Vanity: Tampa Area vs. Tarpon Springs Relocate Info Please

self

[GipperCT]

Greetings all!

Any info would be appreciated to research a relo to Tampa area/Tarpon Springs. I'd like to narrow things down a bit and would like resident input.

My wife and I are in our 40's and have a 7 year old son. We currently live in Fairfield County, CT and are researching relocation potential for us. We own our home here and know that if we sell, we can get more bang for our buck down there.

We are are of Greek heritage and active in our Greek Orthodox church community here and very much would like to have that focus in wherever we move to. Especially when it comes to my son, I like the fact that there is Greek American schooling in that area.

Now I understand although Tampa is more city, it does have a day school via St. John's church. That's great.

However, Tarpon Springs has the cathedral there with the surrounding Greek influenced area is quite nice and cozier as well. We think that is awesome.

Of course, safe areas, good schooling, access to goods and services and home prices are always top items.

What feedback can anyone give regarding comparing and contrasting both places as move possibilities.

Anything you can post would be super.

I am even willing to consider South Carolina as I hear the Greek American communities are wonderful there as well and also it's a nice, conservative state (even with Goober Graham) with low taxes, friendly people and a law and order attitude.

Thanks alot for a any info ....

Paul

[mountn man]

Go to three restaurants.. Pappas’ in Tarpon Springs, Burns in Tampa, and Frenchy’s on Clearwater Beach.

Pappas is closed.

[goseminoles]

Aw man... Loved that place... Mom still lives in Clearwater but haven’t been to Pappas’ in years. What a shame.

[mountn man]

Just did a little looking up, and Pappas' is closed, but a new restaurant just opened there in Nov., after the building mostly vacant for 5 years, with a 25 year employee of Pappas' as General Manager.

I'll look forward to trying it out next time I'm in central Fla.

The new restaurant is called The Riverside Grille House.

http://www.theriversidevenue.com/

[the invisib1e hand]

Ignoring my personal experiences for the sake of objectivity, Pinellas County is where Terri Schiavo was starved to death by court order. From a merely secular perspective, you've got to be wary of the courts. You ought to wonder about what sorts of bizarre things must go on in the local government that makes The Church of Scientology feel so at home in Pinellas county. You would be forgiven for any misgivings that knowledge of any of the following would arouse: a man standing outside a 7-11 wearing a baseball cap with the letters LAPD (a popular television show at the time) was arrested by Pinellas County deputies for "impersonating a police officer.".
Several people were arrested by Pinellas County deputies for having unpaid library fines.
A woman was taken from backyard by Hillsborough County deputies because her neighbor complained that she was sunbathing (within her fenced property). She was not allowed to get dressed before being handcuffed, forced into a cruiser, and taken to be processed.

Just a few stories that come to mind and are part of the public record. I left that madhouse 6 years ago, and haven't kept up with things. I feel much freer in Manhattan.

[goseminoles]

Thanks for the heads up. Great greek salads and entrees. I love the greek salads in that area because the put potato salad on the bottom. Is that weird? Love it!

[riri]

Florida is a craphole. Try Texas.

[the invisib1e hand]

- none of that totalitarian TSA stuff

This is a categorically false statement. Pinelas Co deputies make TSA look like Boy Scouts. Your statement is proof that ignorance is bliss. You ought to thank God for the bubble you live in. You apparently dont get out too much of late - or outside the safe and narrow track of your life.. You certainly won't read about it in that "liberal" paper, even if you say it is "one of the best in the country."

[riri]

So true. Florida is full of people with money who made it someplace else and those who wait on them. Not much in between.

Or people who make a living usually doing something that involves being naked. But I guess that falls under servicing the others too.(:

[GOPJ]

You would be forgiven for any misgivings that knowledge of any of the following would arouse: a man standing outside a 7-11 wearing a baseball cap with the letters LAPD (a popular television show at the time) was arrested by Pinellas County deputies for "impersonating a police officer.". Several people were arrested by Pinellas County deputies for having unpaid library fines. A woman was taken from backyard by Hillsborough County deputies because her neighbor complained that she was sunbathing (within her fenced property). She was not allowed to get dressed before being handcuffed, forced into a cruiser, and taken to be processed.

