Emmie 0 #1 April 10, 2003 HI, I'm escaping the Northeast and moving to Pensacola/gulf shores area. I've visited florida many times, but I think that there's a big difference from going on vacation to actually living there. I would really appreciate any advice from people that have relocated there. Is there something that I should be especially concearned about? (like the giant flying cockroaches). I found an apartment for 400$ , and its right on the beach. Sounds too good to be true. I was wondering if this is normal, since prices like that are unheared of up here. This is my first major move, so I am trying to find out all I can before I finally leave. Thanks for all of your help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wingnut 0 #2 April 10, 2003 well i lived in ft. walton beach (40 miles east of there) and rent prices sound about right. remeber you are moving into red neck florida... yeah there are still palm treees and all but mostly populated by rednecks.....well not really but it isn't like south florida(remeber alabama is very close by hehehe) .... closest dz to ya will be emerald coast. nice litle dz in alabama about 30 minutes west from pensicola. that area is still pretty nice.... my advice... have fun on the move, and make sure ya eat at the pub (some kind of irsh name but can't rmeber it) that is right there on 98 (left side of the street if going westbound) as you enter into pensicola........... ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skymama 37 #3 April 10, 2003 $400 on the beach does sound too good to be true, but maybe you just got lucky. The Pensacola area isn't like the rest of FL. They call the panhandle the "redneck riviera". You're going to find a bunch of good ol' boys up there. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing, it's just going to be different than what you may be used to. You're also going to be dealing with a lot of tourists in that area because of the beaches. As long as your apartment complex sprays for bugs, you shouldn't have a problem with the roaches. Make sure you buy bug spray for the mosquitoes in the summertime and sunscreen for the sun that's usually blazing. June to November is hurricane season, so you might want to at least you have a few supplies for that on hand. The best thing about hurricanes is that you have at least 3 days warning before it hits your area, so you can always get out of town. I hope you have a safe move and enjoy your stay!She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Gawain 0 #4 April 10, 2003 Quote This is my first major move, so I am trying to find out all I can before I finally leave. Thanks for all of your help. Head west! California rocks! Seriously, $400/mo in Pensacola seems a little low, unless it's just over the border in Alabama. However, that part of the state does have a low cost of living versus the rest of the state (Tampa, JAX, Miami, etc.) so finding a decent place to live is not out of the question in the $500-700/mo range IMO. I've moved a bunch of times (including living in FL) and can make these recommendations: 1. Pick several places you want to look at. To facilitate this, use one source (like apartments.com or apartmentguide.com) and look at a map. 2. Fly down there for a weekend sometime before your scheduled move time. 3. When you arrive, the first place you should go is a book store and buy a map (like Hagstroms etc) for the area that you'll be living. 4. Visit those places, and make a decision (first instincts and impressions are right more often than not). 5. Leave a deposit, fly home and start packing. Some things to know about Florida: -- It's f**k**g hot and humid...almost all the time. -- Yes, the cockroaches are that big -- Mosquitos -- The terrain is flat. The roads are straight. If you like twisties, you'll be disappointed. -- Heavy rains cause rapid flooding down there, so don't cross that part of the street in your car, you'd be amazed how 6 inches deep turns to 2 feet in a matter of seconds. -- The thunderstorms and lightning storms are the most amazing things I've seen. -- The sunsets are pretty amazing. Suggestions: Stick to Pensacola if you're going to be that far north and west in the state. Or, stick to areas where there's a bit of population density. It get rural real fast when you drive out of town (that's not always good). You'll probably desire the activity. If you're going to be farther east, and inland, Ocala and Gainesville are your next best bets. I was never a big fan of Tallahassee...Then again, there's always California... So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jmpnkramer 0 #5 April 10, 2003 Yeah that sounds about right. Apartments down here in Z-Hills are under $500 for a one-bed. You can even sometimes get a two-bed for around that. Of course it is kind of out in the sticks but not too far from Tampa. I like it because it is peaceful out here. Ya just have to deal with the BLUE HAIRS on the road. When are you moving? Skymonkey one will be up there for a meet at the end of April. I am probably going to go drink some cockatilios with him. Anyway, I hope you have a safe move. I know how they can be. I was on active duty for over 10yrs and got to move quite frequently. Not fun. I usually moved myself. These days I move my friend who has a bad habbit of wanting move like every month it seems. How are you moving? Self or Movers? Take Care and look us up when you get here. The REAL KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER! "HESITATION CAUSES DEATH!!!" "Be Slow to Fall into Friendship; but when Thou Art in, Continue Firm & Constant." - SOCRATES Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Emmie 0 #6 April 10, 2003 I am moving at the end of may. I am planning on driving there with with my boyfriend, don't have enough money for movers. So I take it Pensacola is pretty much populated by rednecks, that doesn't majke me too happy, since i found out there might be a possibility of me getting a place on the other side of the border in Alabama. but the beaches shouldn't be that bad I hope. