Where to live? Florida or California?

or something totally different like New York, Seattle...?
Warm weather is a plus ;-)

Good question. I'm getting the urge to make a big move. Dallas, Phoenix, Sedona, Nashville, Florida .......

Anywhere but CA.

New York, I lived in Florida for the last 4 years. Just moved back to NY. Best decision I have ever made. There is no place like it.

In my opinion....San Diego is the nicest big city in the USA...great weather...professional sports...great restaurants...hot women...only downside is the high cost of housing and the California economy is kinda fucked

The best place to live in the United States depends on what your interests are and what your needs are. That's like asking what's the best place to live in Europe.

I love Fl. Just moved away 3 years ago, but spent the first 20+ years there.

I was once deciding to move to Las Vegas or Ft Lauderdale. I had a plane at the time and the thought of living in Ft Lauderdale and flying to the Bahamas once a month sounded great.

Then three hurricanes hit the south Florida area in the same year. I moved to Las Vegas.

I love southern California, but I'd never move there.

San Francisco is overcrowded but there are so many intelligent, ambitious people who live there that it's a great place to live. Great restaurants, great nightlife, and every conversation seems fraught with potential. Plus, Kink, Gamelink, AFF, and so many other companies are out here. The Bang Bros/Fling people just got a new office downtown as well. Fun times and good people...

I would say neither. I'm originally from the bay area, lived there for over 30 years. Finally left because its just to expensive and crowded. You cant escape the rat race in California, real estate is overpriced even right now during the housing slump, taxes are high and only going to get higher. In a nut shell California is a real mess from top to bottom and I only see it getting worse.

When I left I actually moved to Miami, Florida so I might be able to shed some light for you. Florida is a fun place to vacation but as a long term living solution? I have a lot of family in the south Florida area, visited frequently all my life and loved every minute of it which is why I made the move. But after living here a while to be honest its gotten pretty old. There simply isn't enough to do here on a day in day out basis. Sure if you have millions, own a boat or two and live on one of the islands I can see the possibilities. But if you're a normal middle class/upper middle class person this wont be happening.

Rent is high, real estate is overpriced - much like California and there's a hell of a lot of unreliable people here. Much like Southern California in that regard. Crime is rampant but no more so than California, to tell you the truth the worst areas of South Florida don't hold a candle to the ghettos in California. Florida kind of reminds me of Southern California in the sense that it's kind of like a giant valley with no cities. There are cities obviously but not anywhere near what I'm used to. I've travelled the entire state and looked at every town/city looking for a place to possibly relocate to and frankly its all crap.

I prefer the Atlantic Coast to the Gulf. The Gulf Coast appears to be pretty honky tonk in my experiences and Tampa which I guess is probably the biggest Metro on the Gulf is pretty lack luster. I know a lot of people live there and seem to like it, I guess I'm spoiled being from San Francisco because I just don't see why. The Atlantic in my experience is more North Easterners which is probably why I like it better. But that doesn't make it great by my standard. There are some nice suburbs - Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne, Boca Raton and that area. But there really aren't any cities. I think Ft Lauderdale is way over rated. Actually I think its pretty damn ugly, there is a very small stretch of beach that's nice but it's small and no reason to live there. There's also more crime in Broward than Dade County. At least that's what they show on the news. In my opinion Miami/Miami Beach are the most livable places in Florida but it gets old quick. At least for me, I'm a city kid at heart and love diversity, not just in people but things to see and do. Florida has diversity in culture but not activities.

Anyways sorry to be negative. Just trying to be honest. I like Miami and will come back to visit like I always have, maybe I'll even own a vacation home here someday but for everyday living it's not for me. Which is why I'm moving to Atlanta. Now here's a livable city. I got extremely lucky and flipped my condo, didn't make a profit but was able to get out and buy a foreclosure in a nice Atlanta suburb. If you're buying take a look at Atlanta, you can get an extremely nice home for very good prices right now. And rent is ridiculously cheap. I was able to get a 5 bedroom home in a gated community for the same price that my 2 bedroom condo in Miami cost.

Anyways good luck!

whats fun to do in ATL?

move to austin, texas

Heard nothing but good stuff about Austin but aren't any of you Austin guys nervous about being an adult webmaster in Texas? Texas is about is red as they come. I know Austin is much better but still.

Good question. How is it in Dallas?

Austin is very liberal.. it's nothing like the rest of Texas. I came so close to moving there about 2 years ago and I'd still like to do it eventually. Only draw back is it gets cold..

FL sucks IMHO, it's like a giant magnet for deadbeats.

Buy property on the Cayman Islands, 30 min from Miami, warm climate, nice houses or you can have your own.

http://www.crownacquisitionsworldwide.com/

Carmel, CA will do just fine.

I love L.A., but the economy is beyond fucked in Cali right now, so back in the midwest for the time being.

Where are you living now in NY? Where did you live in FL?

I know that the question is very wide but I still get a lot of usuful information from the replies

Smoke, I really appreciate it that you took the time for such a detailed reply.
Thank you very much

Yeah Hurricanes are a big down side of south florida

That sounds intresting

I like this!

I have to check on Carmel, don't know anything about it

I am sure my wife would love that

Malibu Beach, CA? Laguna Beach, CA?

bump..............interesting thread..

Are you taking us with you, Toni ??

I feel very attracted to Silicon Valley

You Know You Live in Silicon Valley When..



You make 100,000 a year, yet still can't find a place to live.


Would starve if it weren't for Trader Joe's frozen dinners.


