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Due to a somewhat odd set of circumstances, my wife and I have started to think about, instead of sitting around watching cave videos and talking cave diving in New York, moving to Gainesville where we could get off the couch and go diving at the drop of a hat.
Anyone else pulled the trigger on something like this? Is there anything to do other than dive? Does it really matter, because we'd be too busy diving to give a damn?
Are you independently Wealthy? there in not crap for Work in Gainesville unless you work at the School or in the Service industry. Or if you are a Florida licensed Plumber willing to cover Clermont to Lake City. I can get you work.
We just recently retired down here. However it was part of a long term plan with Chateau H20. They are right above about there being no real work.
MA
IT depends what you like to do. I did it - I'm from NJ (though I had a couple stops in between.)
There's a TON to do. If you enjoy the outdoors, it's amazing. The rivers give you countless opportunities to be outside.
If you like to go out and party, the limit on partying type spots will get old quick. Same for dining out.
The diving will be awesome for the first year, or two, or whatever it takes and you may continue to dive but will give up some since it's right down the street. You might start giving up weekend summer dives at Ginnie Springs, especially when it's the only one open. You may consider a trip to Marianna a haul when you used to do it in a heartbeat and it was 14 hours away.
The dive community is growing there and that helps keep life interesting. Just following the drama is better than having to pay a cable bill.
It's been my experience that people either love or hate Gainesville. If you went to UF, the sun rises and sets in Gainesville. I worked for a company in Gainesville for two years and couldn't wait to get out and go home to Orlando on the weekends. It is nice to get up to the High Springs area though as it's nice and quiet and obviously for the diving as well.
I have over the last two decades seen so many people move to "cave country" to live the dream,even remember one person getting divorced to do it. I can't recall very many staying,or staying active in cave diving. Kind of reminded me of someone from the midwest I worked with that went to the beach every weekend,and decided that is where they have to be. They relocated to the beach,and over the couple years they stayed before they moved,they got tired of the beach and quit going-same paradigm applies to cave diving. Good luck on your decision.Quote:
Originally Posted by oya
I moved to PCB, which is within a one-hour drive of great cave diving. The trick is to not go so often you burn out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelly Jessop
The difference for you of moving from "entertainment capital of the world" (as Tim Wilson calls it) to PCB,is not that dramatic,since for most people in South GA,PCB is a second home. Think if you moved 1000 miles,for the sole purpose of cave diving. Besides,we all know you moved to be closer to a Sonny's,since Columbus has so many Countrys. :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Slüdge
They actually opened a Sonny's in Columbus a few years ago. It closed seven months later.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelly Jessop
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelly Jessop
It's common in Vermont for people to move here for the skiing, and then to realize that they've moved to a rural backwater where the amenities they took for granted in the city are nonexistent, good jobs are few and far between, and that winter is a lot more fun when it's for a ski weekend than as an every day reality 5 months of the year. Some settle in, but more of them flee after a winter or two.
This is especially true for people whose northern New England fantasies include running a small town general store or a bed & breakfast, which pretty much guarantee that they won't have any free time to go skiing and wouldn't be able to afford to if they did. There are real estate agents who make a pretty good living by repeatedly selling the same general stores and B&B's to new hopefuls from down-country every couple of years.
But if Tracy and I acted on our idle fantasies of moving to Suwannee County, we'd just be trading one poverty-stricken rural backwater for another. It's what we're used to. Just hot and flat and with cave diving vs mountainous and cold and no cave diving!
Mike
PCB's were outlawed as a toxic substance that destroys the environment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slüdge
Quote:
Originally Posted by MORGAN
hot,flat.....and flooded...and mosquito ridden.
We have plenty of mosquitos in the Great North Woods, and black flies as well, which make mosquitos seem insignificant. But it's only 90 days from frost to frost, so we don't have them for 9 months of the year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelly Jessop
The flooding is a good point, though. Water runs downhill, and we have plenty of downhill for it to run down, so flooding events tend to be severe, but brief and localized. By the time the water gets up to my house, the church steeple in Chelsea villlage a mile away would be under 300 feet of water.