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jmpnkramer 0 #7 April 10, 2003 Personally I have never hung out around there. You might want to PM SkymonkeyOne. He used to travel there all the time when we were roomies. From what I hear though it is not that bad. If I had more time to travel I would be there from time to time. I am just trying to go so many places. The 11th - the 20th is the Z-Hills Easter Boogie The end of April I am going to hang out with SkyMonkeyOne and watch the swoop meet. End of May I am going to Houston. I have annual training the 6th to 22nd of June I want to make a trip to Raeford sometime soon Rantoul is coming up fast. It is just such a hard life trying to fit all this fun in. Well, maybe we will see ya'll when you make it down. At somepoint anyway. Take care. The REAL KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER! "HESITATION CAUSES DEATH!!!" "Be Slow to Fall into Friendship; but when Thou Art in, Continue Firm & Constant." - SOCRATES Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites weid14 0 #8 April 10, 2003 if the panhandle is worse than Daytona... sheesh.... scary.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites happythoughts 0 #9 April 10, 2003 Hope you got an apartment with a pool. Amazing as it is, some don't. You never get used to the humidity. Being neck deep in a pool is the only way to beat it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Gawain 0 #10 April 10, 2003 Quote I am moving at the end of may. I am planning on driving there with with my boyfriend, don't have enough money for movers. So I take it Pensacola is pretty much populated by rednecks, that doesn't majke me too happy, since i found out there might be a possibility of me getting a place on the other side of the border in Alabama. but the beaches shouldn't be that bad I hope. Put it this way, it isn't as affluent as the Boston suburbs (btw, I used to live in Sherborn and play hockey in Holliston). Remember, no income tax in FL. The cost of living is substantially lower in Pensacola. The city itself is about 60,000 (about the same as Framingham) so if you stick close, you'll be okay. I wouldn't call it "redneck-ville" I would call it rural as hell though. Think of a drive you made into parts of northern New Hampshire or eastern Mass (before reaching Pittsfield)... you'll do fine. Sure is hot though... So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites weid14 0 #11 April 10, 2003 aaccckkk, Pittsfield is a dump anymore! that place is depressing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Gawain 0 #12 April 10, 2003 Quote aaccckkk, Pittsfield is a dump anymore! that place is depressing. Wha...?? So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. 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wingnut 0 #2 April 10, 2003 well i lived in ft. walton beach (40 miles east of there) and rent prices sound about right. remeber you are moving into red neck florida... yeah there are still palm treees and all but mostly populated by rednecks.....well not really but it isn't like south florida(remeber alabama is very close by hehehe) .... closest dz to ya will be emerald coast. nice litle dz in alabama about 30 minutes west from pensicola. that area is still pretty nice.... my advice... have fun on the move, and make sure ya eat at the pub (some kind of irsh name but can't rmeber it) that is right there on 98 (left side of the street if going westbound) as you enter into pensicola........... ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #3 April 10, 2003 $400 on the beach does sound too good to be true, but maybe you just got lucky. The Pensacola area isn't like the rest of FL. They call the panhandle the "redneck riviera". You're going to find a bunch of good ol' boys up there. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing, it's just going to be different than what you may be used to. You're also going to be dealing with a lot of tourists in that area because of the beaches. As long as your apartment complex sprays for bugs, you shouldn't have a problem with the roaches. Make sure you buy bug spray for the mosquitoes in the summertime and sunscreen for the sun that's usually blazing. June to November is hurricane season, so you might want to at least you have a few supplies for that on hand. The best thing about hurricanes is that you have at least 3 days warning before it hits your area, so you can always get out of town. I hope you have a safe move and enjoy your stay!She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #4 April 10, 2003 Quote This is my first major move, so I am trying to find out all I can before I finally leave. Thanks for all of your help. Head west! California rocks! Seriously, $400/mo in Pensacola seems a little low, unless it's just over the border in Alabama. However, that part of the state does have a low cost of living versus the rest of the state (Tampa, JAX, Miami, etc.) so finding a decent place to live is not out of the question in the $500-700/mo range IMO. I've moved a bunch of times (including living in FL) and can make these recommendations: 1. Pick several places you want to look at. To facilitate this, use one source (like apartments.com or apartmentguide.com) and look at a map. 2. Fly down there for a weekend sometime before your scheduled move time. 3. When you arrive, the first place you should go is a book store and buy a map (like Hagstroms etc) for the area that you'll be living. 