not once.

It was and remains a s#*t show of epic proportions.

Brutally hot, humid, full of lunatics and morons, retirees who suck up vast resources while not paying taxes.

It’s also a police state. You can’t go 10 feet without seeing a cop.

In 25 years I’ve been pulled over once in Oregon. In Fl it was 2-3 times a year and usually an illegal stop at that.

One of the best things I’ve seen in my life has been FL getting its reputation hammered.

When people laugh at Florida Man I tell them “this is nothing” you have no idea just how insane it actually is.

So I’ve never missed the wang of America and I never will.

No need to know on June 18, 2019:

Seems like the majority of your reasons for disliking Florida are POLITICAL! Stay out! We don't want you here anyway!

Jennifer on June 16, 2019:

You would do well to keep your political opinions to yourself.

Florida Native on June 13, 2019:

I can tell your view of Florida is based off of very little facts. I have lived here 56 years and have never been bitten by a shark, alligator or a snake. I am proud of our state, which has one of the fastest population growths for a reason. Apparently your biased opinionated article has not affected the folks who do there own research about moving to Florida. In Florida you can still find large acreage to live on or subdivisions to live in, totally your choice. It all boils down to personal preference. If you want true facts, ask someone who has lived here all their life, not a writer who hasn’t even scratched the surface of what Florida has to offer. Sign me off as a proud Floridian. In closing, I personally extend my encouragement in hoping you move out of our wonderful state and go find that Disney Wonderland you think can be found elsewhere.

Don Henderson on June 01, 2019:

Go to Florida in winter as retiree.

What l have found

1- Generally speaking people from north east highly aggressive. Natural born Floridians laid back

2- Great weather in winter. From talking to people who stay year long - oppressive heat/humidity in summer

3- cost of living comparable to up north when you exclude taxes and real estate

Love Florida on May 28, 2019:

I moved to Florida from Ohio in 2017. I love it! Contrary to what people claim I’ve experienced the exact opposite. It’s NOT cloudy all of the time. I’ve been here for almost 2 years and NEVER saw an alligator. Never been bitten by mosquitoes. Shark attacks? Umm, that’s impossible for me because I have my own pool and never swim in the ocean. I LOVE the hot weather. Absolutely LOVE the heat! I’ll take this heat any day over snow and freezing my butt off for 7 months.

The beauty and splendor that Florida has to offer is almost endless. One of the best states I’ve ever lived in. Way better than Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Francie009 on May 27, 2019:

I live in South Florida and I love it! I admit it gets hot here. But I own a condo with 2 pools so I'm good. I used to work for NYS. Saved my pennies, retired and moved. We don't really want anymore people here. "Tourists, come down here, spend a lot of money, then GO AWAY!

Brad on May 24, 2019:

Move here 24years I the worst thing I ever did the people suck it’s too hot poeple on phones while driving to many Cuba’s and Mexican here on welfare just a bad !!! Place to live

tom on May 19, 2019:

i have just leased an apartment in melbourne florida.i have visited there in the winter months. i am tired of long cold winters and slipping and falling on the ice.i am 69 and on social security.i have been driving school bus for extra money because you can't live on SS alone. anyway i have been reading here about the negative side of living in florida and the good.when school is out for the summer there i will come back to VT for the summer and see all my grandkids and kids.a little nervous about the move but like i said i hate winters.i love the ocean and being a ex navy man i have been wanting to move close to it when i retired.

I Hate Ohio on May 14, 2019:

I moved from Ohio to Florida almost 2 years ago! I LOVE it!!! I’ve always loved warm to extremely hot weather! My health has improved since I moved from Ohio as well. No more flu, colds, sore throat, ashy skin or constant headaches that cold weather can cause.

The greatest part about living in Florida is no more snow! Summer was always my favorite season anyway and I wanted a permanent summer lifestyle.

While the entire northern continent was suffering during the polar vortex I was still wearing a T-shirt in Florida!!! Take THAT northern states!!!!

