Make the Decision to Move to Florida
Trying to decide if you should move to Florida?
Kodie here! The decision to move to Florida was easy for me. However, I totally understand the fear of moving states and starting over. I’m the kind of person that craves change and fresh starts. I really don’t thrive in routine and frequently need scenery changes. If you’re the kind of person that likes to have control, plans every detail and doesn’t like when unexpected circumstances arise, this decision may be a bit harder for you.
The decision to move to Florida
was easy for me..
People from all over have reached out to me asking about my experience moving states. Many sharing with me that leaving their hometown feels intimidating. Our hometowns are safe. Our families are there. We’re familiar with everything and everyone. It’s comfortable there. But, if you’re feeling the soul call that you might want to move, maybe it’s time to consider you were meant to pursue something on a large scale, outside of your hometown?
Don’t get me wrong, staying in your hometown and building a life there isn’t frowned upon. I suppose it’s a personality thing. Or a matter of preference. Deciding what you want for your life and if it’s available in your hometown or if moving elsewhere will help you accomplish more things.
With that being said, here's my experience making the decision to move to Florida!
Right before moving to Florida, I was at a point in my life where I had basically a blank slate. During this time, I was living in Texas and was going through a break up. The literal only reason I was there, was for him.
This transition had me so excited for the opportunity to explore my options on where to move next! Originally, I’m from north of Seattle Washington. The option to move home was never on the docket. In Washington, it rains 9 months out of the year and honestly there was nothing for me there at the time.
At home, I couldn’t build my career, (not that I knew what I wanted to do) I didn’t really keep in contact with friends from high school much. And, although I’m close with my family, I really didn’t feel called to go home.
"I was craving sunshine and the beach.."
I was craving sunshine and the beach. I started looking into San Diego and locations in Florida. Very quickly, I realized San Diego is super expensive and I’d be taxed higher for self employment then I would in Florida. Again, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do at the time, I’ve just always been super independent and knew self employment taxes should be a big factor in my decision.
Being the social media obsessed person that I was, I started stalking all hashtags of St Petersburg that I could. I’d look up events going on, what lifestyle looked like there and started picturing myself living it.
Within two weeks I packed up my 2013 Honda Civic, stuffed everything I owned in it plus my two 50 pound dogs, and hit the road.
There was no apartment lined up for me and had only met 2 people, from my online stalking.
When I first arrived, I airbnb hopped for about a week and spent a week in Key West at my uncles. I had never been to Florida before and honestly had super high expectations.
Florida exceeded my expectations
Long story short, Florida exceeded my expectations right away. My break up was fairly easy to get over because of the change of scenery and the magic of St Pete.
Upon I arrival, I found a shoe box studio apartment for $1100 in downtown St Pete. This rent price is unheard of now. I slept on the dogs bed for the first few nights while I waited for my amazon bed in a box to arrive.
Also, I didn’t have much money.. I’ll be totally transparent here. There was about $2000 in my savings account. At the time, I was working a Network Marketing position where I was doing fairly well, but the income was inconsistent. Some weeks I’d make $1000, the next may have only been $300.
"If you're trying to decide to move to Florida, maybe plan better than I did..."
If you’re thinking about moving to Florida, maybe plan better than I did. Although, it really worked out for me being all free spirited and spur of the moment, it’s probably best to have a spot to live, some extra cash and maybe a job. LOL.
Things that Met my expectations when trying to decide to move to florida
- The scenery here really is beautiful. From sun sets to sunrises. Palm trees and beaches. It’s what you would picture and exactly what I expected when trying to decide to move to Florida.
- The sun is shining basically all the time.
- There’s a large young adult population and a ton of entrepreneurs. Great place to meet people, collaborate and build a business.
Unexpected things i didn't realize when trying to decide to move to florida
- Compared to Texas, it’s more expensive here. From groceries to rent. However, that may not be saying much considering the only two places I had lived other than at home was Moscow Idaho where my rent was $500 a month in a 1/1. And Waco Texas where I rented an entire 4 bedroom house for $1500 a month.
- A lot of events and activities are centered around eating and drinking. You’ll want to have extra cash to afford the lifestyle here.
- Everyone has a dog.
- Living close to downtown is key. Walkability and being near hot spots helps with the transition. If I were further away I would have felt more clueless and lonely.
- The first few years were awesome. And I still love it here, don’t get me wrong. But the excitement of living in a vacation spot wears out. You can only go to the beach so many times before you get bored. So if you don’t have a method of getting out on the water (i.e a boat) you can feel kind of stuck.
Katelyn's Decision to Move to Florida
Katelyn here! There were many things that impacted decision to move to Florida! My first priority, was I needed some more sunlight! Vitamin D was something that I wasn’t getting enough of up north, I’m originally from PA. I never really realized how important it was to my happiness, my health and my overall well-being until I visited Florida.
Sunshine makes humans happier, it's a fact!
For that reason, when it came time to me to decide to where I wanted to go to college, I immediately decided that I wanted to give Florida a try. After my first year at University of Tampa, I knew that I wasn’t going to be leaving!
Between the sunshine and the ocean, all the outdoor activities and the overall happiness that surrounded me of the people that clearly enjoyed being in Florida, I was hooked.
After living in a place where sunshine and happy people were a norm, I knew that I would be here for the long haul.
Florida Becomes Addicting!!
Florida becomes very addicting! It’s a fact that good weather makes people happy. I fell in love with the close proximity to the beach and all the natural springs.
There is nothing like a Florida spring. It was an easy decision to stay in the state after I graduated and I knew that I’d have everyone from Pennsylvania visiting me.
Since experiencing the Florida move myself, I’ve fallen in love with helping others see the beauty and magic of Florida.
From the bay, the beach, several downtown spots with the best food. Florida offers one thing after the next and you will never get tired of all the outdoor markets and things to do.
Florida will always keep me young..
Living in Florida will always keep me young due to the vibrancy of the culture. One of my favorite things is also the diversity… people come from all over to experience the sunshine state. Some will stay, some will buy a second home, and some will visit as often as they can.
Florida, you have my heart!
Post college, we (my now husband and I) lived in an apartment in South Tampa near Ballast Point. We loved the area so much we ended up buying our first home down there.
Currently, my husband and I live in Sarasota, near Siesta key. We moved down here for my husbands job about two years ago. At first, I was nervous about the idea, but love that I’ve gotten to experience living in two totally different locations and all each area has to offer. We’re now building our second home, (LTR our first), in Lakewood Ranch.
Now, I’ve traveled to almost every area of the state and although beautiful, I am happiest to call the gulf, in southwest Florida, home.
Does this help your decision to move to Florida?
There you have it! Two separate experiences moving to the sunshine state! What do you think, did this help you decide to move to Florida?
Feel free to reach out and chat more in depth about our experiences. We’d love to help you decide if Floirda is the spot for you!