In need of advice.

23 Comments

1. AnonymousOctober 10,2023 at 4:02PM UTC

   Honestly, Fl is a terrible place to live. I've been here since 1997 and its just constantly going down hill. If I could leave I would. The major parts of FL are all huge cities that take about 30 to get from one side to the other on a good day with very little traffic. Let alone we just had a huge home insurance company drop millions of homeowners over night because of the stuff Desantis has done. The school system is terrible unless your willing to shell out thousands for private school. Florida is for retirees and tourists at best now. The laws alone are getting worse for women and its frankly just not worth it anymore. Its not like the FL it used to be.

2. AnonymousOctober 11,2023 at 1:14PM UTC

   I appreciate your honesty. I've been worried about some of these same things. But I made a promise and I have to follow through.

   California isn't perfect by any means. For one, everything has gotten so expensive that it's almost impossible to live in any level of comfort.

3. AnonymousOctober 10,2023 at 6:23PM UTC

   Hi there! I live in Florida and work remotely, though I have had onsite jobs here as well.

   We're not a perfect state, though none really are, but many of us are living and working here quite productively. My daughter's school is also quite good and is a public charter school. And we have Florida Kid Care, which is free or reduced priced healthcare for kids that may be able to close a gap if you have one.

   I definitely agree on trying to find a remote role or perhaps one that is in Florida where you're moving and is Hybrid but may be willing to support you while you relocate.

   What part of Florida are you planning to move to? And what industry / field are you searching for? That would make a big difference in advice.

4. AnonymousOctober 11,2023 at 1:10PM UTC

   Thank you for your reply. We're looking in Orlando and the surrounding areas.

   As for industry, customer service manager. I would love something remote!

   Leaving early isn't an option as our kids are in school. They're both in high school so this is tough enough. I've also been looking at the school options and have found a public charter that seems like it would be a good fit for us.

5. AnonymousOctober 10,2023 at 6:49PM UTC

   First, yes, tough market, and love that you're planning, but to be VERY transparent, if you find a job prior you may want to take the leap when you're offered a position OUTSIDE of your target date of relocating. You BOTH need to be in sync with this possibility. While looking for position look for a couple of other things: 1- temporary transient living option you may need to explore if you have to go out earlier, possibly on your own.

   2- job market is tough enough - offered the job you want - take it.

6. AnonymousOctober 11,2023 at 1:19PM UTC

   Thank you for your response. Right now I'm not looking to apply but more just to see what's out there. Due to the fact that our kids are in high school, the move will be difficult on is own. However, remote options are my first choice.

7. AnonymousOctober 11,2023 at 3:57PM UTC

   Good luck, tough market to put it off.

8. AnonymousOctober 11,2023 at 1:10PM UTC

   I would avoid taking your daughter to Florida if at all possible.

9. AnonymousOctober 11,2023 at 1:15PM UTC

   Why is that if you don't mind me asking?

10. AnonymousOctober 11,2023 at 7:45PM UTC

    Politics & policies: Stone age policies about women, LGBTQ+, trans people, reproductive rights, book bans and restrictions on what can be taught in schools. Active discouragement by the state government of things like vaccines and modern medicine. Total acceptance of Neo-Nazi's walking the street and intimidating citizens. Attacks on voting rights, science, education and common sense overall. Permit-less conceal carry gun laws that do not require any kind of training nor is there any kind of limit on how many guns a person can purchase at a time. 4th in the country for school shootings.

    Overall, Florida ranks in the bottom for quality of health care, school funding, and long-term elder care. Teachers' salaries are some of the lowest in the country, unemployment benefits are some of the worst, State minimum wage is stuck at $8.65 and has been there for quite a while. (Time, March 29, 2023). Yes, they have no income tax for individuals, but their corporate tax rate is also one of the lowest at 5.5% (almost 99% of Florida's companies paid no corporate tax at all) so how well do you think things like roads, emergency services and the like function? They're all paid out of sales and excise taxes which hit the bottom 1/2 of the population the hardest. Sales tax ranges from 6-7.5% based on location with very few exceptions (so sales tax on food, baby formula, etc.)

    Then there are the simple physical things like major hurricanes/storms, overpopulation (22 million in the state) plus the millions of tourists that descend constantly and along with that is the overwhelming congestion on the roads. Homes are very expensive and getting homeowners insurance is almost impossible. What is available is 3-4x more expensive than the rest of the country. And then there's the animals: alligators (they are everywhere), crocodiles, bears, large variety of snakes and iguanas (no they're not poisonous but they can be a real nuisance). Other fun things include biting insects, mosquitoes (both of which carry some un-fun virus' like west Nile, Zika and a couple of different encephalitis'), fire ants, bed bugs, ticks, black widow/wolf and brown recluse spiders and scorpions. And last but certainly not least cockroaches (and no it doesn't matter how clean you keep your house, you'll have cockroaches).

11. AnonymousOctober 11,2023 at 9:24PM UTC

    Agreed.