You forgot to mention the senior citizens (eight men, right?) arrested for playing penny ante poker at a retirement center... Then again, the folks arrested for not paying their library fines trumped that story...All true. All nutty 'only in Florida' stuff. Thanks for the reminders - I had forgotten some of that stuff...

[GOPJ]

You would be forgiven for any misgivings that knowledge of any of the following would arouse: a man standing outside a 7-11 wearing a baseball cap with the letters LAPD (a popular television show at the time) was arrested by Pinellas County deputies for "impersonating a police officer.". Several people were arrested by Pinellas County deputies for having unpaid library fines. A woman was taken from backyard by Hillsborough County deputies because her neighbor complained that she was sunbathing (within her fenced property). She was not allowed to get dressed before being handcuffed, forced into a cruiser, and taken to be processed.

You forgot to mention the senior citizens (eight men, right?) arrested for playing penny ante poker at a retirement center... Then again, the folks arrested for not paying their library fines trumped that story...All true. All nutty 'only in Florida' stuff. Thanks for the reminders - I had forgotten some of that stuff...

[Kenny Bunk]

You want to be happy in Florida?

To sum it up: surrender 50 IQ points at the border, and have $1.5 million in an out-of-state bank. Do not venture more than 50 miles inland. If you think the coastal natives are weird, you'll be in for an even greater shock!

[GipperCT]

Zowie. Got me nervous there with that comment. Got enough meatheads here in CT, don’t need a more dense concentration of them around me.

Well, I’d like to hear of any other states like SC, NC, GA that have great communities ......

— Paul

[Kenny Bunk]

parakalo!

[Laur]

Lots of interesting comments,here. The bitter ones I can’t relate to, but to each his own. First, Tarpon is much more than just the little downtown area near the former Pappas Restaurant. Tarpon includes some very nice areas east of US 19. As has been said, there are other cities nearby along the gulf coast, as well.

I have lived in Sarasota, New Port Richey, and now in central FL in a small town about 30 miles west of Orlando. There is no question that the traffic on the west coast is awful; but if you like living on the Gulf, as we did, it’s wonderful. If you like sailing, even better.

We live now on a large lake in central FL and have managed even here to meet several people w/ IQs above 80(ahem). FL is filled with monied people, much of the money imported from up north; but the home-grown small-business and professional “class” is also large, which is why a non-big-city area can support three local theatre companies, tons of restaurants,and law, dental,and physicians’ offices on every block. Some of those dentists and MDs even graduated from high school!

My son lives in Tampa and loves it. Lots to do there and in nearby locales such as Clearwater, St Pete, and Sarasota. Much depends on how you like to live. But I would definitely take a long vacation in a target area and scout around to see what you think suits you best vis a vis your interests and lifestyle.

[GILTN1stborn]

What they all said is true-the good and the bad. However, if you can choose anywhere and are bringing money, you will be able to find a place here that surpasses all others. I live east of Tampa on the edge of redneckville. There are many advantages. People over here cut you off less in traffic and are more relaxed. The area has more than enough to keep you busy. Many of us look forward to this: http://www.gasparillapiratefest.com/index_event.shtml

but do not take the 7 year old except to the kids parade. I recommend staying away from public schools. There are many good private schools available.

We also lived a little while in Jacksonville where I thought people were more friendly and it was nice to be close to the ocean. St Augustine is very nice too. We have a friend that lives there and he loves it. Good luck!

[GipperCT]

Thanks Laur very much!

[GipperCT]

Thanks GILTN1stborn as well...

[numberonepal]

St Pete Beach is a fine small town to raise a family. You get the small town feel with the beach and access to the big city lights when you want it. Win - win.

[angcat]

I felt very unsafe in Deerfield Beach. I would not let my family wander around at night. We stayed at the hotel at night and kids swam in the pool and we ate poolside. Deerfield was like a third world country. I say this because you mentioned Broward County.

[ErnBatavia]

property taxes are a joke in Tampa.

We have friends and family pretty much throughout the state of Florida....my concerns would be property taxes and especially insurance. We've heard nightmare scenarios regarding both.