I did it last August, I moved to Tampa from NYC. (My grandmother lives in this area.) I'm not even cave certified yet, but I'm working on it and living in FL makes it easier. I'm about 2 1/2 hours away, and I get up there 1-2 weekends/month. Fortunately, I'm a public school teacher so I can relocate anywhere in the country and have a pretty good chance of finding work.
I've never once regretted leaving New York. I say, go for it.
Wife and I are both Registered Nurses so employment has never been an issue. We moved to Suwannee County from Michigan 10 years ago. If the cave diving gets too boring the Keys are only an 8 hour drive.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We are moving to southern North Carolina in just one month. Looking forward to meeting some of the forum members!
Not looking forward to a 2,400 mile drive with a horse, two dogs and three cats, plus two moving vans, two vehicle trailers and a large horse trailer. Ugh!
So I am on a plane and strike up a conversation with the woman next to me. Turns out she is an avid environmentalist.Quote:
Originally Posted by OFG-1
She asks me what I do for a living, and I told her I designed complex PCBs. (knowing full well she would not be thinking Printed Circuit Board) . Just before the laser beams emitting from her eyes cut me in half, I explained there's more than one meaning for PCB...
I had a pretty good chuckle out it.
When I was finishing my degree my idea was to go work as a school teacher. And then we began what I gleefully call "the war on education" here in Floriduh. And I realized it would be less stressful to remain an IT nerd.Quote:
Originally Posted by karen18
Hats off to you. We need motivated teachers.
Grand Cayman is closer than the keys. Just saying. Even with TSA theater you can be there in five hours from High Springs.Quote:
Originally Posted by DogDiver
We moved down from North Carolina 11 years ago, after getting tired of the 8-9 hrs drive once a month to come dive the caves.
Work was never an issue, Scott commutes to DCA to get to work (he is a pilot), and I am a critical care nurse at one of the local hospitals….
Very happy, still, with our decision.
Jacksonville is close enough to cave country and the airport has plenty of scheduled flights to get anywhere you want or need to go.
Life is good..
Dive safe,
Celia
In the scope of relocating as Michael Angelo has revealed it takes a master plan that takes time to put into action.
For the last several years I have as other mentioned watched those who have moved either stop or rarely cave dive once they move.
I have determined to not let this happen to me not by happen stance but with a organized plan that once doors open I will be ready to move.
In my short time diving watching friends come and go I have made a creed to take time when I need it, be patient, train in anticipation for when things go awry, family priorities trump diving.
Sometime I will be in the southern area just exactly where is yet to be determined but for right now I am happy with making trips.
Making plans slow and researching areas, real-estate, has allowed me to be aware of some of the un publicized characteristics that were not so visible.
Having awesome friends helps to, they help to acquaint you with the reality of North Florida.
All in all it is awesome having OW / Cave available 24 / 7 even if floods come and go it still is better than solid water "ICE"!
Besides the Keys are always available for some relaxing!
JCG
Florida sucks if you're not in to the water. The outdoors is much nicer elsewhere. The state is relatively business friendly, and there is no state income tax.
I agree. The place is a dump. It is filled with mosquitoes, no see ums, at least 3 different types venomous spiders, rattlesnakes, copperheads, moccasins, coral snakes, palmetto bugs, alligators, crocodiles, damn yankees, illegal immigrants, strip mines, sinkholes, rising sea levels, transplanted refugees from Georgia, mousketeers, wacko's by the gross, gross wacko's, meth heads, not to mention rednecks, drunks of all ages, sharks, sting rays, urchins (both sea and street), invasive species like giant lizards, pythons, Melaleuca trees, hydrilla, Island Apple snails, Lac Scale, walking catfish, and all the damn tilapia that have escaped. Hell, just yesterday, we had a wacko bite off his girlfriends lower lip in a argument.Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenwood_60
And if that is not enough, just look at this list:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/crazy...ear-in-florida
Add to that hanging chads, and a governor that looks like Skeletor, and I suggest you go to Missouri. Lots of good cave diving there.
