Leaving NJ. Where to go? FL or GA?

[Quasmo]

I grew up in North Fulton County (2% property tax), went to school in Savannah (4 years) and currently live in Forsyth (1%). I would say that if you can afford it, the Savannah area called "The landings" is a very nice place to live, but if you can't live in that area, don't move to Savannah. People in Savannah have a mentality that will blow your mind if you are from the north. Everything is closed on Sunday down there, but it's still pretty.

Atlanta has it's perks good city life if you like sports etc. North Fulton schools always make it into the top 250 schools in the country.

 

[ponyo]

What about work?

 

[bobdole369]

For the love of god, don't come to Florida! At least not the purple mushroom head of America's Wang (Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade).

As expressed in another thread, someone got in in their fool head starting back in the 70's, that it was a great idea to move entire families down here. It isn't.

1. There are already enough people for the scarce amount of land that exists.
2. The crime rate is way higher than you might think.
3. The schools are TERRIBLE, our counties being how "urban" and "ethnic" they have turned out, with as many people as are already here, are only behind Georgia in literacy and graduation rates. I don't know if its the country-folk up north, OR the non-english speakers down here, but either way its terrible.
4. It is TERRIBLY expensive to live here. You might get a cheap condo somewhere but your insurance rates are gonna be through the roof.
5. There are NO jobs. Every job posting is inundated with literally hundreds of people begging for it. If you aren't working already here, you are screwed. Oh and fully 40% of the job postings demand bilingual English/Spanish speakers.
6. Brutally hot in the summer. You might think you want it. But Jersey summers do not come CLOSE to the ridiculous heat that is April - November here. It gets 90-100 with dewpoints over 75- approaching 90 some days. What that means: You walk outside across the postage stamp 2x4 foot lawn to the sidewalk, and you have sweatspots and your forehead is dripping into your eyes. By the time you get to the car you have almost lost your breath. And you don't want to spend anymore time outside your house and car because of:
7. The Bugs. They don't say bzzzzz. They group up and say "BUZZ MUTHAFUKKAs!!!" They have bug gangs. There stingers, like little hypodermics, are waiting around to drain you and your family of its life force. It basically makes going outside pretty much no longer an option. That is unless you have one of the few remaining screened in florida pools. Most blew down in wilma and only the silly rebuilt them, seeing as a pool costs like $350 a month to keep up.
8. It's flat, boring, former swampland.

Fort Myers/Cape Coral is poised to become the next Gary, IN ghetto. There are TONS of ultracheap houses still not sold. Why? Mostly because there are squatters already living inside and it costs more than the house is worth to rid of them.

Tampa/St. Pete is completely full. As is most of Orlando and the areas north (Deland up through Daytona). Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Gainesville is basically the same as South AL/GA, welcome to #50 in literacy and graduation.

If I had my druthers, I'd live in middle/eastern, shoot even western NC with the hillbillies. Great people around there that as long as you aren't menacing are very welcoming and kind. Awesome cheap land and beautiful scenery.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

A covered in-ground pool (surrounded by a screen house) and air conditioning are the answer to that problem. I will NEVER miss the snow and cold, trust me. I may be 1/4 Norwegian, but I certainly didn't get the "cold weather" gene.

Unless you are considering South Georgia then keep in mind it snowed twice here (so far) and the second time it shut down the greater metro Atlanta areas for a week.

Everything got delayed, suspended, etc.

 

[EagleKeeper]

When stationed at Robins AFB (Central GA); snow hit enough that the streets became impassible. Police were getting stuck/sliding off the road.

This may have been a freak occurance of the amount, but it does get some snow down that far south.

 

[nick1985]

Illinois is even worse, I know because I lived in NJ too.

13.5% tax here and tax all kinds of things extra like candy, sugar, etc. Toll roads you hit the toll like very 6 miles. Property taxes insane and they keep doubling them. People in Schaumburg area just west of Ohare paying $16,000 taxes for ordinary 3 bed 2 bath ranch.

Its because of the Republicans in Illinois, right Dave?

 

[bobdole369]

Oh yeah. And I forgot all about - HURRICANES!!!!!!