No more ice scraping my windows in the morning before driving to work, no more snow shoveling. No more having to dress in LAYERS which sucks. No more dead trees everywhere, no more raking leaves in the fall. I’ve dealt with the season changing crap for decades and it gets OLD! Plus winter is the worst season in my opinion. Nothing to do in the winter except sit around the house all day long while cabin fever sets in. Driving places is a chore in the winter. From dressing in layers, ice scraping the windows, preheating the car and all of that other annoying crap. In warm weather, simply put on my shorts, t-shirt, get in the car, put the top down and go!!! I will never miss the snow or winter and I’m totally content If I’ll NEVER see snow again for the rest of my life.

Florida!!! A GREAT place to call home!!!

Mike R on May 12, 2019:

Most of your reasons NOT to move to Florida are plane old stupid! And so are your politics.

I can't wait to leave Colorado because of the political views, high taxes, state taxes worse traffic then Miami, etc..etc..etc

Mike on April 28, 2019:

This article would have been great if you could have kept your political views out of it.

T.W on April 27, 2019:

I have lived in florida for 14 years now and i hate everything about it. If you are very very very very wealthy. Then this is the place for you. The very wealthy run this state. they make the rules. They set the standards and they regulate EVERYTHING!!!. I could go on forever but i wont. Bottom line is. Most people here including the rich are miserable. Very few happy people and the crime is out of control. Watch the news for a while before you move to florida.

Look before you leap.

Good luck.

Bridget on April 26, 2019:

Despite of whats been told ..it rains constant . Its always cloudy , an you need a HEATED pool . Because florida lacks high temps ..but has high humidity .. high heat heats up pools not humidty

M on April 24, 2019:

Don’t move to Florida. Low paying jobs and high cost of living. In a few years you’ll be saving up to move out of Florida once you realize the subtropical climate is a decoy to not make you realize this is the craziest and weirdest state in America. It rains all summer, and when it’s nit raining, it’s so hot that you don’t want to go anywhere. Florida SUCKS!

Emma on April 19, 2019:

live in florida and some things have never happened to anyone I know. you seem to mainly talk about northern florida but what about southern florida? like Miami? and there aren't that many older people considering there are several popular colleges in florida. Also, yes it is very hot but we do get cold weather. There is also a lot of diversity especially in Miami which is great. Please check what you plan on saying before you type because it's clear that your ignorance is showing.

Orlando Batista on April 18, 2019:

That is not true, florida is a really good place to live, people say the trafic is crazy, but go to new york and compare. Animals are everywhere if you life in Pennsylvania you will find a bear taking a shower in your house. In Florida the wheater is hot thats true, but the wheater in others states are cold, there is nothing to do just be in home and wait for the summer. So dont be jealous if you can't live in florida.

C on April 08, 2019:

You do realize, if Florida did not have a majority of people from other states and they would all just go back to where they came from, there would not be the ever so many issues involving the ignorance and stupidity of people :D

bob hogen on March 28, 2019:

this was a really good articel i thank whoever wrote this it was very helpful

emily on March 28, 2019:

ohhh a liberal viewpoint Nice.

jj on March 26, 2019:

it’s obvious you dislike florida.

please tell all your friends. tell acquaintances. heck, tell strangers walking on the streets.

please get the word out so they stop coming here.

Mark Sage on March 21, 2019:

We just moved from Florida to Indiana. Our property taxes, insurance, food costs and utility bills were cut by more than half. What people do not understand about Florida is it is extremely expensive to live there. Also, health care providers (doctors) are test happy. They hope to find issues after running numerous tests and treatment is expensive also. Also, you spend more time indoors than you'd imagine. Its either too hot to go outside in the summer or too cold to go outside in the winter. Also, houses in residential developments are incredibly close to each other so privacy is lacking, even in expensive areas. I wish the author had not politicized the article though. I do not agree with her political views whatsoever.

