June 3

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Well... it seems we are moving south... really far south at that. by the 9th of June we should be in our new house in Port Charlotte, Florida... seems we have a pool and gators in our back yard... God I am freaking out.

[Fierce Critter]

As a fellow life-long Michigander who really loves the Michigan outdoors, I have only three words to say.

DON'T DO IT!!!!

Trust me. I've done it. You are going to be MISERABLE.

Still, I know all about "do what you gotta".

Man, I am SO sorry to hear about this...

[phee]

As a fellow life-long Michigander who really loves the Michigan outdoors, I have only three words to say.

DON'T DO IT!!!!

Trust me. I've done it. You are going to be MISERABLE.

Still, I know all about "do what you gotta".

Man, I am SO sorry to hear about this...

Michigan needs you to defend our freedom!!!

[Onyx]

I lived in Florida for many many years. My house was in the middle of 5 acres of wild land. Gators and lots of poisonous snakes and wild boars roamed my "yard" which was mostly sand. Definitely respect even the small gators and stay away. We couldn't have outdoor animals because they'd get killed and eaten. I don't miss the everglades.

Sounds like you are in a fairly civilized area though.

I agree with Critter. I hated it. Doesn't mean you will, but don't beat yourself up if you and your family find it's difficult to adjust. I never did.

Still, a change can be good for a short while. Enjoy the pool and sun. Live there long enough to visit all the theme parks at least twice, explore the different landscape and wildlife and then when you are tired of it, make your way back to the lovely north. Compared with the deep south, I even prefer conservative west Michigan.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

I don't really have a choice in going. The wife is going and taking the kids... so.. I am going. This is the hardest thing I have ever done.

[Homicidalheathen]

NO!!! You can't go! Unless of coarse I can come visit. Gator soup!

[Scary Guy]

Good move, I hear Florida has a booming economy. Just watch out for hurricanes and such.

[torn asunder]

I don't really have a choice in going. The wife is going and taking the kids... so.. I am going. This is the hardest thing I have ever done.

i'll be sure to look you up when i move down there in a couplefew years! i'm really looking forward to it! i'm sure you'll be ok with it, if you're in an interior area of the state, the weather is supposed to be similar to that of a hot michigan summer. (sounds like heaven!)

[Onyx]

i'll be sure to look you up when i move down there in a couplefew years! i'm really looking forward to it! i'm sure you'll be ok with it, if you're in an interior area of the state, the weather is supposed to be similar to that of a hot michigan summer. (sounds like heaven!)

aaah, just can't resist commenting. It's more like hell actually.

The interior of Florida is miserable in spring and summer, hot, WET, horribly humid, thick with mosquitoes and bugs, and sticky. I lived in central Florida for 15 years and the summers were just unbearable. Along the coast is more expensive, but so much better as far as climate because you get the sea breezes and fewer mosquitoes.

Winter was nice though.

Torn, if you possibly can, visit the area where you are thinking of moving and stay there in the summer for at least a few days to see what you think.

[Destroit]

aaah, just can't resist commenting. It's more like hell actually.

The interior of Florida is miserable in spring and summer, hot, WET, horribly humid, thick with mosquitoes and bugs, and sticky. I lived in central Florida for 15 years and the summers were just unbearable. Along the coast is more expensive, but so much better as far as climate because you get the sea breezes and fewer mosquitoes.

Winter was nice though.

Torn, if you possibly can, visit the area where you are thinking of moving and stay there in the summer for at least a few days to see what you think.

I'd have to agree with you on this Onyx. I was down there for two weeks and being kinda well...gothish (obviously 'cause I'm here) it was pretty sucky. The theme parks are pretty much the only thing worth going to, it's alot of swamp, BIG FUCKING BUGS (I still wake up in terror sometimes thinking of the sheer size), and LOTS of horrible sun. I walked outside for no more than ten minutes and was RED as red could be and I don't always burn easy, I could just feel the skin cancer brewing lol. There's alot of old people down there too and it's MUGGY all the time in the middle of the state. I dunno...good luck down there tho...

[Rayne]

I have never been to Florida. Never been further south than Georgia ... so I can't say much but wish you a good trip Mark and I hope the move goes smoothly.

