I posted this in the lounge and someone suggested that I post it here in order to get more responses.

I currently live in Maryland and the hubby and I are very seriously considering moving to Florida next year. We will be moving to the Clearwater or Tampa area. If you're reading this and you live in this area can you please give me some info....such as how do you like it, are there alot of computer/network type jobs there and do they pay well, is there alot of stuff to do, etc? And how is the weather year round in that area? I know it gets pretty hot during the summer, but exactly how hot? Is it a tolerable heat, or is it so miserable that you don't even want to walk outside?? How many months per year do you have to put up with extreme heat? Any input would be greatly appreciated. We are going in May to check the place out.

Oh, and are there many f-bodies?

 

There are literally hundreds of F-bodys in the area. Check out BADRAP.us it is the local car club with many domestic cars. There is a track in Bradenton about 20-30 miles south of Clearwater/St.Pete area. I like it here I have been here since 2000 and every summer it has been hotter up north than it has been down here. From what I have seen it hasn't even broke 98 degrees here and I remember that temp because of a local radio station that was passing out beer if it got to 98 degrees.

 

Another Pinellas person signing in.

I see you double posted this here too. I have a reply in the lounge if you're interested.

Ross

 

RMC, I responded to your reply to my post in the lounge.

 

I'm in school for computers now and a have a few friends in computers that are already graduated and working.

I know their is a decent tech market in Tampa and areas. My brother in-law and his brother got started in computers with a company in Tampa. Now they are making big bucks working together basically as senior staff, because the whole computer department was bought by the mayor of Nashville and turned into it's own company up there.

If you can get into Raytheon in St. Pete or Largo that is a great place. I have a couple friends that got into Raytheon doing computers. Fresh out of college they are 53k or so. Not sure about the average overall, but I'm sure you could look up monsterjobs or something similar and search current jobs open in Tampa and salary. It obviously varies from copmany to company and on experience/ degree's etc.

Zeph. is nice but kind of out there in nowhere. Holiday is old people. Where I'm at is the best in my opinion (especially if you want to be 20 min or less from clearwater, st pete or tampa. I'm basically right at the intersection of the major interstate (I-275), and two of the major bridges that go to Tampa(Gandy, Howard Franklin), and the main road that goes through downtown St. Pete (4th St N).

I would recommend a visit really. At the least rent somewhere down here for half a year and get used to the various surrounding areas. Also, if you need a realtor I work for RE/MAX and can recommend some really nice helpfull agents.

Feel free to email or IM if you have any specific questions or need some help with something.

 

I live over on the other coast of Florida, in Daytona Beach. First, here's a link to the Tampa/St Pete/etc site that 70rs was referring to:
Bay Area Drag Racing and Performance

There are a good amount of f-bodies here in Florida. A couple other sites are:

http://www.cffb.net
http://www.sffba.net
http://www.rivercityf-bodies.com/

Also, it does get hot here. But, like everyone says, it's not the heat it's the humidity. Sometimes you can step outside at 8am during the summer and instantly start sweating because the air is so thick. However, you get used to it, and I would much rather have it be hot for 3 months(Jun-Aug) than be freezing cold for 5 or 6 months. Plus, over here on the east coast, we get a nice seabreeze every afternoon which really helps cool things down. That's about all I can think of for now. Hope that helps ya out.

 

It nice but its not the heat that gets you its the humidity. Things to do... well its is what you make it. What do you enjoy? Beaches are nice. I dont know about computer jobs or what decent to you would be lol. F-Bods rock and they are everywhere!!!. Gandy on sat nights is fun. Also sunshine on wed or bradenton for the weekend warriors/warriorettes. I love living here. I am in the Palm Harbor area. Every place has its ups and its downs. The humidity can make it hard to go outside without sweating up a storm sometimes but thats normally only for a couple months. Hope it helped.
Later,
Dakota

 

There's something about wearing shorts, going fishing and getting a sunburn in early January that keeps me saying that I'll never move from the great state of Florida.

I was born here and I'll die here! I visit the colder states every now and then but it gets old quick.

 

Another vote for the Largo/Clearwater area. Seminole is real nice and all but it's expensive. Where I live I'm less than 3 miles from the beach (on the gulf) and I can be in Tampa in less then 20 mins. Many nice F-bodies around.

Feel free to pm me if you have any more questions.

 

I too made the move to Florida from Baltimore County Maryland. Came down in 1982 then moved back to Maryland in 1989 (my employers idea...not mine..) and the day I got there.. I started looking for a way to get back to Florida. It took 2 years but I came back in 1991 and have lived here since. I live a little east of Orlando and did IT work for a living. Raised 3 kids here and retired at 50 and would never leave. You are going to Love it here. No more Sludge, no more shoveling the snow off your car and sidewalk and no more 104 degree crappy-air summers. It gets hot here but the sky is blue and the people are nice. Welcome to Florida!!!!