Sick of cold weather. Relocating to Florida. Suggestions? Jobs? Advice?
 

Yep, my wife and I have had enough of this depressing weather and have decided to relocate to Florida. We hate any weather below 65* and love to boat, (obviously). Originally we planned to go to So-Cal, AZ, NV, or Florida. After researching cost of living, distance from family, etc, etc, we decided on Florida.

Both of us have sent resumes out to several different companies and really haven't heard much back.:(

Any ideas? I posted mine on Monster.com and my wife's will go up tonight.

I am very experienced in all facets of telecom, currently an outside plant engineer with SBC/Ameritech. I have been there nearly eight years. I have done it all for the phone company, from setting poles and hanging cable, splicing cable, repairing lines, to designing all of the stuff I once worked on.
I don't have to stay in this field either. I would entertain just about any offer to get to live in Florida.
I think any form of sales is my next move. Much more fast paced and rewarding.

My wife is a territory sales manager for Philip Morris USA. She would like to get into pharmacuetical(sp?) sales, or anything related to motorsports marketing.

Anyhow, thanks in advance for any help on our eternal quest for sunshine and palm trees:D :D

Congratulations on your decision!!!

That was the easy part, I'm sure. Doing it, is the tough part. ;)
Best of luck in your job search! If you're into telecom, Tampa area is worth a look. I know there's a lot of that in the area.
:cool: :cool:

Yeah, I have some advise, Take me with you:D

Anyway I feel your pain Brian, I hate cold weather also.
I am heading down to Miami for the month of December, who knows, I may not come back:rolleyes:

Baja Daze-
I have applied for 11 different jobs with three different telecom companies in the state of Florida today. Ranging from Miami, Naples, Ft.Myers, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, to Tallahassee.

That was just today!

Thrillseeker-
Just do it. You are never going to be younger than you are right now.
I am 27 and my wife is 26. Wishing and talking about it won't get you anywhere. What's the worst that could happen? You go down there and hate it? Chalk it up to a learning experience and move somewhere else.

Buy a bigger boat, you'll need one down there, cause I just know you'll be out in the ocean !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow, this is for real, next year whose gona post up the dates for the shootout?

Tax advice, Take me with you, dont you get some sort of deduction? LOL

It will be easier to fly down, im sure you dont want to get rid of that nice skater of yours, keep it here with me, ill run it every so often out on alum ;)

Good luck to you both.

Florida is a REALLY nice place to live. But beware, it's not as easy as one may think. Florida employers are a different breed and DO NOT pay well. You must own your own business or grow into one to do well.

Maybe this will help with figuring out certain things
relocation info

Brian, If it were not for my business being non relocatable. I would already be living there:rolleyes:

On another note, part of my upcoming trip down there will involve scouting for a location to start another one:cool:
The only prob is that asphalt season down there is all year, but it will not matter because I would be able to boat year round:D :D

Shipwrecked,
Thanks for the link!
It looks like I can afford to make less in Florida than I currently make in Ohio to maintain my current lifestyle. Housing is considerably cheaper, groceries are cheaper, no income tax, etc, etc.

I did notice when looking at jobs down there, that the pay isn't as good as it is here.

I'll do whatever I have to do to reach this goal.

My current job added more fuel to my fire. I found out that I will more than likely be included in the 11000 job cuts
:rolleyes:

Time to get this ball rolling!!!

FlyinBrian, sorry but I just filled an entry level sales position in Ft Myers. We sell electric utility products and some data/fiber equipment. I do have positions open up, send me a PM email and include a resume. Pay in some jobs will be lower in Florida. Sales with the right company can easily be a six figure job though. I have a couple account reps working for me in that range in the Florida territory.
I lived in Ft Myers for 8 years and loved it. You NEVER have to winterize and the Gulf waters are great. Good luck.

Bring that 24 down to the Sarasota area and you won't regret it. I know a few people with businesses in your field in the St Pete area maybe we can hook you up.

should i tow my 31 ao down. are it lamb boys going to come down too???????:D

Good Desision, I did the same thing 20 years ago. I'm in car business and was an employee at the time. Lived in Philadelphia, PA area. To much snow and cold.

