GF has Job-offer in Cape Coral..
 

We have 48hrs to decide if we are going to move from michigan. We will be renting in Cape Coral. No future plans to buy a house in FL.

Visited back in May to check out the area, but mostly stayed in Fort Myers Beach. because beach.

Anyone here like the area or anything good/bad to say? We knew a job offer mite present itself, so we are ready (so-so) to go.

I'm 28, she is 24. We are coming from a medium metropolis (500,000 ppl)

Its really hot. Half the people on the road driver super fast and the other half drive super slow (in the left lane). Someone might get high on bath salts and try to eat you. You may also get an urge to start stockpiling guns and ammo for the apocalypse which seems to be getting ever nearer.

I say do it.

Source: Been a psychotic Floridian since 1990.

Is this job offer with Hertz by chance?

I personally like Florida a lot but if I was in my 20's Cape Coral/Fort Myers is not where I would want to live. There is not a whole lot to do unless you drive north or east to the other coast. There is no income tax which is great. There are also beaches down there...because Florida.

What do you do for a living? Do you already have opportunities in the same area or can you transfer with your current job? This would be my biggest concern as it is not the biggest business hub and you may end up stuck with a horrific commute to Ft. lauderdale or very limited prospects.

No it is not with Hertz.

I have opportunities in the area- not a major concern there.

I grew up in Port Charlotte, which is about 45 minutes north of Fort Myers on US41.

I'm sure that the place had changed somewhat in the 20 years since I lived there, but my recollections are thus:

It's mostly a retirement community. Accept that. Anyone who isn't either retired or working in healthcare is either a wanna-be thug or a typical Florida Man who has basically failed at life.

There is a night life, but expect to be accosted by meth-heads.

It is, by far, vastly preferable to Detroit, which is the only part of Michigan I've personally spent much time in. (And I was I the burbs, not the ghetto.)

If you're into the white picket fence thing, forget it. If you're open to learning a few Jimmy Buffett songs, it can be tolerable.

Yes, it's hotter than fuck and humider than hot in the summer, which encompasses the months of March through September. But you will never have to shovel anything out of your driveway aside from love bugs.

There is no state income tax. This is reflected in the quality of the roads, the schools, the public parks, etc.

I live on the other coast, actually closing on a house in Port Saint Lucie in 2 weeks. I like the west coast tho. Nice beach areas, parks, rivers, bays, etc if you are into nature. Fishing is killer over there too. There are a few paradise like places to go nearby, Sanibel, Marco island which are nice to go to once in a while. Only a few hours from Miami too, across 75 (alligator alley). But others are right, from Naples up to maybe Sarasota is mostly retiree's. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it's just different. I've been to Tampa and St. Pete a few times and I like it more up there.

But in the end, it's Florida. I ride topless everyday unless it's raining. You are only a few hours from one of the greatest tracks in the world, Sebring, and a few hours from Homestead Speedway as well. Come across and up a little to West Palm and you have Palm beach international raceway. AutoX is huge over there too, there are some big events that go on. No downtime/winter, no salt/rusty cars (unless you live on the beach).

No twisty roads or mountains tho, then we would have it all...

No state income tax is nice, and our sales tax is only 6%. Registering a vehicle with new tags is expensive tho, expect to pay about $500 per vehicle...

Trailer's don't require a title either, that's a bonus.

Concealed carry permits are easy to get if you have one from another state already too.

I'm 27, and lived in Illinois and Texas before I ended up here.

That's all I got to say bout that...

Great info guys. It's the little things that can make or break a move.

Cape seemed a little sleepy, but the outdoor activities and Florida weather are such a huge plus.

Oh, and they just started opening up jets pizza down here too :)

Yay South Florida!

There are much worse places to be.

For me, the biggest problem was simply that there are exceedingly few good jobs in my chosen profession down there- I needed to be either in the SD/LA area or the NYC area. It sounds like you guys won't have that problem.

Housing is surprisingly inexpensive in coastal south Florida as compared to most of the country, though property taxes and insurance can be high, so bear that in mind if you do think about buying. And in any event, be prepared for brutal electric bills in the summer and surprisingly large water bills all year round. For a town that's just barely above water to begin with, virtually none of it is potable.

Cape Coral itself is pretty much the textbook definition of Suburbia. Nothing there but middle-class homes, with an occasional Publix or Wal-Mart thrown in just to break up the monotony. It's a much nicer area than Fort Myers in terms of safety / quiet, but expect to cross the bridge if you actually want to buy / do anything. Fortunately, Fort Myers is a sufficiently large town that you can find most of the usual amenities there- shopping malls, hydraulic hose shops, metal fabricators, marine supply, etc.

If it wasn't on the water, we wouldn't consider it.

I'm in Fort Myers, just over the river from Cape Coral.

There are a lot of retirees. The weather in the summer is as hot and humid as anywhere else in the southeast us. The winter is absolutely perfect; sunny, warm, never rains. Traffic in the winter is horrific though with snowbirds. The drugs/meth-head comments are somewhat exaggerated. I'm certainly no gangster and I've never been anywhere in Cape Coral that I felt uncomfortable.