4. Visit those places, and make a decision (first instincts and impressions are right more often than not). 5. Leave a deposit, fly home and start packing. Some things to know about Florida: -- It's f**k**g hot and humid...almost all the time. -- Yes, the cockroaches are that big -- Mosquitos -- The terrain is flat. The roads are straight. If you like twisties, you'll be disappointed. -- Heavy rains cause rapid flooding down there, so don't cross that part of the street in your car, you'd be amazed how 6 inches deep turns to 2 feet in a matter of seconds. -- The thunderstorms and lightning storms are the most amazing things I've seen. -- The sunsets are pretty amazing. Suggestions: Stick to Pensacola if you're going to be that far north and west in the state. Or, stick to areas where there's a bit of population density. It get rural real fast when you drive out of town (that's not always good). You'll probably desire the activity. If you're going to be farther east, and inland, Ocala and Gainesville are your next best bets. I was never a big fan of Tallahassee...Then again, there's always California... So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jmpnkramer 0 #5 April 10, 2003 Yeah that sounds about right. Apartments down here in Z-Hills are under $500 for a one-bed. You can even sometimes get a two-bed for around that. Of course it is kind of out in the sticks but not too far from Tampa. I like it because it is peaceful out here. Ya just have to deal with the BLUE HAIRS on the road. When are you moving? Skymonkey one will be up there for a meet at the end of April. I am probably going to go drink some cockatilios with him. Anyway, I hope you have a safe move. I know how they can be. I was on active duty for over 10yrs and got to move quite frequently. Not fun. I usually moved myself. These days I move my friend who has a bad habbit of wanting move like every month it seems. How are you moving? Self or Movers? Take Care and look us up when you get here. The REAL KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER! "HESITATION CAUSES DEATH!!!" "Be Slow to Fall into Friendship; but when Thou Art in, Continue Firm & Constant." - SOCRATES Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emmie 0 #6 April 10, 2003 I am moving at the end of may. I am planning on driving there with with my boyfriend, don't have enough money for movers. So I take it Pensacola is pretty much populated by rednecks, that doesn't majke me too happy, since i found out there might be a possibility of me getting a place on the other side of the border in Alabama. but the beaches shouldn't be that bad I hope. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jmpnkramer 0 #7 April 10, 2003 Personally I have never hung out around there. You might want to PM SkymonkeyOne. He used to travel there all the time when we were roomies. From what I hear though it is not that bad. If I had more time to travel I would be there from time to time. I am just trying to go so many places. The 11th - the 20th is the Z-Hills Easter Boogie The end of April I am going to hang out with SkyMonkeyOne and watch the swoop meet. End of May I am going to Houston. I have annual training the 6th to 22nd of June I want to make a trip to Raeford sometime soon Rantoul is coming up fast. It is just such a hard life trying to fit all this fun in. Well, maybe we will see ya'll when you make it down. At somepoint anyway. Take care. The REAL KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER! "HESITATION CAUSES DEATH!!!" "Be Slow to Fall into Friendship; but when Thou Art in, Continue Firm & Constant." - SOCRATES Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weid14 0 #8 April 10, 2003 if the panhandle is worse than Daytona... sheesh.... scary.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #9 April 10, 2003 Hope you got an apartment with a pool. Amazing as it is, some don't. You never get used to the humidity. Being neck deep in a pool is the only way to beat it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #10 April 10, 2003 Quote I am moving at the end of may. I am planning on driving there with with my boyfriend, don't have enough money for movers. So I take it Pensacola is pretty much populated by rednecks, that doesn't majke me too happy, since i found out there might be a possibility of me getting a place on the other side of the border in Alabama. but the beaches shouldn't be that bad I hope. Put it this way, it isn't as affluent as the Boston suburbs (btw, I used to live in Sherborn and play hockey in Holliston). Remember, no income tax in FL. The cost of living is substantially lower in Pensacola. The city itself is about 60,000 (about the same as Framingham) so if you stick close, you'll be okay. I wouldn't call it "redneck-ville" I would call it rural as hell though. Think of a drive you made into parts of northern New Hampshire or eastern Mass (before reaching Pittsfield)... you'll do fine. Sure is hot though... So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weid14 0 #11 April 10, 2003 aaccckkk, Pittsfield is a dump anymore! that place is depressing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #12 April 10, 2003 Quote aaccckkk, Pittsfield is a dump anymore! that place is depressing. Wha...?? So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
