W
whatevergirl
Guest
*Hi everyone;
I’m hoping for some advice/insights into what to do here. I am taking 4 day workweeks now, so I’m home today, and this morning, my husband and I had a heart to heart about living in Florida.
My dh loves it here. I think he just likes the weather, and frankly, if we moved to a place where snow was obsolete, he would probaby be ok. As many of you know, we moved from PA in 2007, to Florida. My work relocated me, but the whole thing seemed like the right thing to do, and frankly, God’s will. Everything fell into place, we felt a sense of peace about it all.
We decided to rent and the first home went into foreclosure, so we moved last summer into a townhome. We really love the area, beautiful nature trails, lakes, and fountains. It is run by a HOA, so it is well kept, etc. Even though we live in a more rural area, there are nice restaurants, malls, and entertainment not too far away. Only a 20 minute drive or so…we are about 40 minutes from the beach. Great malls too, I have to say!
It took us a while to find a parish we could call ‘home,’ and we finally. did. It is a small parish, that is renting space in a funeral home chapel, and within the next few weeks, will be migrating to a store front, until the official church is built. A storefront church, not sure how that is going to go, we’ll have to see. I am not keen on having mass with a makeshift altar, and folding chairs, but I feel close to the people within the parish, in this short amount of time…which leads me to our issues.
I just don’t feel settled here. My son has been struggling with his grades, a kid who was always a straight A student. He is a polite, and happy kid…but for some reason, has no desire to get his drivers license. He is 16 1/2 now, and still only has his permit. He mentioned that because of all the accidents (fatal ones) involving teens all around where we live, he decided to wait. But, he still doesn’t seem all that anxious about it. I know that he doesn’t like it here, he has expressed it. He dropped the football team, for good reasons, I think–reasons we left up to him. He just says that he wishes we could have stayed in PA. It isn’t a fleeting comment, he says this regularly. He has made friends here, it’s not that. He is well liked, and invited to parties. He just says “I don’t like it here like I liked PA.” My husband doesn’t understand this, he just views it as having to drive on ice and snow, and shovel it all the time, as the reason he hated it so much in PA. I said, how can you hate a place you grew up in? He said, it’s a city going nowhere, with terrible weather. Yes, it has a hometown feeling, but it’s depressing there. Well, the sun didn’t shine a whole lot, and I remember my husband not liking that. I didn’t, either…but, one gets used to it.
In Florida, there is constant sunshine and heat.
I guess no place is perfect.
I just don’t feel connected to the people I work with now. I go to lunch with some of the women now and again, but I don’t trust people here. I had a lot of trust with people I worked with in PA, but I have seen too many people backstab here where I work, that I just don’t share much of anything. I don’t think that is a bad thing, but it’s sad that I had this connection with people in the PA office, and not here.
My husband works all kinds of bizarre schedules as a Disney manager. At first, we were excited…it’s Disney! But, over time, he has grown to resent the place. What you see at the parks, isn’t how they treat their staff. Work them constantly, and while the money has been nice, it has taken its toll. I feel like we are two ships passing in the night.
Recently, I asked for a territory change, at my job. Included on top of my Florida region, is now AZ and Portland, Oregon. I can’t believe the difference in CFO’s there, and CFO’s in the southeast. Night and day. In OR, and AZ, the people seem more polite, friendly, and willing to have discussions. In Florida, many are rude, abrupt, unfriendly. Not all, but if I had to do a side by side comparison, the AZ/OR people were much nicer to do business with, than the Florida people. I have been very successful in Florida, so perhaps it’s just run its course, I don’t know. But, Florida was hit VERY hard with the economy, so maybe that is why business execs are not in a talkative mood. I dunno.
All I know is, I don’t see ourselves here for the long haul. I just feel that this place changes too much. I made friends with neighbors, and they moved. I made friends with a couple from our first neighborhood, and the wife walked out on the husband. My dh is still good friends, and golfs with the husband, but it’s not like I can hang out with this woman now. I just don’t feel like reaching out to anyone else here, out of ‘fear’ that they will depart. It’s just the way Florida seems to be these days. Like it’s not a place where people plant roots, more of a stopping ground, until they find another place to settle.
I would like your prayers, if you could fit my family and I in? I also would like to hear your thoughts on this. My husband told me this morning that if I want to move, then let’s wait another year, until this lease is up. (we signed for another year) He said the nicest thing…“honey, wherever you and the kids are, that is home for me.”
I feel this way, too…but I just don’t like Florida, I’m afraid. I don’t hate it, but it’s not ever going to be ‘home’ for me here.
Anyone else from the north, midwest, who have moved to Florida, and miss where you came from? *
I’m hoping for some advice/insights into what to do here. I am taking 4 day workweeks now, so I’m home today, and this morning, my husband and I had a heart to heart about living in Florida.
My dh loves it here. I think he just likes the weather, and frankly, if we moved to a place where snow was obsolete, he would probaby be ok. As many of you know, we moved from PA in 2007, to Florida. My work relocated me, but the whole thing seemed like the right thing to do, and frankly, God’s will. Everything fell into place, we felt a sense of peace about it all.
We decided to rent and the first home went into foreclosure, so we moved last summer into a townhome. We really love the area, beautiful nature trails, lakes, and fountains. It is run by a HOA, so it is well kept, etc. Even though we live in a more rural area, there are nice restaurants, malls, and entertainment not too far away. Only a 20 minute drive or so…we are about 40 minutes from the beach. Great malls too, I have to say!