I like it here, there's a decent car scene and a decent miata group. Gearheadsmiataclub.net is based out of SWFL if you want to check it out. If you have any specific questions let me know.

As a man who just turned 39 and has spent many long hours having one-way conversations with "youngsters" about the wisdom of certain life-related personal decisions, I feel I'm qualified to mention this... having a girlfriend (even a longtime GF that you live with) is not the same as being married.

Making a change in your life that huge for a girlfriend (not a fiancé or wife) puts you in the "not gonna work out" side of the equation. I'm just laying out the odds here as my personal experience over the last decade and a half has shown me.

Being in the military, I move a lot... so does EVERYBODY I know and work with. It is rare to see two unmarried people decide to relocate and have it "work out"... even when both have great jobs waiting and make good money. The biggest kinks are things that everybody saw coming... never lived anywhere else, leaving hometown for someplace diametrically different (Michigan v. Florida), young, no friends at new place, etc... You say you have good job opportunities, but for awhile, you're going to be dependent upon her, no? What happens in 6mo when you still have no job? If you do get a new job and then break up, is your life going to be better there single than it would be where you are currently single? If you get down there and she hates it (because homesick women can be borderline committable), will YOU move back home with her after YOU land a sweet job? What if you're miserable?

Granted, I know nothing about you, but I have years of very personal real-life experience counseling and doing my best to manage and wisely steer the decisions of people in exactly your position. Most people who do what you are planning regret it. The absolute worst thing you could do right now is make a decision like this when you feel pressured over a 48hr deadline that is HER deadline. What if you say "NO" and she takes the job anyways?

The solution, btw, is not "get married". My advice is for her to go down there by herself... start her job and get her shit situated. You stay in Michigan and do the long-distance thing for 6 months... fly down once a month and keep the flame lit... then if you're still pining for eachother, pop the question and get married at the courthouse, then fly back to MI together to get your shit and drive back to start your new life as a married couple. Trust me.

Oh dang, well that's some food for thought. I am at work, so i will not address all that stuff; but i appreciate the advice.

6mo with out working tho!? I'll be volunteering at Mcdonalds before I sit on my ass for 6mo jobless. Ive always wanted to test the "I cant get a job" theory--

I'm confused. When I asked you if you had an opportunity down there I meant a current offer. What field of work are you in? That area of Florida is not overflowing with jobs in every industry. This is something that you really need to flesh out some before you move across the country.

It is my girlfriend that has a job offer. I am a diesel technician by trade.

My parents recently bought a retirement property in Cape Coral and I can attest to much of what others have said. It's primarily a retirement community without a whole lot going on, night life, ect. That being said, the fishing is great and the weather is nice. I probably wouldn't choose to live there as a single guy, but it should be fine with your girlfriend, although SamNavy has a good point.

I have friends in Cape Coral, not much older than you and they love it.

When you are ready to go Autocrossing, LMK and I will put you in touch.

"I don’t have no sexual attraction to gators, but I wanted to teach this bitch a lesson."

Well, we have decided to make the move and take the job!
Thanks All for your input. Will do Bruce.

I have an interview for you in Ft. Myers if you own tools.

The pay rates are not what they are in Michigan but there are no union dues (no unions) and a lower taxes/cost of living.

Haha this is funny I just moved to Michigan from Orlando. One comes in, one goes out. Good things about Florida is no state tax and Universal/Disney. Enjoy the humidity and mosquitos :)

Where in Michigan? plenty of skeeters and humidity here waiting for you..but only from june til august.

Im in West Bloomfield, yeah feels like home right now haha

GF has Job-offer in Cape Coral..
 

Give it 3-4 months. The record low temperature in Miami Beach is what, 50 degrees? lol.

We are a right to work state now.

I lived in Illinois for a bit, I know what to expect :p

Lowest in Miami Beach can be in 30's

Anyone here ride stand-up jetskis?

I bought my first ski when I lived up there, we would go out on lake St Clair and sometimes out to muskamute bay!

I had a 87 440, an 89 650, then a 04 sxr800... I stopped really riding when I moved to florida oddly enough...

still have the sxr?

Na it was just sitting after my ski buddy moved away. It was slowly getting weathered since I didn't have a garage to store it in. I sold it for 3500 (I think) to a Canadian who would come down to Florida and buy 5 skis at a time and bring them up and sell em. I guess they are hard to get up there so they go for a few grand more than in the states.

I miss that thing tho damnit... put some nice foot holds in, some sexy hydroturf, upgraded the plate and the scooper (forget what it was called), grips, little shit that made it mine...

- Album on Imgur

I do. My group has a few including an old 450 hull with a built 750. It's insane.

The only reason I would ever move to Flawwda would be for no anual smog-inspection
I can't even comprehend how awesome it would be to have no limit to mods

The no income tax is nice too. There is actually quite a few nice places to live here. You just have to stick to the coasts. If you venture into the middle of the state you will run into Florida Man.

