Previous Story
Changing Your Family’s Future: Top Tips for Making the Move to Florida
Many people consider moving from the cold to the warmth of Florida. Not only is it sunny here all the time, the housing prices are very affordable. Here are some things you need to know before making the move with your family.
Be Prepared For The Heat
It’s hot in Florida. Very hot. There is almost no winter. Expect it to be high 80s or 90s in the dead of winter. You will wear shorts and short sleeves on New Year’s day, and Christmas might be 70s.
Not only is it hot here, it’s humid. Muggy is the general rule, and it adds another 5 to 10 degrees to the heat index on most days.
The Weather Is Crazy Sometimes
It rains every week – sometimes every day – in Florida. But, the rain doesn’t last. Hurricanes are a normal part of life here. That’s why you always see new homes in Fort Myers. Floridians learn to cope with the destructive forces of nature, and you will too.
There is no spot in Florida that will guarantee you won’t get hit by a hurricane, though the most likely spots are in the southern part of the state. Orlando has never suffered a major hit from one though, so Orlando might be your best bet.
There Are Two Floridas
Many Floridians will tell you that there are two Floridas. The panhandle is the socially conservative part, and the peninsula is more liberal. It’s also more economically diverse. The panhandle’s economy is heavily dependent on military bases and beach tourism. Central and southern Florida depends on Disney, NASA, and a strong defense contracting industry.
The Style Is Different
You won’t see many business suits in Florida. Even in the winter, shorts and short-sleeved shirts are acceptable. It’s very laid back, too. And, the closer you get to the beaches, the more laid back it is. While most places do enforce a “no-shirt, no shoes, no service” policy, many establishments are easing up on that and you can get away with sandals and tank tops in more and more places.
Be prepared for a slower culture. There are a lot of retired folks that live here. And, until it’s tourist season, you tend not to see much of a younger crowd unless you live near Miami or other major cities.
Here’s How You Get Around Town
Public transportation in most of Florida towns and cities is quite limited. You take the bus or you drive. There are no subways because the entire state is built on what is essentially a sandbar. While many towns and cities have discussed the possibility of a high-speed rail, there have been no construction plans as of yet.
Many people hate the hurricane evacuation plans the state has set up because they’re wildly inefficient. If you move here, learn how to get out of the state, fast if you have to.
Another quirky thing about Florida is the state of the roads and the way drivers drive on them. Many people complain about drivers being terribly inattentive, driving uninsured, or driving recklessly.
Finlay Ferguson is a careers consultant who is very knowledgeable on the subject of relocating for work having done it himself, twice! He shares his knowledge by writing articles for career, property and lifestyle blogs.
