Vanity: Should we move to Fort Pierce, Florida

SELF

[buickmackane]

I'm co-opting this idea from another thread I saw yesterday, so special thanks to 1stFreedom. I'm at a crossroads and could use some feedback and suggestions.

Now here's some background: I am a single working mom living in coastal Massachusetts with a 5-year-old child about to enter Kindergarten. I have been employed in the hotel industry for the past 10 years but now I'm really having trouble holding on. I've lost my job and I'm up to my ears in utility bills from the harsh winter we just had here.

I have been approached by various relatives who live in different parts of the country about relocating down to be with them. The most serious offer has come from my daughter's grandmother, who lives in a place called North Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Florida.

I know that going on vacation is not the same thing as living in Florida, especially when it comes to day-to-day things like employment, housing and education. I am not sure that Grandma, being retired and financially secure in her luxury oceanfront condo, has a good handle on what daily life would be like for a single working mom with a child just starting school. I have a feeling that she might be painting a rosy picture that may not turn out to be too accurate, and that's why I'm asking for input here on FR.

So here's my list of questions about relocation:

* What's the stigma about the city of Fort Pierce with the North Hutchinson Island residents I've met so far? Why would they rather tell people they live in Vero Beach? My daughter would be required to go to the St. Lucie County school system and we would be paying car insurance with a Fort Pierce address. Is Fort Pierce a hotbed of crime compared to Vero Beach?

* I noticed that there are 15 hotels and motels in a decent radius of North Hutchinson Island. Is employment in the tourism industry generally OK in this area?

* When it comes to housing, is renting a 2-bedroom apartment relatively affordable? I know that rents are lower here than other parts of the country, but are they commensurate with wages?

* Will the cost of electricity for air conditioning be just as bad as the cost of gas heat up North?

* Are the St. Lucie County schools OK? I've heard that they have programs for gifted children and magnet schools, so that sounds like a plus.

* Just how bad is the mosquito problem, anyway?

* If I get in a jam and can't find a job down there, how easy is it for a single mother to apply for transitional assistance and housing in St. Lucie County? I don't know if Florida is as generous with subsidies as other states, so I really need to look before I leap. What if I can't find work and I don't qualify for Medicaid or child care subsidies or transitional assistance, etc.? I know how to apply these things for Massachusetts, but don't know if the same standards apply in Florida.

* What's the best online local newspaper? I've got TCPalm.com bookmarked, but can I find anything better?

Thanks for any comments you might care to contribute; I have starting a similar thread for Central Louisiana and shall compare the results!

[camle]

interesting that you would rely upon the advice of complete strangers rather that your own relative.

[buickmackane]

You've hit the nail on the head.

I'm originally from Bergen County, NJ, and over the years, I met many people who had this fantasy about relocating to Florida. With the exception of Grandma, each and every single one of the New Jersey folks I knew crawled back home within a year with their tails between their legs. They had unrealistic expectations. For example, I knew a word processing supervisor in a prominent law firm who was earning over $20/hr. in NJ in the early '90s. She found that the same job only paid $8/hr in FL. I've already taken a huge nosedive with wages in MA, so I hope FL isn't much worse.

I do indeed value the objective opinions of fellow FReepers; thanks for your reply!

[Blzbba]

99% of the jobs in the South pay less than their identical job descriptions in the NorthEast.

But, there's no state income tax in FLA and the cost of living itself is much cheaper.

and the people are generally friendlier, at least according to my NJ relatives, who marvel at "Southern Hospitality" every year they visit. Something about strangers saying "Howdy" to them absolutely baffles them.

good luck!

[oldsalt]

"each and every single one of the New Jersey folks I knew crawled back home within a year with their tails between their legs."

I escaped from Bergen County NJ 44 years ago when the Navy stationed me in Florida. I certainly haven't crawled back yet.

I've lived in Sanford,Orlando,Key West,Jacksonville and Lake City, FL over the years and cannot imagine living in another state, with the exception of Texas.One of my daughters lived there for a few years and I enjoyed my visits there.

I still have relatives I visit occasionally in NJ and am amused about their attitudes and misconceptions regarding living in FL.They think I'm joking when we compare property taxes...my $1300 per annum for a 4BR 2.5BA, 2000sq ft home on a half acre lot versus their $1200 to 1300 per MONTH! Some of them defend their high taxes by saying they have better government services....but they aren't evident to me. We have no state income tax here in FL,and on the average we have better roads and no winter to speak of.

No, you won't see me crawling back to the Garden State anytime soon.

[Surfer Bert]

I live in Daytona and my wife works in the resort industry and the pays really sucks. Most jobs start out close to min. wage and go slowly up from there. She has been a bookeeper for 10 yrs at a resort and makes about $10/hr as I said it took that long to get a somewhat decent pay in the resort industry. I work for a defense contractor and bring home much more. We love Florida and will not leave, however, it may have been a different story if I did have the job I have. We came from NY in 85, 3 kids through the school system and all college grads, 2 in Jax and 1 in NJ and wants to come back to FL.
Taxes are low, food costs are low, housing is starting to jump in the Daytona area, however there is good housing for lower incomes.
I suggest you take a working vacation and check out the job market, housing and schools. Schools are better in different areas and that is one thing we looked into.
Hope this helps.

[buickmackane]

Wow, thanks for taking the time to supply me with such detailed information. I really appreciate your insight!! If anyone's got any recommendation for a ping list for this thread, please let me know!

[fuente]

Go to monstermoving.com and do a city to city comparison

[Guenevere]

I've lived in the general area you're talking about, for close to 30 years.

I can't answer specific questions as far as job search, etc.
...but it seems transplanters either love it here, or hate it.
No inbetween.

I transplanted from Tennessee, and never looked back.

I love Florida....our children went to public school in the county right next to St.Lucie..
..Vero & Hutchinson Island are lovely areas....

It gets humid here.....but I've been up north in the summer, and they have humidity too.

The winters are generally lovely.

The Vero/Hutchinson areas are resort type places, so higher prices on some things have to be taken to consideration.

But there's much to commend.

[Guenevere]

also yes, there are 'gifted' programs, and we do have 'magnet schools'.....and

..Jeb Bush is our governor!

[Surfer Bert]

I am glad you found the information helpful, I am new to the Free Republic and this is my 2nd post. I usually only read, but I had to reply to this one. So many people come to Fl and find it too hard to find a good job. They call it sunshine wages. The old people who come here usually congergaet with people from where they came from up north i.e. my in-laws are in the New England club and they are cloistered from the real world of work and living. Hope this helps.