Every couple years they threaten us. Every 10 years or so one actually hits and does some damage. Wilma in 2005 was a glancing blow. Andrew in 92 is more typical. 25,000 homes destroyed, 100,000 damaged and immediately unlivable, nearly a quarter million people homeless.

1926 Miami hurricane (The Big Blow)
1935 Labor Day hurricane
1947 Fort Lauderdale Hurricane
1928 Lake Okeechobee
1964 Hurricane Cleo
1960 Hurricane Donna
1992 Hurricane Andrew
2004 double whammy Jeanne Francis
2005 Hurricane Wilma

Granted you do get a couple days notice to get the eff outta dodge, but its still terribly frightening, costly, disruptive, and can be deadly.

 

[hoyaguru]

Unless you are considering South Georgia then keep in mind it snowed twice here (so far) and the second time it shut down the greater metro Atlanta areas for a week.

Everything got delayed, suspended, etc.

We've had so much snow here in NJ for the past couple of years, we probably wouldn't even notice the little bit that falls down south. The wife just told me we might get another (ANOTHER!) 20 inches next week. Every time we make plans to do something or go soemwhere, it snows and we have to cancel.

It is funny to watch the news here when it snows an inch or two down south, watching people who don't know how to drive in it.

 

[hoyaguru]

When stationed at Robins AFB (Central GA); snow hit enough that the streets became impassible. Police were getting stuck/sliding off the road.

This may have been a freak occurance of the amount, but it does get some snow down that far south.

Speaking of Robins AFB: I'm a veteran, I'm wondering if there are any benefits in either state for veterans. I currently get $250 off my property tax every year becasue I'm a veteran.

 

[hoyaguru]

Oh yeah. And I forgot all about - HURRICANES!!!!!!

Every couple years they threaten us. Every 10 years or so one actually hits and does some damage. Wilma in 2005 was a glancing blow. Andrew in 92 is more typical. 25,000 homes destroyed, 100,000 damaged and immediately unlivable, nearly a quarter million people homeless.

1926 Miami hurricane (The Big Blow)
1935 Labor Day hurricane
1947 Fort Lauderdale Hurricane
1928 Lake Okeechobee
1964 Hurricane Cleo
1960 Hurricane Donna
1992 Hurricane Andrew
2004 double whammy Jeanne Francis
2005 Hurricane Wilma

Granted you do get a couple days notice to get the eff outta dodge, but its still terribly frightening, costly, disruptive, and can be deadly.

How does Georgia make out with the hurricanes? We always hear about Florida, but never anything about Georgia, when a big hurricane hits. Does Florida pretty much take a lot of the intensity out of a hurricane before it gets to Georgia?

 

[Fingolfin269]

I haven't read this entire thread to see if there is any reason other than weather that you're considering GA or FL. Have you considered middle TN at all? The Nashville area is growing and is a really nice place. Check out Franklin, TN. Keep in mind that one thing you get to contend with the further south you go is the brutal humid summer. You're trading your awful winters for sometimes unbearable summer weather.

 

[hoyaguru]

OK, from what I've read, I'm currently leaning towards Georgia. What we're generally looking for is a place that is not in the city, but within a half hour or so drive from the city so we can get groceries, go to the hospital if needed, go out and have a nice dinner, etc. Somewhere kind of close to a military base would be nice, as I think I could go there for medical help since I'm a veteran.

"The Sticks" is I guess what we'd call it here, a place where everyone has a lot of land, houses are far enough apart where your neighbor isn't going to complain when I shoot my guns, I could build a shack in the backyard without the city government catching on and charging me for a bunch of permits. I don't mind going without a lot of "modern conveniences", I'd like a nice sized garden so I can grow my own vegetables, maybe some fruit trees, possibly some livestock.

My wife has been looking around the surrounding areas of Macon, GA, anyone live around there that can tell me what it's like?

Edit: Ohe yeah, we don't have any kids, so the education system doesn't matter to us at all.

 

[Demo24]

How does Georgia make out with the hurricanes? We always hear about Florida, but never anything about Georgia, when a big hurricane hits. Does Florida pretty much take a lot of the intensity out of a hurricane before it gets to Georgia?

