Floridians

“Just wondering how many people live in Florida. Before, I mentioned that it was almost definite I was moving to Maine. However, intense lobbying from friends and family in my home state are winning in convincing me to move back down. I'm at a big state of change in my life: left bullcrap job, broke up with long-term girlfriend, hate where I live (no offense to the NJ residents, this place just isn't for me).. my life is basically a country music record right now.

Change is good, and it would be great to move back down. Be relatively easy to find work in Tampa, where some friends and family are located. I'd be able to go hunting and fishing with my relatives in Inverness, and my folks live nearby in good ole Gainesville where I grew up.

I just recently had this revelation, and am pretty stoked about it. I've heard the Ocala National Forest mentioned plenty on TT. How many of you live in Florida? We could soon be neighbors!”

“shoot move to the west brother!

or in the center of it all on the east!”

“I'm in the central part. A friendly face and an invitation to hike are hereby offered. Good luck in the decision.”

“Humanpackmule and I are in Jacksonville.”

“I agree about NJ, Artex, and I too have a zillion relatives in that part of FL, but it is possible that Maine is a lot less crowded. I've heard that Mainers aren't that friendly to outsiders who move in, but I don't know how true that is or how it would affect you. There is a huge difference in the type of scenery you will find and weather you will endure, in each location. Maybe you should give yourself a month in Maine in January and July, and a month in Florida in August and February and then decide.”

“i live in Gainesville.....and so does Arclite.....”

“Gainesville, my home town! I grew up in the neighborhood, Northwood Oaks..”

“In addition to the folks who have already indicated they're from FL:

I live in Orlando
Flatlander lives around Lake Okeechobee
Nowslimmer lives near Melbourne
NoNickName lives near Sarasota

There are a few others that I can't recall.

I'm sure we'd all love to have the star of 'Hunt the Wumpus' as a potential hiking partner (even if you root for the Gators.)”

“I grew up in NJ, Artex. Some parts of it are wonderful, but there are just too many people there to suit me. When I go to work I want to be sharp and quick. When I get off work, I like to lay back. People in the northeast play bumper cars with their grocery carts in the stores. Most of them seem to have some extremely important appointment that they needed to get to yesterday. Gaines-burg suits me just fine.

Went kayaking yesterday. It was rainy and the wind was blowing but it was warm. I went down to Crystal River with a friend of mine and his son. We saw lots of manatees. We also saw lots of people from up north who were down here on vacation. It's nice to live someplace where I can take day-trips to fascinating places year round.

If you do decide to come back, Artex, don't forget to tell everyone up north about the hoards of man-eating bugs we have here. There's too many carpet baggin' yankee transplants down here already.”

“I used to live in Hialeah. (back before English became a second language). Does that count?”

“I have lived in Florida. It was around the Orlando area. Of course they made me wear a blue uniform. I haven't been back, since. Do all Floridians have to wear blue uniforms and sleep in bunk beds?”

“i'm still 82.76% floridian.

i may need to up that number, in a few years.”

“Cool, there's a bunch of Florida folk here!

Big Coop - yes, I'd be honored to live in Florida again. I hope I will still fit in despite my mass fame from Hunt the Wumpus.

Arclite - I totally here you about NJ! I never thought grocery stores could be such a pain. And how bad people drive here, jeez! No wonder the highest auto insurance rates in the nation are here, and more and more companies are refusing to insure drivers here!

Going to think about it a bit more, but I'm leaning in that direction. Fortunately I was a good boy and saved up some money.. and that dough would definetly go farther in my home state.”

“Hey! It's snowing at the beach in Jacksonville! Woo-Hoo!”

“just to let you know, not to discourage you of course..but, gainesville has probably the highest car insurance rates in florida due to the high student population zooming around in their cars and crashing. .also gas is higher here too because they can get whatever they want for gas....students need it to keep their cars zooming.....and dont forget that huge fee for new resident car registration....but...besides that...

it is still a pretty great place to live....north central florida...the "other" florida. Year round outdoor adventures...sans elevation gains...:)”

“Om they repealed that fee for new resident car registration.”

“Real estate prices are lower in Gainesville than Maine? The two places are quite a choice, I would say.”

“No state income tax in Florida too.”

“Yeah but the intangibles tax can really get you.”

“Om - auto insurance would still be nearly half of what it is in NJ. Plus, if I moved down, it would likely be to Tampa.

Speaking of Gainesville, I'll be down in two weeks for a week long visit. Om and Arclite, if you guys want to grab lunch, I'm game.”

“Dun, yes we all still sleep in bunk beds... and I'm on top!!”

“Tampa Bay area. Been here almost 13 years now. Almost feel like a native.”

“i'll be down in two weeks for a week long visit, too!

stop by key west and visit me!”

“tampa is my hometown...lots of friends and family there, but a little too urban for me ......
artex...lunch is a great idea....give a holler when you are gliding into the swamp.”