[Fierce Critter]

Jon grew up there. Just north of Daytona.

We tried living there twice. A few months before we got married. A couple after.

We will never, ever, make that mistake again.

Mark, hate to lay all this negativity on you. I really, really hope things work out for you and your family, I honestly do.

But knowing what you've had living in the Cadillac area - the woods, the wildlife, the reasonable insectlife... friend, I just really hope you are able to adapt and make us all very, very much eat our skeptical words.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Well, we are there. Have been for about a week and a half. Just got internet turned on today. You know.. so far it's been a cool experiance... hot, but cool none the less. Ofcourse the banana spider dropping from nowwhere at my feet this morning was um... I allmost pee'd my pants. Thats a damn big spider.

[Msterbeau]

Damn... How'd I miss this thread? Oh yeah... I was on DGN vacation for a bit.

Dude.. I think I know how ya feel. Glad the initial experience is positive.

[LuluVox]

My basically-brother-in-law (my sister's long, longterm boyfriend), Nick, lived in Port Charlotte for years. You're close to lots of beaches! Ya know, if you're into that kinda thing. (I am!)

From what I hear from him, Ft. Myers (about 45 minutes south) has the best close beach...Venice and Sarasota are second and third in niceness, and are about the same distance away as Ft. Meyers. Punta Gorda has the closest beach, just a few minutes away. Naples is nearby-ish, but not so nice. Siesta Key (an hour North) is considered the best and cleanest beach on the west coast of FL (at least as of 2000). And if worst comes to worst, you're about 90 minutes from Tampa/St. Pete/ Clearwater...for big-city feel and beaches.

And that, my friends, is about all I know about Port Charlotte, FL. But I do know about humidity...I spent 8 years of my childhood in Orlando. Yeesh. You're lucky you're on the coast instead of smack in the middle of the state like I was.

I've got to say, though, it was a wonderful state to be a kid/early teenager in. I miss it sometimes...especially 'round about February!

[torn asunder]

Torn, if you possibly can, visit the area where you are thinking of moving and stay there in the summer for at least a few days to see what you think.

oh, that "central" bit was intended for gaf - every time i've stayed down there, it's been fairly coastal. i fully intent to be oceanside if at all possible - the further south the better! (hell, my last vacation down there was july 4th-ish, and i stayed just outside of miami & then a couple days in key west! hot!? sweeet!! humid!? even better!!!)

[sass_in_the_pants]

Siesta Key IS the most beautiful beach I've ever seen. The sand is white and feels like powder.

Caspersen beach is in Venice and I also really like that one. It's a bit more rugged, but fewer people visit it and you can usually find some fossilized sharks' teeth washed up on the beach.

My grandparents live in Venice, as do many, many other grandparents, so if you DO go to the beaches there, just don't get run over by old people who can't drive.

[Fierce Critter]

Ofcourse the banana spider dropping from nowwhere at my feet this morning was um... I allmost pee'd my pants. Thats a damn big spider.

I warned you!!! Remember - keep your eyes FORWARD when walking through vegetation. They like to build their webs between trees across pathways.

But you ain't seen nothing 'til you've seen a palmetto spider. That will make you shit yourself.

[Brenda Starrr]

Oh, oh...I see.

I move here and everybody leaves. Sheesh.

[JaneDead]

Oh, oh...I see.

I move here and everybody leaves. Sheesh.

i'm still here but i'd like to move actually

[Brenda Starrr]

i'm still here but i'd like to move actually

No you may not.

Just how big is a banana spider, Mark??

[Destroit]

My boyfriend used to live in Sarasota, and got bit by a banana spider walking in his house. He said the weirdest side effect was that within like 15 minutes, it made everything smell like cantaloupe no matter what it was, and that it didn't wear out for awhile. So, I don't know how factual that is, he mighta been bullshiting, but personally I think that'd be fun as hell.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

The one I had drop in front of me was not as large as this one... but large none the less.

[JaneDead]

holy.shit.man. that would give me a freakin heartattack. no doubt. fuck that.

[Brenda Starrr]

I would have shit my pants and screamed like a little girl. Like Melissa said: Fuck that.