Chris on March 20, 2019:

I have lived in Florida for 10 year. The school system is a disaster. The hight school graduation rate is lowest in the nation. The crime rate is in sane. Everywhere you go, even in middle class areas there are armed security guards, churches, school, grocery stores and so on. The small pockets of wealth surrounded by poverty. The wages are very low, most jobs pay $10 per hour for positions requiring a college degree. Housing is expensive. I experienced 30% increase in rent per year. Homeless is very common. There are people begging on every street corner and in front of every store. There are no State Labor laws. Employers don't have to pay workers and frequently don't because there is no State law that say they have to. When it comes to state government malfeasance is an understatement. I have met so many people who moved here a short time move out. I flike many others am economically stranded here. the utility companies are owned by private individuals and there is no government regulation or oversight of the utility companies. Electric bills for a 1300 square foot apartment average over $300 a month. Hospitals and doctors offices mismanaged. I have yet to go to a doctor's office that I did not have to wait 45 minutes to an hour emergency room wait times run into the nine and ten hour range as obvious by checking their wait times online. Car health and medical insurance are astronomical and cover nothing. Every elected state official espouses how Florida is a business-friendly community and they are correct all of the laws overwhelmingly favor corporations companies and the ultra-wealthy. Everyone says the weather is great I agree but what good is nice weather when you live your life under siege from people stealing, gun violence, price gouging and suffering all the ill effects of a lopsided economy. So I asked why do you think Florida is a good place to live?

Elizabeth on March 13, 2019:

We just about moved to Florida. But my husband backed out. I am glad. We live in Minnesota. Love the falls here. But winter is awful. Would love to move somewhere where you don’t have 6 months of winte4 like here in Minnesota But just don’t know where that would be. Thanks for your article. Really enjoyed it. The snakes were enough for me. We have vacationed in Florida in February. We stayed in Destin. It was beautiful but very crowded. So still looking . Skol Vikings!

Flower on March 13, 2019:

Not convincing. Many cities and areas have the same problems if not more. There was noting new in this article to turn me off or to change my mind because we already have these things here, in our state ... except the weather.

julianne fore on March 05, 2019:

I love Florida for all the things stated. Don't move to florida if you don't understand it. Look up what Florida really is. Small towns with regular good people and lots of history. It's not one huge beach.

Paul on February 11, 2019:

Written by a true lib. If there are so many negatives here why don't you move to South Dakota, Utah or Idaho?

Deb on January 24, 2019:

Living in NH close to the lake which we LOVE - but would like to spend 3-4 winter months in warmer climate, preferably 10-15 mins from Siesta Key Beach which friends say is beautiful. Retirement is probably 3 years away, but looking at large breed condos online and came upon this article. Not looking for large condo - would even consider a 1 bedroom. After reading this article I'm thinking to myself, would we regret this? But I don't think so ...would never consider living in FL full time. We love the change of seasons, but winters are just too long! Any thoughts on that area of FL? Traffic just as bad? Thanks!

Arlene on December 30, 2018:

I lived in Florida for over 40 years. I moved to Nashville recently to be closer to my adult daughter who moved here a few years ago.

I agree with much of the what the writer stated. When I moved to FL in 1972, the population was around ten million. Florida has not grown well. Every inch of the state will soon be covered with buildings, hotels, motels, etc. I know what you stated is tongue in cheek, but I do agree with the politics you speak of. After all the time I lived there, I could never get used to the summer heat that lasts for five months with no end in sight. The winters are beautiful, I'll agree to that. The state is very transient, people move in and out all the time. That was surprising to me when I first moved there. I don't see as much sun here, but there are hills here. People look at Florida as a panacea and move there and find out differently. Some will forever love it. All I miss is the sun shining almost every day in the winter. Winters here are not bad. That's why people also move the the half way to Florida states when they retire.

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on November 05, 2018:

Poppy: Thanks so much for your comment. It made me smile. I loved it that you laughed out loud. I meant the article to be funny while conveying real information. I hope you get a chance to visit Florida again.

Poppy from Enoshima, Japan on November 03, 2018:

What a great article with details and honest information. I laughed out loud at "There are a lot of old people in Florida and they drive too darn slow. With their blinkers on. I know because I’m one of them!"

I've only been to Florida to go to Disney, once as a small child and again when I was 14, and I only really remember the parks themselves. My grandma drove, so I suppose she became one of the annoying oldies taking up the road. I'm not sure I'd ever move to the USA but I sure enjoyed reading this article.

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on October 22, 2018:

Nicole K: I can't deny a lot of strange things happen in Florida. But I suppose they happen elsewhere too.

Nicole K on October 22, 2018:

I've lived in California my whole life. I am told my mom and I visited Florida when I was a baby, but I have no recollection of that. I have no desire to move to Florida. The strangest news stories seem to come from there! Plus all the alligators, and the hurricanes! We already barely have seasons here, either. Your hub gave me a chuckle though, because everything you said is on point!!!

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on October 10, 2018:

Ihateohioandmovedtoflorida:Life in Florida is not as bad as I portrayed it. I wrote this tongue-in-cheek and I exaggerated some things, but everything I said is true. Some of the things I mentioned (alligators, snakes, bears,and sinkholes) are relatively rare occurrences.

Ihateohioandmovedtoflorida on October 07, 2018:

Living here isn’t all that bad. I do agree that the traffic sucks though. I’ve been here for over a year and never saw one alligator, snake or bear. And winter SUCKS!!! So glad that I’m far from that freezing white stuff.

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on September 24, 2018:

Alex Ortiz: I'm sure your comment will be very helpful to other people who are considering a move to Florida or out of Florida. However, I havn't noticed an lack of Chick Fil A restaurants in Florida. I do like their chicken sandwich.

Alex Ortiz on September 19, 2018:

Our family lived in West Pembroke Pines, Florida. My wife and I were sick and tired of paying the piper - you know the never ending tolls, high taxes, super high hurricane insurance with high deductibles which are unrealistic. So it became simple Math! We puchase our for 185K and we sold it 985K and moved to Newnan, Georgia. Very low crime, church going folks, no corruption, low property taxes and a large house on an acre of land - 40 minutes to Atlanta. Within my subdivison, I have met people from Weston, Kendall, Miami and Pembroke Pines, My kids are in college and they are coming to the reality that new college graduates can not afford to live in South Florida and have a decent quaity of life. They are alway thanking us for moving to Georgia. My ex neighbor will be retiring from the Police Dept and he is on counting his days to sell his house and move his family to Tenn. The true reality is that South is Paradise for those folks with enless funds....but the working professional like my self is getting smarter and taking advantage of their real estate equity and moving out. I have more money in my pocket, larger house, less property taxes, people are nicer and polite - no tolls and a Chick Fil A in every corner.

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on September 04, 2018:

chris landreneau: I happen to like living in Florida despite all the problems. (Every place has problems.) However plenty of people move to Florida and within a year they move right back out of Florida. So my advice is to look at the negatives as well as the positives of a place you are thinking about moving too.

chris landreneau on September 03, 2018:

While I have only lived in FL since march of 2018 .Let me say I grew up in Louisiana so The heat humidity gators snakes etc do not bother me.I have live in atlanta for the last 20 years so I-4 traffic don't bother me either.If you don't like it here move.

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on September 01, 2018:

Florida is a low tax state and so that is very good for people who would otherwise have to pay high taxes. For everybody else, not so much. Lousy schools. Lousy paychecks. Algae clogging the waterways, and more.

Bob Narley on September 01, 2018:

Moved to Florida 3 years ago from NY.

We save 10,000 a year in property/school taxes alone.

Another 10,000 because we don't have to pay state income tax.

Another 2,000 because gas, electric, col costs are all cheaper.

And we don't have to deal with 6 feet of snow and -30 degree weather.

The Conservative politics are why we don't have to pay state income tax, or insane property tax, so the more conservatives that want to move down here the better.

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on August 20, 2018:

Janisa: Yes, they can occur anywhere, but they occur in some other states too. Sometimes there is a some warning and people are told to leave their house, but sometimes not. Sinkholes, unlike earthquakes usually affect only a small area, three or four houses at most.

Janisa from Earth on August 19, 2018:

I never even considered moving to Florida, but now you just convinced me. I find the sink holes especially terrifying... In theory, could they occur anywhere in the state? And without no warning at all?