“Yeah, Tampa is pretty big, but compared to living in the NY Metro area, it makes it very doable. Cool, I'll post here or something once I arrange family stuff.

Rad - Key West is great. If you've never been, make sure you take a snorkeling or scuba diving trip out to the reefs, but I have a feeling you will. My brother and I were down there two years ago and we ended up chasing a big nurse shark (very benign) for a few hundred yards, it was great!”

“Born in N.C. Raised in Miami. Live in Seminole County.”

“Artex, send me an email and give me a couple days notice. Sounds like fun. If you want to do a day trip, kayaking, let us know. The Ichetucknee is beautiful this time of year, no tubers!”

“artex......what arclite said......i can play hookie from work to go paddling if you give me some notice..or I could just "call-in-well"....
rad.....u making a pitstop in the swamp? we can camp n paddle at temple of om...heh.....”

“Ah, the good ole Icheketuknee! I miss floating down that river. My friends and I when we were kids would snorkel down it looking for things people lost while floating down. We'd find sunglasses and jewelry on almost every trip, and once found a very nice underwater flashlight. Good times!

Cool, I'm actually flying into Gainesville on March 19th. I'll e-mail you all when it comes a bit closer to that time and I have my schedule worked out with my family.”

“My brother and I were down there two years ago and we ended up chasing a big nurse shark (very benign) for a few hundred yards, it was great!"
Artex
08:30:59 PM
03/04/02

Yes, very benign, until they get tired of a being chased. They also perk up quite a bit when you spear a grouper and they decide they want it for themselves.”

“I will be in Tampa from Thursday until next Tuesday. Where are the better places for eating, drinking and night life? I will be in the Convention Center area.”

“Chili, those who enjoy nightlife go to an area of Tampa called Ybor City (pronounced ee-bor). It's near where I275 and I-4 meet. There are many places to eat and drink in that area. Personally, I find it too crowded and wild, but it's the place to go for nightlife if that's your thing.”

“hmmmm, crowded is a negative,,,,,,but I think you sold me with the "wild" description”

“Chili - Ken is right. Ybor City is awesome. It does get a bit crowded, but the "wild" aspect more than makes up for it. I always have a great time everytime I go out there.

If you have a car available to you, check out the beaches in Clearwater also. Very nice.”

“Chili, also try Berns (sp?) Steak House. It's world famous. It has all the atmosphere of a bordello. It also has some of the best steaks, and one of the most extensive wine cellars in the world.”

“Salinas (restaurant) in the Hyde Park area near the Convention Ctr. is one of my favorites in Tampa.
Ybor City...the BEST Cuban food and jazz music.....”

“atmosphere of a Bordello??? Well h@ll, it's settled,,,,a nice steak and a bottle of wine at Berns.”

“for shame!



















Ah, what time?”

“Chili, one thing that Arclite didn't mention was that the steak and bottle of wine at Berns will set you back about a hundred bucks. And that's the cheap wine too.”

“Yeah, Chili, and after you lose all that cash betting on the Tigers you will be taking a big hit.”

“go for maine, no mountains in florida.”

“"I will be in Tampa from Thursday until next Tuesday. Where are the better places for eating, drinking and night life? I will be in the Convention Center area."
chili36
01:19:41 PM
03/05/02

I have always enjoyed "The Columbia" it's a spanish restaurant. Been open forever. I have been about 5 times over the last 25 years, it's always great. It's in Ybor City also.
There is a great place to get coffee in Ybor City. They roast it themselves. Sorry I can not remember the name. It closes late afternoon, but if it's open just follow your nose. They sell by the cup or by the pound. I always come home with several large bags.”

“go for maine, no mountains in florida."
jmitch
07:15:52 AM
03/06/02

I'm not so sure. I saw someone wearing a T-shirt that said, "I climbed Mt. Dora, Florida."”

“Did we mention we have women in bikinis year round?”

“Mt Dora does have a very impressive flea market though. Acres and acres as far as the eye can see.”

“Yeah, there are advantages and disadvantages to both Florida and Maine. I've got a bit of mulling over to do. Maine has mountains, but I'm having a tough time finding work in my field up there. Florida would be much easier, plus all of my friends and family are down there. Wherever I end up, I'm sure I'll be happy. :-)”

“thanks flatlander, and yeah, I did manage to find Bern's on the Web, it certainly appears to be the kind of place that can create havoc with my expense account....”

“Poster: HumanPackMule

Infraction: allowed pregnant wife to hear him acknowledge the existence of bikini-clad women”

“i have a friend in ft. lauderdale who told me the highest point in the area was at the intersection of some freeway. truly unfortunate. my parents now live in FL, everyone seems to want to move there. it may be a nice place to visit, but it's not for me. the state is becoming so developed and urbanized.”

“South Florida is the pits. Sociologically, it's the urban north. At least thse parts that still speak english.

DON'T MOVE HERE! We don't want to end up like that.

Chili, come on, it's unseemly for a lawyer to be whining about expenses.”