It can be interesting. They really don't care what you do to your car. I know a computer repair company whose wrapped company car is a 1250whp 350z. I think I shared the pics of the shop down here that adds twin turbos to street driven v10 Audi R8s, right?

And most of the cops in the area where I am could care less about speeders. They are after real criminals and traffic is beneath them. 82 in a 70 won't raise an eyebrow. Slicing across 3 lanes like a jackwagon is grounds for a lecture, of course.

But it is humid.

There isn't a huge volume of high tech jobs. But there are many more big companies and upscale jobs than 15 years ago. The corporations have been moving offices here in droves. I did just get passed by a BMW i8.

Much of the ground is flat.

I was driving home not long ago driving next to an R8 with some subtle mods that looked really nice. Then as we start to accelerate from a light I heard the turbos whistling, awww man. :drool:

I definitely couldn't handle smog inspections. I always end up hacking stuff up so there's no hope of ever passing for stock.

I dunno about that. I think Florida man lives in Pinellas Park. And his extended family lives up in Holiday, New Port Richey, and Hudson.

The middle of the state typically just has regular ol' rednecks that drink beer, hunt, fish, and go mud bogging in their 4x4s. They are pretty harmless. Think "Troy's high school classmates".

That's crazy.

And it's not even the speeding that I'm lusting after, cause I honestly don't even speed more than once in a blue moon (usually short burst and then back to speed limit)

It's being able to modify a car any way you like. That must be heaven. Huge turbo? Sure. Custom harness? why not. Standalone ecu? Of course. Crazy 5" exhaust out the hood? go for it.

hngg

True enough. The point is that it is fairly easy to avoid those people if you choose to live in the areas most people want to live in anyway. I love living in Florida and I think there are only maybe 3 other states I would move to long term. Colorado, California, and Washington in that order. California leans much farther left than I would like but the state is absolutely gorgeous.

It's awesome but its only possible because we don't have mountains to trap the smog which means there are no awesome mountain twisty roads. However, we do have Sebring, Daytona, Homestead, and PBIR here to scratch that itch.

I didn't know car inspections and smog checks were even a thing until I joined internet forums and saw the struggle you people have.

Yeah, we haven't even had annual inspections here in almost 20 years. Although the negative is the huge increase in uninsured drivers.

the struggle is real :hatecat:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1437771101

EVERYWHERE in California

I just got rid of a pair of 650s, an 87 and an 89 i believe

Nice. Handling on the 650s were quirky, but had a nice topend pull. Will be looking for another fx1.

I found that if I really wanted to make a high speed turn, I could throw my hip to the inside of the turn and sort of hydroplane it on the surface of the water. Worked great probably 90% of the time.

I only ever made what I would call one "pro" turn - a stroke of pure luck, I'm sure. Was running across the water after a bird and glanced a boat coming at me from the right. Dove to the left and carved a perfect 90* cut. Probably a fluke surface condition or something, but I felt like a badass for like 3 seconds afterwards.

<p></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The writing on those signs isn't exactly English.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also: you've made me want a jet-ski again. sadpanda.</p>

Did you never learn countersteering?

I didn't even know that was a thing.

My experience with stand ups involved:
I bought a pair for a song.
I enjoyed them for ~3 years, almost always solo.
They sat for ~3 years.

Never during that time did I meet or know someone who knew anything about riding, or who could teach me any useful skills. I read/watched a lot about them for a few months after I bought them, but for the most part, they were simply a novel way to get in a half-decent workout.

Never in that time did I meet or know any other person

Me either, I'm just making shit up from my motorcycle days.

I haven't ridden a stand up jet ski in close like 20 years.

TURBOFAN, tongue in cheek brah. I lived in Monterey for 4 years. Though we did have daily fog like that ha.

Riding a standup and turning good is one of the hardest things you can attempt to master, and takes yeeears..much like sex and perfect toast.

As a man that slept with many women more than you can imagine I say no woman is gonna wait for a dude or consider waiting for a dude unless he is super rich and good looking. In two weeks time, she will find another dude that will bang the hell out of her. . . no exceptions.

looks like you've been with a ton of sluts.
no exceptions

Props.

Truth.

<p></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Wow. Your outlook on women is really sad and pathetic.</p>

I'm guessing it has a lot to do with the selection process.

Let's see... If you pick up a girl at a bar/club she will be the kind of girl that frequents bars/clubs to get regularly picked up. She's not a girl who is content with sitting home on the weekend if you aren't there.

If you sleep with her on the first meeting or within 2 dates she is used to giving it up quickly. If you aren't around she will be more likely to continue this pattern because it is a behavior pattern acceptable to her.

Fucking a bunch of sluts is not difficult. See definition of slut. Fucking a bunch of sluts is not a noteworthy accomplishment. See definition of slut. Fucking a bunch of sluts is nothing to feel good about. See definition of slut.

Maintaining a 6 month plus relationships with several nice girls who have slept with 6 or less people ever is far better for one's heart and mind. And it demonstrates something about you. And if you can maintain those several 6 month plus relationships with those nice girls at the same time it says even more about you.

:rofl:

:eggplant:



:likecat: