Florida is a frightening place to live: financially

[graywarrior]

Seriously, if this is a microcosm of what is happening elsewhere, this country is fucked. First of all, 35% of all housing is vacant--meaning that all the new homes built are sitting unsold. You can rent a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house with a 2 car garage and a pool for $900 to $1000 in Port Charlotte. Only thing is, there are NO JOBS.

NONE

I have been looking for a job for months.

The only work available is in the service industry. We are no long in the manufacturing era. We have entered into the service era where the only jobs that exist are the ones that serve the wealthy. Or if you happen to have been smart enough to get a nursing degree, you can make a good salary in Florida.

Seriously, I am on a slippery slope of poverty right now. Even trying to apply at places like Lowe's or Home Depot takes weeks and their application process requires a degree in civil engineering. 400 elderly people in my area end up working for Nielson Media Research because they will hire you at $8.50 per hour. Thing is, the job last 6 weeks, then you are off for 6 weeks to 2 months before the next tv cycle starts again.

I am so frustrated right now I want to jump off the Skyline Bridge, except the gas it requires to get there would break my bank. On top of all this, Gov Christ has cut property taxes which now eliminates services such as Fire, Police, Library, etc. I need to get out of here but it's like Hotel California. You can check out, butr you can never leave.




:rant:

[Rockholm]

1. Then Move.

Your profile says you live in Hew Hampshire. If you want a good paying job, the move to (back?) to the Northeast. We have plenty of jobs here.

[graywarrior]

8. I can't afford to move and I can't afford to stay.

I will have to do something way over the edge.

[Rockholm]

12. I am sorry for your situation.

I know there are a number of people in your situation.

[graywarrior]

13. That is the scariest part. There are a lot of others in the same situation

[DU9598]

2. Don't jump ... please

Have you considered moving away from Florida? Iowa has a workers' shortage and cheap housing and great educational opportunities. We would welcome you here with open arms! Especially since you are a good Democrat :)

[raccoon]

3. Sorry this is happening to you, graywarrior.

IME, age discrimination is rampant; it's not just Florida. I imagine FL might be worse because basically, the only industry is tourism.

Is moving back to NH an option? Your profile says you are from NH.

[electron_blue]

4. That stinks. I used to live in Florida, it's hot there, too, and isn't there a drought?

Any chance you can move?

[mainegreen]

5. Move to Portland Maine.

I know you like it here and our economy is pretty damned decent.
Except forget about that swimming pool at $1000 a month. Hell, I don't even know where the nearest swimming pool outside the Y is.

:P

[RebelOne]

6. I lived in South Florida most of my life.

I finally got smart and moved up here to the Atlanta area. As far as I know, there are plenty of jobs and the cost of living is not exorbitant.

[ThomWV]

7. My wife and I said 'fuck florida' and moved to WV - smartest thing we ever did

When we left we had a pickup truck towing an old van and every single thing we owned, including our son and two dogs, was in either that truck or that van and ever penny we had on earth was in the glove box of the truck.

It was the single smartest thing my wife and I ever did, leaving that shithole of a state.

[graywarrior]

9. I never changed my profile because I never felt like I belonged in FL

[raccoon]

10. Did you retire there? nt

[graywarrior]

14. Hell no.

Even the retired are looking for jobs. Unless they're the wealthy, of course. Between property taxes and insurance, you need another job to afford it.

[sufrommich]

17. Do you have any pension,Graywarrior?

Northern Michigan has fairly low property taxes and cost of living. There is a town in the upper peninsula called Marquette,beautiful old, historic town on Lake Superior,gorgeous scenery,thriving artistic community,
with good senior services. It's a college town(Northern Mich.) and you may be able to get a job there. I imagine you could find quite a few northern midwestern towns that fit this description,of course,winter is a bitch,but it makes springtime all the more enjoyable(;-)) .I sincerely hope you find an answer to your dilemma and a good life to enjoy.

[graywarrior]

24. No pension.

Not old enough for social security.

[TwilightGardener]

11. Couldn't WAIT to leave Florida--spent two years in Tampa, and that

was more than enough. Come on out to the beautiful midwest! Give us a try!

[Lost4words]

15. When mother nature is through it will be a 500 mile sandbar.

we may live to see it.