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on August 09, 2018:

Motown: I have been here 28 years now, so not everyone who comes to Florida is transient. I do't think the snow birds leave because they hate living in Florida. They leave because they still have a home "up north" and they don't like the hot summers.

Motown on August 08, 2018:

Why do you think snow birds only migrate here? 3-4 months is enough. Its a beautiful state to visit but a terrible place to live long term. Most people are retirees, transient worker who move on in search of a better wages or other short term residents who move on for work or another opportunity. They do not not develop deep ties in the community and prefer short term fixes to long term issues. All are welcome but always be aware of your surroundings.

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on August 08, 2018:

Maybe you are not yet happy, but you are not cold.

Nina on August 05, 2018:

I lived 20 years in Plantation FL, got married and was ready forva change so there we relocated to New Jersey. B e a u t i f u l...but so cold. 4 years later i am back.. it has been 6 weeks and i am not happy...yet?

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on July 27, 2018:

Despite all the things I listed in this article, I actually like living in Florida.

Karen Boney on July 26, 2018:

I live in Florida and I HATE it ! Don't move to this Godforsaken place under any circumstances.

Katharine L Sparrow from Massachusetts, USA on July 12, 2018:

Yeah, I know! I'm on my way! LOL

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on July 12, 2018:

Katherine L. Sparrow: Thanks for your comment. I'm glad you liked it. Just remember, everyone gets to be an "oldie" eventually, and some even become "snow birds."

Katharine L Sparrow from Massachusetts, USA on July 11, 2018:

Enjoyed this info-packed hub, though I already knew I didn't like Florida! Been there a few times and was not particularly impressed. I can relate to some of the down-sides, though, because up here (Cape Cod, MA) we get all the oldies from FL and the tourists in the summer months! Lots of "snow birds" here who call FL home in winter. Good, informative hub with a dash of humor... great job!

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on June 25, 2018:

Kim: Of course, there are problems in Florida, but I find that the people are mostly nice and mostly friendly.

Kim on June 24, 2018:

I moved to Florida four years ago from New England. I live in Central Florida and thought our move to the 'Sunshine State' would be our last move. Each year that we have lived here, my feelings for Florida have deteriorated. It seems that every time I watch the news, there is yet another shooting in Orlando. We have had several instances where people have walked up to our house, supposedly looking for work, when they attacked us and were looking to rob us. Now we all have concealed carry permits. People in this area are generally rude, drive like crap, are texting while driving, and generally don't care. It is definitely true that Florida drivers do not typically yield to pedestrians; again, they don't care. The heat is ridiculous. Job opportunities are poor and the pay is pathetic. I have had enough of Florida and we are moving back to New England. I can't wait to leave this state. I will gladly shovel snow again and enjoy four, 'real' seasons. I miss Yankee pride, something that Floridians don't know about and will never understand. I can't wait to move out of this ridiculous state. The Sonic commercial once said it best: 'Florida is in its own entity'.

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on June 23, 2018:

Barbara Badder: Florida is a great place to visit. I'm sorry to hear about your allergy to orange blossoms. Lucky for you, they only bloom for about one week a year. I think they smell heavenly.

Barbara Badder from USA on June 23, 2018:

I'd much rather visit Florida then live there. I have several relatives down there where I can stay. The air there is just too humid for me and I am allergic to orange blossoms.

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on June 16, 2018:

nicholas r chase: Thanks for your comment. t's so nice to see that even children are reading my article. I also like living in Florida, even when it rains.

nicholas r chase on June 14, 2018:

i already live in florida i live in panama city florida that also means i live in northwest florida aka the florida panhandle i like panama city beach florida when i grow up i am living in a condo in panama city beach florida and i am going to live there for the rest of my life also one other thing you should know that my name is nicholas r chase and i am 10 years old and i have been living in panama city florida for 5 years so that means i love florida and panama city florida and panama city beach florida and it rains a lot in panama city florida and florida and it is summer in panama city florida if it is not summer where you live i also love summer and beaches and cities summer is so fun.