It took us a while to find a parish we could call ‘home,’ and we finally. did. It is a small parish, that is renting space in a funeral home chapel, and within the next few weeks, will be migrating to a store front, until the official church is built. A storefront church, not sure how that is going to go, we’ll have to see. I am not keen on having mass with a makeshift altar, and folding chairs, but I feel close to the people within the parish, in this short amount of time…which leads me to our issues.
I just don’t feel settled here. My son has been struggling with his grades, a kid who was always a straight A student. He is a polite, and happy kid…but for some reason, has no desire to get his drivers license. He is 16 1/2 now, and still only has his permit. He mentioned that because of all the accidents (fatal ones) involving teens all around where we live, he decided to wait. But, he still doesn’t seem all that anxious about it. I know that he doesn’t like it here, he has expressed it. He dropped the football team, for good reasons, I think–reasons we left up to him. He just says that he wishes we could have stayed in PA. It isn’t a fleeting comment, he says this regularly. He has made friends here, it’s not that. He is well liked, and invited to parties. He just says “I don’t like it here like I liked PA.” My husband doesn’t understand this, he just views it as having to drive on ice and snow, and shovel it all the time, as the reason he hated it so much in PA. I said, how can you hate a place you grew up in? He said, it’s a city going nowhere, with terrible weather. Yes, it has a hometown feeling, but it’s depressing there. Well, the sun didn’t shine a whole lot, and I remember my husband not liking that. I didn’t, either…but, one gets used to it.
In Florida, there is constant sunshine and heat.
I guess no place is perfect.I just don’t feel connected to the people I work with now. I go to lunch with some of the women now and again, but I don’t trust people here. I had a lot of trust with people I worked with in PA, but I have seen too many people backstab here where I work, that I just don’t share much of anything. I don’t think that is a bad thing, but it’s sad that I had this connection with people in the PA office, and not here.
My husband works all kinds of bizarre schedules as a Disney manager. At first, we were excited…it’s Disney! But, over time, he has grown to resent the place. What you see at the parks, isn’t how they treat their staff. Work them constantly, and while the money has been nice, it has taken its toll. I feel like we are two ships passing in the night.
Recently, I asked for a territory change, at my job. Included on top of my Florida region, is now AZ and Portland, Oregon. I can’t believe the difference in CFO’s there, and CFO’s in the southeast. Night and day. In OR, and AZ, the people seem more polite, friendly, and willing to have discussions. In Florida, many are rude, abrupt, unfriendly. Not all, but if I had to do a side by side comparison, the AZ/OR people were much nicer to do business with, than the Florida people. I have been very successful in Florida, so perhaps it’s just run its course, I don’t know. But, Florida was hit VERY hard with the economy, so maybe that is why business execs are not in a talkative mood. I dunno.
All I know is, I don’t see ourselves here for the long haul. I just feel that this place changes too much. I made friends with neighbors, and they moved. I made friends with a couple from our first neighborhood, and the wife walked out on the husband. My dh is still good friends, and golfs with the husband, but it’s not like I can hang out with this woman now. I just don’t feel like reaching out to anyone else here, out of ‘fear’ that they will depart. It’s just the way Florida seems to be these days. Like it’s not a place where people plant roots, more of a stopping ground, until they find another place to settle.
I would like your prayers, if you could fit my family and I in? I also would like to hear your thoughts on this. My husband told me this morning that if I want to move, then let’s wait another year, until this lease is up. (we signed for another year) He said the nicest thing…“honey, wherever you and the kids are, that is home for me.”
I feel this way, too…but I just don’t like Florida, I’m afraid. I don’t hate it, but it’s not ever going to be ‘home’ for me here.Anyone else from the north, midwest, who have moved to Florida, and miss where you came from? *
*
How kind and sweet.
:console: I am with your DW on the snow and ice thing we lived in Kansas and I did not like the snow at all, but it was a great Catholic community. Will keep you in my prayers.
)
Sorry you are not feeling grounded in Florida. Maybe you need some more time? I think for pre-teens & teens, moving away from the only home they have known can be really difficult. It’s a huge adjustment for them. I think it would be the same for them where ever you moved, unless it was “back home.” They may need some more time as well. I don’t have any advice for you as I have lived here most of my life. My Dad was in the Navy & liked it very much here & decided to settle. My parents were both from New York. I know I would never want to move & am happy to visit family in New York & return home! Remember there are back stabbing people everywhere & central to south Florida especially are melting pots for people from all over (hence the bad drivers
…). My sister & her family moved from their home here in Florida to Cincinnati for 9 years because my brother-in-law lost his job. She hated it. She couldn’t stand the weather especially no sun for months on end & their were other reasons as well. Their children were quite young at the time so they didn’t care. Anyway her husband was always looking for a job “back home” & he finally found one. They have been back for about 5 years now. Life is good for them. My son-in-law’s Aunt & Uncle in their early 40’s moved here from Pa. 3 years ago from around Pittsburgh. They love it & wouldn’t think of going back. Some people adjust, no problem, but for others it’s misery. I hope things change for you & your family in that you all will feel more at home here:hug3:. I will certainly keep you in my prayers.