[Lost4words]

16. What Global Warming? nm

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. Florida has a shortage of teachers

And many school districts will hire college graduates without teaching degrees for critical shortage areas like math and science.

[Lorien]

19. I hear you. I've been trying to get out of here for years

I also get the "why don't you just move"? comment from friends. Well, I've got $32,000.00 in medical debt and my home is surrounded with "for sale" signs. Like you, I just can't afford to leave. I freelance for companies in NY and LA, so yeah, I could live anywhere-I'd love to live in Asheville, NC but I can't even afford a trip up there to look at housing. Even if I could afford the move, how would I sell the house? I can't afford both rent and a mortgage.

I hope that you can find something soon. What is it that that popular bumper sticker says? Living in Florida causes a Tropical Depression?

[graywarrior]

25. LOL

Mr. Gray just applied for a job in Gorham NH. I spent the entire morning at Jobs, Etc redoing my application only to learn I am over qualified. And hey, they used my resume as an example to their clients creating their own resumes. Still can't get a job, even tho my resume apparently rocks.

[trumad]

20. Christ cut property taxes...LOL

Bullshit... maybe by a couple of bucks but I'm paying just as much as ever. BTW: What is your skill set?

[graywarrior]

26. Here's part of my resume

Summary of Qualifications:

• Excellent writing, communication and interpersonal skills. Function well independently and as team member.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Publisher, FrontPage, basic hardware troubleshooting. Adept as internet research.
• Teaching and public speaking.



Summary of Skills:

Public Relations & Marketing

• Developed and designed newsletter and brochures for profit and non-profit organizations.
• Organized Grand Opening and community awareness events for non-profit.
• Conducted tours of non-profit facilities with community leaders and funding principals.
• Coordinated and scheduled publicity; wrote press releases and advertisement copy for newspaper and television.
• Drafted, edited and distributed press releases, press packets and publicity.
• Recruited web designer and coordinated design of non-profit website. Kept internet content up-to-date.
• Co-promoted rock concerts and club acts.
• Director of coffee house/art gallery; responsible for hiring performers and setting up art shows.
• Consultant/manager for motels, inns, Bed & Breakfasts and resorts in transition.


Communication

• Created Access database of consumers, donors, foundations and corporations.
• Researched content for authors to include in book. Assisted in preparing query letters and proposals to send to literary agents and publishers.
• Taught introduction to Internet and basic computer classes for seniors and low-income clients.
• Created and publicized entertainment newspaper; conducted interviews, wrote and edited articles.
• Recruited, coordinated and trained community volunteers.
• Proofreading and editing skills. Attentive to detail. Use of Chicago Manual of Style.


Planning

• Plans and designs websites for small businesses and non-profits.
• Led team in creating website for non-profit agency.
• Outlined calendar of class schedule for computer center.
• Created and implemented computer curriculum for adults at community learning center.
• Arranged and promoted concerts for fundraising events.

[brokensymmetry]

21. Florida is ahead of the rest of the country...

wait a year, maybe two. The whole country will
be as bad (or worse) than Florida is today.

We have a perfect storm coming.

[teenagebambam]

22. I feel your pain.

Living in Jacksonville, which is a depressing mix of forcefully undereducated African Americans and willfully underducated Caucasian Americans. It's a frightening place to live PERIOD, not just financially. I only have a job (after a year of looking) because my partner managed to finagle things and hire me himself (at a University). We both had job offers back in DC this summer and desperately wanted to leave, but we own our home and couldn't have rented it out for even close to what we owe on the mortgage. Our savings are gone, due to me being under-employed for a year and having to deal with crooked contractors, trying to get our house in shape to sell. House has been on the market for three months and we've had ONE person look at it.

[graywarrior]

27. I can't tell you how desperate people are to sell their homes down here

I met people in their 70's who had to get a job at Nielson just to pay their insurance. People on portable oxygen contraptions, people with bandages all over their faces from skin cancer surgery working into their 70's because they can't afford to retire any longer. People who worked their entire lives as professional business owners working for a company who hates their employees and treats them like children.

When I talked to the Jobs, Etc people today, they asked me where I wanted to work and I told them I may have to leave the state because there is nothing here. They said, "yeah, we hear that every day." Jesus, WTF?

[Coexist]

23. In Florida, only the Mouse survives.