Well, largely hurricanes tend to hit in the gulf of mexico and then move north that way. Every so often (usually every few years) one hits on the Atlantic side. So yes living in south ga you will experience the storm, but it will be somewhat less intense than living in FL or on the coast. However tornadoes and severe thunderstorms crop up during this time, so that's one concern. Flooding can be another, south Ga experienced some bad flooding last year but from my experience that's not a hugely common event.

If you go to the Ga coast then you will likely have to deal with hurricanes at some point. They do not tend to make landfall there though, just because the coast is somewhat recessed. However you'll get a lot of rain and wind. On the other hand it's easy enough to escape, just go to ATL or somewhere slightly north and you'll be able to easily wait it out.

 

[Demo24]

OK, from what I've read, I'm currently leaning towards Georgia. What we're generally looking for is a place that is not in the city, but within a half hour or so drive from the city so we can get groceries, go to the hospital if needed, go out and have a nice dinner, etc. Somewhere kind of close to a military base would be nice, as I think I could go there for medical help since I'm a veteran.

"The Sticks" is I guess what we'd call it here, a place where everyone has a lot of land, houses are far enough apart where your neighbor isn't going to complain when I shoot my guns, I could build a shack in the backyard without the city government catching on and charging me for a bunch of permits. I don't mind going without a lot of "modern conveniences", I'd like a nice sized garden so I can grow my own vegetables, maybe some fruit trees, possibly some livestock.

My wife has been looking around the surrounding areas of Macon, GA, anyone live around there that can tell me what it's like?

Edit: Ohe yeah, we don't have any kids, so the education system doesn't matter to us at all.

Macon is a dangerous city I can tell you that. It's also been very badly hit by the recession. My grandfather lives about 15 miles outside of Macon, and while that area is safe and pretty nice (Lizella is the 'town'), traveling into Macon is not! I believe a lot of the 'non-minority' population moved to the north side of town.


I think the question is if you want to live in south Ga or northern ga? Because the Athens area is quite nice. My mom lives about 20 minutes away and it's the rural setting you are looking for. Also very easy to pop into town for a nice evening or some shopping, what have you.


Ga gun laws are pretty nice to us owners as well, so you should be good there once you obtain residency. A Concealed carry (which is good to have even if you dont carry) is very easy to obtain, and relatively cheap.

 

[hoyaguru]

Macon is a dangerous city I can tell you that. It's also been very badly hit by the recession. My grandfather lives about 15 miles outside of Macon, and while that area is safe and pretty nice (Lizella is the 'town'), traveling into Macon is not! I believe a lot of the 'non-minority' population moved to the north side of town.


I think the question is if you want to live in south Ga or northern ga? Because the Athens area is quite nice. My mom lives about 20 minutes away and it's the rural setting you are looking for. Also very easy to pop into town for a nice evening or some shopping, what have you.


Ga gun laws are pretty nice to us owners as well, so you should be good there once you obtain residency. A Concealed carry (which is good to have even if you dont carry) is very easy to obtain, and relatively cheap.

Wow, never heard that about Macon, I thought it was a nice place.

Great to hear about the gun laws, the area I'm living in now, there's nowhere to shoot, not even an indoor range. I grew up shooting guns, loading my own shells, really enjoyed it and I really miss it. That's another reason I'd like land. I grew up on 10 acres (bordering on several thousand acres of state land where no one was allowed to build) and got used to shooting whenever I wanted.

 

[KentState]

My neighbors are actually from New Jersey. Finding someone that was born here is pretty rare. I would say that Atlanta and 40 miles in any direction is not like the traditional south. There are a lot of jobs to find if you are educated in areas like marketing, engineering, telecommunications, internet and so on. The only downside, and a reason I would move is the bad school systems. They are better up where I live near the Forsyth/Gwinnett county. There are also a lot of good private schools if money allows.

 

[alfa147x]

Stick to the northern side of Atlanta. Macon is a shit hole.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I have friends who live in Tucker. Seems like to nice enough place. Screw Atlanta traffic though.

 

[KK]

Macon is a dangerous city I can tell you that. It's also been very badly hit by the recession. My grandfather lives about 15 miles outside of Macon, and while that area is safe and pretty nice (Lizella is the 'town'), traveling into Macon is not! I believe a lot of the 'non-minority' population moved to the north side of town.