Searched here, in Florida, for around 2 months. Spent my own money on flights, two, here for interviews. Had several offers.

I didn't have any kids then, just wife. We made the desision on December 23rd. I moved on January 6th and wife followed 5 or 6 weeks later. She handled selling house, etc. Moved to Orlando, FL. Really would of prefered the east coast, but it wasn't happening.

We lived in an apartment for 7 months then bought a house. Reason for the apartment is that you don't know if the first job is going to gel and be a long lasting one. You also really don't know where you want to live in your new town. Or what area you should live in.

I was lucky and the job went 10 years plus. Now I have my own business, auto/tk repair, and don't look back.

Good luck, if you need anything I can help with let me know. If you want an Orlando newspaper email me. I'll send it on up.

If you like the party scene/fast life/traffic...East coast, Lauderdale south to Miami.
For a more laid back lifestyle SW is the place to be. I moved to Ft Myers a year ago and still feel like I'm on vacation. Bought a house on the river for 1/10 what it would have cost me for waterfront in Cali. Very low crime rate. Growing daily. More people here in the "season"
Tampa/St Pete is a busy city, but prob more oppurtuities, same w/ Sarasota/Bradenton. NO state/city income tax!!!!!!! and no friggin snow!!! It dont get much better.
Good Luck

Dan

My wife and I almost moved to Miami just before the recession hit. We had our house up for sale and everything. Had a home picke out in the Falls/Kendell section just next to Coral Gables. Although I sometimes regret not going, I happy I did not. The job market down there is teriible especially if you are in tech. I am a top-level (IMO) tech director and technical architect, I was interviewing for CTO, CIO, and Tech Ditrctor jobs... they all evaporated with the change in the economy. What's worse almost all tech jobs are 1099 now and pay bargin basement. Another consideration is that we have kids, I would have certainly have had to send them to private school, almost eveybody recommneded that to us while we were down there. Jersey might be cold part of the year but at least I'm not out in the cold!

I still actively look but there is NADA. Real estate is really rocketing also according to my broker down there.

If you you're single or newly married it's more acheivable.

If you need to stay above 65 degrees I would avoid the northern parts of the state like Jacksonville. It can get right chilly in those parts. I would concentrate on the areas from Tampa to the south on the gulf coast and probably Fort Pierce and south on the east coast. All areas of FL will get below 65 degrees at some point and time during winter week. Winter in the Tampa area usually lasts a few weeks and gets down into the 50's for a high for a few days. Then its over with. Perfect weather for boating!

Mike

I hear you..I am also thinking of doing the same...same crappy stuff(weather) in MI. best of luck keep us posted....

this should tell all Seattle vs St. Pete
 

Climate Seattle St. Petersburg National Average

Altitude 20 19 770
Rainfall 34.0 46.7 34.5
Snowfall 9.00 0.10 23.8
Precipitation days 148 107 108
Sunny days 136 238 214
Days warmer than 90 degrees 3 81 34
Days colder than 32 degrees 32 4 82
Average temperature in July 74.0 90.0 86.0
Average temperature in January 36.0 50.0 27.2
Average wind speed 10 7 9

ragtop
 

Exactly,
Look at what I am dealing with~

Columbus, OH vs. St. Pete vs. Nat'l avg.

Altitude 812 19 770
Rainfall 37.9 46.7 34.5
Snowfall 28.0 0.10 23.8
Precipitation days 136 107 108
Sunny days 181 238 214
Days warmer than 90 degrees 15 81 34
Days colder than 32 degrees 122 4 82
Average temperature in July 85.0 90.0 86.0
Average temperature in January 20.0 50.0 27.2
Average wind speed 8 7 9

We are also looking for warmew climate. Heres a link to a neat site that asks you alot of questions i wouldnt have thought of. It gives you a list of locations that fit your needs.

www.findyourspot.com

It is 63 at 4 pm today with the wind howling.:( but that is unsual.

Just curious, why would you have to send them to private school? I gradutated high school here in Florida.