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on June 12, 2018:

DaraSKS: You seem to have missed the point. This was written tongue-in-cheek--it was meant to be humorous. So your righteous indignation is misplaced.

I agree just about everything I said about Florida is true of other places also, but again you miss the point. Many people have the idea that Florida is some sort of paradise, but like everyplace else it has it faults.

Everything I wrote is true. I even provided video clips from news shows to prove it.

BTW, I have lived in Florida for 25 years now, and I am very happy that I made the decision to move to Florida.

DaraSKS on June 11, 2018:

Well...to say "there are too many old people" is kinda' rude. I never have felt overwhelmed by too many "old people."

Never have gotten caught behind a tourist doing 5mph. Not even in Orlando.

I used to be an I-4 hater till I was in PA for a weekend a year ago and came home feeling like Florida's roads are a dream gift from God by comparison.

"Road-rage shootings are so common that the media doesn’t even bother to report on them anymore." ?? Where's this info from? "In 2009, New York, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Atlanta and Minneapolis/St. Paul were rated the top five "Road Rage Capitals" of the United States."

Rick Scott? Really? All politicians are crooks in case anyone forgot.

Yeah. Duh. "The Sunshine State" is hot. Yup. But we get used to it.

Roaches are huge. Yes. BUT...they don't infest your house 'cause there's no winter and plenty of places to live outdoors.

This is true: "Volusia County in Florida is the shark-bite capital of the world." But dude...really? "most are not fatal." That's trying to make it sound like this is a constant threat. Please.

Bears...are everywhere in the US...and if there were bears breaking into garages and patios it would be on the news. Not here. The states with the highest bear population aren't anywhere near Florida.

Sure, you might find a gator in your pool but...that's kinda' cool. Great pics for great lots of likes on social media. You'll even get on the news for that. (So it's rare.)

Yeah pythons are on the loose in southern Florida. But there are snakes everywhere, aren't there?

Sure. Florida has hurricanes...but one passed us by and slammed into NJ. I guess don't live in NJ either. Everywhere has something. We don't have earthquakes. And we don't have blizzards...

Sinkholes are a pain. It's true. But it's not like FL is Swiss cheese. They're not "everywhere." We don't "live in fear of them."

Tornadoes? Umm... "The states with the highest number of F5 and EF5 rated tornadoes since data was available in 1950 are Alabama and Oklahoma, each with seven tornadoes. Iowa, Kansas, and Texas each are tied for second most with six. The state with the highest number of F5 and EF5 tornadoes per square mile, however, was Iowa."

Yes, we are the lightning capital, though. This one is probably the only true nuisance in the list so far. When we 1st moved to Florida our first house was struck twice. Lightning does strike twice in the same place...

Florida's flat? That's a reason to dislike it? It's not like it's a flat plane...it's just not hilly and that's actually pretty nice when it comes to driving and road safety.

"Can't run an election right?" That's not even proper grammar...nor is it true.

"Pedestrian deaths are significantly higher in Florida than the national average. " Delaware was #1 in 2016. And pedestrians? I can say as a Florida driver - it's because Florida pedestrians are absolute morons! They walk right out in front of you without ever looking! ALWAYS! And this is a world where people driving are all on their phones. "The number of pedestrians killed in 2016 increased by 11 percent compared with 2015" probably because of all the morons on their phones...

"School starts in the middle of August. Everyone knows school is not supposed to start until after Labor Day." I would agree because I'm from PA, but, c'mon...it's not a reason to dislike Florida...

"Florida's gov't is rife with corruption. Oh wait a moment; it’s not just Florida..."

Overall I don't find these reasons valid...but I am in favor of keeping Florida to myself as much as possible so hey...please share! Everyone can stay up north with their snow and stay out of Florida... :)

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on May 07, 2018:

Chris: I moved to florida 25 years ago. You got me beat.

Chris on May 06, 2018:

I’m a 6th generation native Floridian. Don’t move to Florida. We are full.

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on April 30, 2018:

Julie: Politics is part of what makes Florida Florida.

Julie on April 29, 2018:

This was interesting until you lost me with all of your political opinions

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on April 21, 2018:

Pat Hodgekinson: There are many advantages to living in Florida and you have listed some of them. Welcome to sunny Florida.

