Trust me - as someone who lived in Florida for five years - you're getting the better end of the deal staying put (well, maybe aside from the weather).

I guarantee CA is way more un-affordable than Jersey (and it's certainly no longer the same place I fell in love with years ago and attracted me here). In fact, I can't wait for the day when I find an opportunity to move the hell out of here myself, but I'm fairly when it happens certain it won't ever be back to the land of near-deads, swamps, rednecks, Jesus-freaks, and retired New Yorkers. Forget it. Even Kalifornia (with all its problems) is 1,000X better.

I'd stay put. She'll probably be back before long if she's smart and has a low tolerance for masochism.

So much for that drivel "lefties are just bums who live on welfare." LOL

So sorry Vinman, today, plan a vacation to Florida. That'll help you adjust.

kid's moving away
 

My wife and I are both from Austria and we took our 3 year old son in 1970 and moved to Canada. never thinking how mother in law would feel. The young generation never thinks about how the relatives would feel. Telephone in the 70th was expensive, internet did not exist, so the odd time when I got a bonus or scraped enough money together we bought an airline ticket for mother inlaw to come and visit. It was tough for here. Now this 3 year old son is 42 and told me he wants to move to Sweden for a great job, the problem is he will take my grand son my buddy with him, I told him tere is no way he can leave.
Now I understand how my mother in law felt when we left.

Vinman I feel for you. Thank god times changed and do to modern technology, the distances got smaller and we have a better chance to stay in touch.

Yuppers. She'll move back north (might end up stopping a wee bit short of NJ tho) once she finds out how horrible r/e taxes are there and does an apples-apples comparison.

You must have your ass hole connected to your eye ball, how did you get such a *****ty outlook on life?

She is from NEW JERSEY do you really think she does not like New Yorkers retired or not? She is a Yankee too.

Rednecks and Jesus freaks will most likely be the ones that will bring cookies to her house welcoming her to the neighborhood. While "nice" guys like you will probably peek out the window and have little contact with her.

While the 192 "strip" is touristy, getting back off the beaten path can be nice. The Kissimmee / St. Cloud area is a really neat area, and reminds me of North Carolina in way, Like I said, once off the beaten path its very rural, and like going back in tome, they have a rodeo in St. Cloud and it draws the best talent in the nation and there are huge events there.

I know the area has developed a lot over the last 20 years since I lived there but it appears to look the same when I drive through, especially St. Cloud.

I live 1.5 hours south of Kissimmee Vinman, if they need anything let me know. Even if its help moving some furniture in.

I would be more than happy to show them around. Especially if they want to see some nice beaches, they are about 1- 1.5 hours drive from Indiatlantic (due East on 192 till it ends at the ocean.) A cool little beach town.


Oh and look at the bright side, Orlando is a major airport you should be able to get pretty cheap tickets to fly in and visit.

Take my advise, I moved to Florida away from my Grandfather and we lost touch, do not let that happen. Its more up to you to do that because as a kid growing up I got distracted and as an adult trying to get my life going well, I was also "too busy". Now by grandfather is gone and I am mad at myself for not making more of an effort.

Buy a kid a ticket from time to time to come up for a long weekend too.

I hope it all works out well for your family down here in Florida.

No kidding - Sorry to hear it Vinman - but my advice for you is to just do some long range planning. As Jim mentioned - Orlando is a major airport. Flights are cheap in the whole scheme of things - plan the once a quarter thing - Lots of fun things and adventures down in florida for kids - the theme parks - the beaches, deep sea fishing, easy driving to see the space center, daytona, sebring, etc. You and he will look forward to the times you can spend together.

Jeff - I think you need to see a therapist - I've lived all over the US - some places better than others but wow - Florida must have been like the gates of hell for you. Too bad - because in my opinion, just about everywhere that I have lived has plusses and minuses.

As usual , you guys are great moral support. Thank you! Jim, thank you very much for the offer of help. It's greatly appreciated. I'll be driving down in a few weeks. Maybe meet up for a beer.
I normaly get down to FL a few times a year as it is. Usually have a few offshore races I run in down there. Now gonna have to plan a few more trips I guess.