12. AnonymousOctober 11,2023 at 1:21PM UTC

    Thank you for taking the time to reply. Yes! A remote position is definitely my first choice. That's my plan. Fingers crossed.

13. Maggie StoneOctober 11,2023 at 1:31PM UTC

    What’s your network like where you are moving? Since you’re not moving immediately, I would begin with building your network.

14. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 3:34AM UTC

    No network as of yet. There's a slim chance the company I work for will have an opening at the time of our move.

15. AnonymousOctober 16,2023 at 1:52PM UTC

    Have you asked your manager if they would be willing to accommodate? If you have a relation with your manager/the company, they may want to keep you on :)

16. AnonymousOctober 16,2023 at 8:48PM UTC

    That is my hope. I just got promoted so I'm waiting to tell them or plans. I have updated my relocation preferences in my company profile and have lightly mentioned it to my manager as well as my managers manager.

    Right now nothing in the area is available but I'm hoping that changes over the next 9 months.

17. maria roseOctober 11,2023 at 4:33PM UTC

    Since you already have a family connection in Florida, that’s your reference for the living accommodations and the school system on a more local viewpoint. Housing in Florida is quite similar to California—from private housing to apartment like housing—for the area you are planning to move to—your main concern should be making sure that you are not choosing a flood prone zone—I also hope that you have cars to get around because just like California, there’s very little public transportation options. As for employment opportunities if you are willing to be adaptive in using your skills to the main types of employment there in Florida you should find many opportunities—Florida is mainly geared for tourism, hospitality and medical care services. It may be considered a retirement location but there’s plenty of younger professionals who live and work in Florida. It has a very multi cultural aspect much more than presumed especially in the big developed sections like Orlando —Disney is only a small part of the Florida life—as the reference to the Florida rural life—it exists but it it's not the whole—I, too, have relatives ( daughter and her family ( who have lived in Florida for at least 20 years now, raising children who are in the Florida school system. There’s a good parent-teacher-student relationship that is concentrated on students learning to think.

    As far as scanning job listings from afar while still being in California, those are not necessarily the only jobs available. Any remote type job that never requires any in-person can be gotten at anytime. Plenty people who live in Florida have WFH jobs. But you don’t want to get a job that may not be the best for your needs either. So unless you are moving from Northern California, you are going to be living in an area where the temperature are quite similar to living in the Southern California area but wetter because most of Florida is converted marshlands and the temperature ranges from the low 30s to high 90s. Wildlife is closer if living in the more rural areas. But there’s great opportunities there if you expand your range of job fields.

18. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 3:40AM UTC

    I appreciate your response.

    We do live in Northern California. The weather it definitely something I think about but we visit often so I know what I getting there.

    As for family connection in Florida.... not much. Two relatives that are in contact. Both are much older so no info on schools.

    I would love to find a position with Donald Mcdonald House or Give the Kids the World. Both non profits are very close to my heart.

19. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 3:41AM UTC

    I sincerely appreciate everyone taking the time to respond. I'm keeping a positive outlook!!

20. AnonymousOctober 15,2023 at 11:28PM UTC

    I understand your point of view. However, ee're not married by my choice. I don't want to get married.

    There are options for him to help with insurance but it doesn't change the fact that I will need a job to pay my bills.

21. AnonymousOctober 17,2023 at 1:22PM UTC

    Hi there, I’m an East Cost gal , having moved a number of times - kids 22, 26, 27 & husband who changed careers after 35 years.

    we live in Sarasota Fl , siesta key- & I have lived in St John's Jax Fl.

    My advice- Make a plan .

    where in Florida ?

    Schools for kids ?

    I will say St John’s Florida. Bartram Trail Highschool area NOT Duval county unless it’s a magnet school.

    This area is young , diversified - Look at Julingto n Creek. Area - Pontevedra Lotsa NFL families by water more $$$

    Biggest industry is Heath , Hodpitsls Baptist Health, insurance. 2nd largest employer is schools . More than 15 schools in 15 mile radius. Do ur homework.

    Orland - very crowded. - Universal Disney Jobs restaurant service industry.

    Sarasota Bradenton Service industry. Wages low housing costs high - Tourism & small biz owners .

    we own a biz so I know- 12-15 an hr if ur luck 20..

    If you have a job don’t leave till you secure one or focus on remote whatever your skills are.

    Don’t get crazy on havin the kids start when everyone else does. move when it’s right. moving is difficult on everyone. I moved while my daughter was in 8th grade & sons went off to college.

    Where you plan on living? Is key.

22. AnonymousOctober 17,2023 at 2:00PM UTC

    You are wise to be very concerned. You state that u need your income And insurance. You also state that you don't want to get married, so this will all be your responsibility.. Can you go without health insurance for 2 or three months? Can you go without your income?... If the answer is no to either comma then the answer is very clear.. You have to have job and insurance benefits in hand before you leave your current position in california.. And yes, the economy is terrible right now. Unless you are a front line health care provider, You will be challenged to find work With benefits. Are you on linked in? If not, may be create a profile and look around?

23. Ann RogersOctober 17,2023 at 3:59PM UTC

    Stay put............