I did exaggerate about the cockroaches. I haven't seen one in over two years. At the time I wrote that it was a bad year for cockroaches.

Pat hodgkinson on April 21, 2018:

Hi

I love this article and and take on board all that you say even as most of it is tongue and cheek but I'm from England and moving over in June this year, we have a holiday home in kissimme for a little over 12 months and just love the place, I have yet to see a cockroach and an gator is less than a few yards away in the pond behind my home, it only took one visit to determine how much I love florida I currently live in a small town in the north of England and the damp weather and cold winters and not so sunny summers are soon going to be a thing of the past for me,

I love how you can eat outside most of the year and plan an open air party almost any day and the wildlife I would have to pay and visit a zoo to see, that said you have the dreaded I-4 and the 192 for me which I can categorically say I hate but we have similar busy roads here too,

My husband an I aren't really into the parks we visited those in 1996 and our kids loved it but it's one of them... Done that !!

I do need to do some more homework as I didn't know you had bears

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on April 14, 2018:

Anonymous: I never said that some student do not excel and that every school was inadequate.. I said that overall, the quality of education in Florida is not very good. In a 2017 article, the "Orlando Sentinel" newspaper reported that Florida was ranked 29th in quality and 45th in financing. However, the same article said that student achievement

in Florida was improving.

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on April 14, 2018:

MichaeL Welcome to Florida, and thanks for catching on that I was writing tongue-in-cheek. I'm with you--the good balances out the bad. And the weather is warm year around. .

Michael on April 13, 2018:

Catherine,

Thank you for your article! I don't really care about the gators and the other large animals roaming on my lawn (I get your subtle but serious sarcasm). Being a Chicago resident, I do care about being in the sun and being able to walk around outside--and I'm about to make the move down there even in my early 40s. From all the articles I've read (good and bad) about living in Florida, the pros and cons just about balance out with here (I can handle traffic, tornadoes, govt. corruption. That leaves me with one remaining factor--warm weather--and I don't care if it's humid! Thank you.

Anonymous on April 13, 2018:

How is the education bad in Florida when it has AICE, IB program, magnet schools, and dual enrollment?

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on March 25, 2018:

James Carter: Thanks for your comment and compliments. You make a good case for your own possible future in Orlando/Central Florida. Despite all the things I wrote, I'm very happy to live in Orlando. I previously lived in New York City. Now as the Northeast is suffering the effects of a N'oreaster here in Orlando the only effect has been some refreshingly cool weather.

James Carter on March 25, 2018:

Catherine:

Thank for your insightful article, and your followup to readers response. My daughter lived on Orlando area for several years, so I got to know the area and even had a year membership to Disney, which I still love. I would visit during the hot period of August/September, but also in June when the temperature was 98. So i have real reference to the area.

I'm into a bikes, tennis and vintage business. I need a occupation I can do so I can keep an eye on my 80 yo aging mother whose memory is not so good. Living here in Michigan i could make it work, but bikes and even tennis stringing business is rather seasonal, and in Florida it would be more active year around. Maybe I could get more people on bikes and I-4 would open up more for Disney.

Like you, I liked Orlando and University of Central Florida is an amazing modern university. I remember coming down in February and watched a softball game there in summer gear. It was incredible to smell dirt from the green manicured diamond. I left Michigan in ice, snow and a nose not working so well.

I will continue my business research and Central Florida is in the mix. I also coach high school volleyball and softball here in Metro Detroit, which helps me to stay healthy.

Catherine, keep up the amazing work! You are making an impact!

JC

Catherine Giordano (author) from Orlando Florida on March 21, 2018:

Jonathan Kimble: There are a lot of decisions. When I choose Florida, I knew I wanted a major city, but should it be Miami, Tampa or Orlando. I choose Orlando and I am happy with that decision.

Jonathan Kimble on March 20, 2018:

I love Florida, especially Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach. But I wanna move to somewhere with less people like Arizona or Washington. Miami has one of the rudest people I've ever met.