I think the question is if you want to live in south Ga or northern ga? Because the Athens area is quite nice. My mom lives about 20 minutes away and it's the rural setting you are looking for. Also very easy to pop into town for a nice evening or some shopping, what have you.


Ga gun laws are pretty nice to us owners as well, so you should be good there once you obtain residency. A Concealed carry (which is good to have even if you dont carry) is very easy to obtain, and relatively cheap.

Yeah, Macon downtown sucks, maybe just north of macon around the bass pro it'd be better. Athens area wouldn't be bad around the watkinsville area. We were looking for places around there but housing prices in that area are high. They have really good schools out there. We settled outside of monroe in walton county. Public schools here are pretty good also. If you wanted a lake, Lake jackson has cheap property, although that lake is kinda trashy. You can go more east and live out on Lake Oconee, its a much nicer lake although houses are more expensive. Lake sinclair is just right below it, which is close to milledgeville. Not sure what the schools are like out there, probably most of the people out there put their kids in private school.

Where are you going to work? Do you have kids in school, if you don't have kids, then that opens up alot of possibilities. Most places are nice but the schools suck.

 

[Demo24]

Wow, never heard that about Macon, I thought it was a nice place.

Great to hear about the gun laws, the area I'm living in now, there's nowhere to shoot, not even an indoor range. I grew up shooting guns, loading my own shells, really enjoyed it and I really miss it. That's another reason I'd like land. I grew up on 10 acres (bordering on several thousand acres of state land where no one was allowed to build) and got used to shooting whenever I wanted.

It use to be somewhat nice, but that's many years ago. Driving through now and you'll see largely vacant & run down buildings/houses. There's just not that much there anymore and I'm really not sure what most of the higher end population does. On a potentially positive side, if you go just outside the city (like to the south, Lizella) you can get some impressively big and nice homes for a rather good price. GA has been hit hard by the housing bubble and there are a ton of foreclosures in the state.


Long as you aren't in a city then you probably won't have any real issues going out in your back yard and shooting, long as you aren't really disturbing anyone in the process(might vary by county, not sure). You can pretty much whatever you'd like when your on your property.

 

[TridenT]

How about a real state?

 

[highland145]

Great to hear about the gun laws, the area I'm living in now, there's nowhere to shoot, not even an indoor range. I grew up shooting guns, loading my own shells, really enjoyed it and I really miss it. That's another reason I'd like land. I grew up on 10 acres (bordering on several thousand acres of state land where no one was allowed to build) and got used to shooting whenever I wanted.

The South. You will be welcomed with open arms.

FWIW, Sis lives in Mexico Beach, FL on the pan handle. Go by Macon to get there.

Someone mentioned our recent snow. Twice in a month. Hasn't happened since they have been keeping track 100+ years ago. Damn global warming. You might have to move to the Keys.

 

[bobdole369]

My wife has been looking around the surrounding areas of Macon, GA, anyone live around there that can tell me what it's like?

Hope you're white. The KKK has its world HQ around there somewhere.

I got pulled over in Macon (I'm white) wife and I were in a 89 firebird packed to the brim we were moving from FL to MI (don't ask it was 2002 and we were idiots - only lasted a couple weeks)

Cop: "Y'all been consumin' any alcohol??"
Wife: "uh no sir we're just passing through, we're moving to my husbands uncles house in Michigan"
Cop: "So thats why yer firebird is packed full a' shit huh?"
Wife: "Yes, sir"
Cop: "Git outta the car, both of ya"

He really really really wanted to search us and was gonna get on the horn to do so but someone called on the radio first and he had to run.

We ate dinner at Denny's in town and a Macon cop again wanted to know what was in our car (he was poking around in the windows with his flashlight and I couldn't tell it was a cop).
Cop: (Upon looking at me in person) - "Oh sorry sir, I assumed this was the vehicle of a vagrant."

 

[Heller]

Hmm, I saw a lot down in the Boca Raton area last time... I'm going down there next week and will keep an eye out again

I live there, go check out downtown boca, its a blast.

 

[alfa147x]

Definitely find a job where you live. I was commuting from the north east part of the perimeter to the west side and it took over 2.5 hours trying get home. That's fucking stupid, it's a hour drive with no traffic.

Good thing I only had to do that for 3 days

Once again: Fuck Macon.