Your commute time is 45 minutes and you live 8 miles away from work.


Two-thirds of the people you know are from Boston or New York, but you are living in PST.


Know vast differences difference between Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Cantonese, and Korean food.


Your home computer contains mostly hardware/software that is not on the consumer market yet.


Go to The City on weekends but don't live there because you like your car.


Think that "I'm going to Fry's" is an acceptable excuse to leave the office for a while, and your boss does too.


Lost your alarm clock. You'll get to work when you get there.


Go to an industrial-heavy-metal bar and see two guys get into a fight over what flavor of UNIX is better.


Own more than 10 articles of clothing that has hardware/software companies printed on them. Bonus for embroidered stuff.


You know where Woz Way, Resistor Ave, and Floppy Dr are located.


On your drive to work you're amazed by the mysterious 'phantom mountains' outlines.. Are they there or aren't they? Only the smog knows for sure!


You know 280 North runs west, and 680 N runs East.


Even though Microsoft employs quite a few programmers in the Bay Area, they only work on Powerpoint, and the company is still the embodiment of Satan. Even if their stock IS worth more than yours.


You see a billboard that says "FPGA2ASIC" and aren't fazed.


When you need the updated Diamond Monster 3D drivers, you just walk across the street.


You have more bandwidth in your apartment or condo than most major universities.


You scan yard sales for back issues of "Dr. Dobbs."


Your favorite computer reseller speaks only Cantonese.


Your workplace vending machines dispense "100% natural twig-bars" right next to Jolt cola and Instant Espresso mix.


No one brings radios in to work - they just use RealAudio and listen to the dj.com, rebelradio.com, or other out-of-state stations.

The Left coast sucks.. Especially the dust.. Go to Miami and check out Key Biscayne or even better Brickel..

Texas is a BIG state, so it really depends on where you are. Austin not a big deal, Houston not a big deal(in fact Houston has more pornshops and stripclubs than any city in the US) now get up towards Dallas/FtWorth area you might need to be a bit more selective.

Florida is good for vacation........not to live.

why man???

Bah..... I just sold my condo in Brickell, it gets old. Beautiful yes but not much to do. Having lived there full time I would say it?s a fun place to vacation but not to live. A lot of unreliable people in Brickell and Miami in general, you can?t trust anyone!

neither for me

Florida is too hot and humid. Mexifornia is just a mess.

Consider the Inland Northwest, especially North Idaho. Reasonable housing, clean air, beautiful lakes and rivers, fishing, hiking, skiing, relatively mild winter temperatures compared to the plains (but lots of snow).

Mmmm, Ft. Lauderdale, it's a good place I think, but I've never been there... Just speculating... hahahahah.

Exactly! You'll hate it... bad traffic, no jobs, low pay, high prices of homes, rent and everything else, shallow, smug people....

I'd say that's a pretty fair assessment.

I currently live in the Tampa Bay area, and while I do find it lacks some things that I miss about living on the west coast or in a bigger city, it's pretty decent. If I stayed here the rest of my life I wouldn't be dissapointed.

The good things about FL are the taxes are low and the cost of living is fair. Real Estate might be over priced by some standards, but it's WAY below Cali.

I like the Tampa Bay area best in FL because the beaches are beautiful and we do have some decent metro culture with Tampa and St. Petersburg. We don't get as many shows as Atlanta or Austin, but we do get a decent amount, the crowds can be a little lack luster but I can't complain about the venues. Ybor city also has a decent club scene if that is something you are into.

I live in Clearwater- Dunedin to be exact. CNN Money magazine just named it the best place to retire. It's very suburban, low crime, and has a cute little downtown area with a few choice bars and restaurants. I don't know if I'll stay here forever, but the schools and the neighborhoods are good, a really great place to raise a fam.

The downside is you pretty much need a car. There are very few places you would want to live that have alot of things within walking distance and the public transportation blows. I know that's a bit of a trip for people who are used to living in larger cities. Things are pretty spread out.

But what I love most about down here is that it seems like no matter where I am I'm no more than 10 to 15 mins away from a beach. The powder white sand and super calm gulf costal waters are something to behold.

Agreed - last week I spent over 4 hours in traffic to go about 20 miles each way to visit my sister and her baby in the hospital.

Plus, our sales tax just got raised, unemployment is up and our government is out of money...

i wouldn't go to cali. the state is broke. There can come no good of state that is broke and a dummy at the wheel.

"I'll be back"

hhahahaha

Go to Florida

Howdy Neighbor!! I'm just down the street from you in Seminole...

I'd also put a vote in for FL - and the Tampa Bay area. (To be clear, I mean the areas surrounding the city of Tampa - I wouldn't want to live IN Tampa myself.) I've lived here 39 of my 42 years and still love the area. Everything is within reach - arts, entertainment, sports, beach, lakes, good food - there is something for everyone pretty much.

The only thing we are missing - is mountains! My wife - who's from Colombia - is always pointing that out...

East Coast of Canada is nice. Nova Scotia is like Boston and Cape Cod combined but on a smaller scale. Bit chilly compared to Cali and Florida though, so unless you enjoy scraping ice off your car I'd still stick with one of those.

Well! Howdy neighbor indeed! I have alot of friends in Seminole, also a good place to be.

And I agree, I don't think I'd ever live IN tampa either. Maybe St. Pete, but not if you plan to have kids. Schools in St. Pete (and most of Tampa) are bad news. It's like KIDS down there.

Would really like to hear from more Austin peeps, seriously considering getting out of LA.

Me too on the Austin info .....