Are you with Harris?Quote:
Originally Posted by diveconjeff
Our Governor does not look like Skeletor..... He looks like a light bulb... But of course that reference is soon to be lost as CFL take over.Quote:
Originally Posted by OFG-1
I am stuck up here in Fort Wayne, In. for work and can't wait to get back to the redneck riviera. Even with all the problems Florida has I would take anywhere in Florida over Indiana. I have traveled around the country a good bit for work and Florida is definitely my favorite place in the US. South Lake Tahoe was a close second though.
Florida misses you, Eric. The caves miss you. Hurry back.
OK. If he wore a thick turtleneck sweater, what would he look like?Quote:
Originally Posted by curtschu
The only problem is he doesn't have a vertically challenged duoQuote:
Originally Posted by OFG-1
You're obsessed with those things, aren't you?Quote:
Originally Posted by OFG-1
Turtlenecks? Yes, I do like them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slüdge
My wife and I moved from Atlanta and came to Gainesville without a job at the age of 60. I am now self employed and do pretty well. I set my own schedule and dive when and where I want to.
Life is too short not to do what you truly desire. There are a ton of contacts if you want to make some money. Networking always pays off. Let me know if I can be of any help.
PM me and you and your wife can come and check it out. You all can stay in our house and explore Gainesville and the surrounding area.
I have learned that when something is better than anything else the public does not want to share it. OFG-1 must really love Florida.Quote:
Originally Posted by OFG-1
And don't forget Florida Man. He's still on the loose...
http://www.reddit.com/r/floridaman
Ever hear of Disney World?Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenwood_60
The scourge of the state!!Quote:
Originally Posted by ams511
Ratworld!Quote:
Originally Posted by ams511
I've work for Disney many a year and though they are not perfect, they are no worse and in many cases a lot better than any other Producers in the entertainment industries. At least, Disney theatrical, with whom I worked, has no issues with living up to any contracts, have high production values, are safety conscience (when you properly justify your concerns and don't undercut on number of crews. Any issues I had always centered around an individual manager and each time the tech director fixed.Quote:
Originally Posted by gschaut
Disney is great especially with an annual pass. When I grow up I want to live there.Quote:
Originally Posted by mfascuba
Quote:
Originally Posted by ams511
Perhaps you can bunk with Snow White now. Hell, she's already sleeping with 7 dwarves, what's one more?
However, my guess is that once you discontinue the use of hallucinogens, your thrill of Disney World will wane.
There is lots to do around here, we have the only Three Time Gold Medal Pask System. In 2005 I was getting sick of the rude people living way to close to me in South Florida so I bought 10 acres in Old Town FL (not near the mouse, the one in Dixie Co). Every time we came up to clear and build our small cabin we would take a day to go to diffrent parks or towns. Every time it was harder to go back to South Florida, so we closed our dive shop and moved up in 2010. Have not been back since, it took a long time to get a job. In March of 2013 I became the Infamous Ranger Chris, the Ranger that is Cave-Intro Certified. I did my 30th Cave Dive before work an Manatee Springs today. Good Luck to You, and if you are at Manatee Diving say hello.
Chris,
I think my son just talked with you a few hours ago when he came in to pick up our c-cards. He asked you about the new concessions people near the head spring. Nice to see that back open again. (The head spring and the concessions stand.)
It was also nice to see the park almost empty today. I think there was only one small group of cave divers all day along with three open water divers. I guess it's that way due to most not knowing the head spring is back open...?
Today was my first dive since breaking two leg bones above my left ankle the last week of January while working in Virginia. I've been waiting months for this and what a great day it was at Manatee!
Gene
P.S. I still have family in Tampa Bay as well as Palm Beach County and I'm with you with living in north FL!
Gene, Congrats on being back in the water!
Mike
Thanks Mike! It's one of two things I've been working on. Back to work followed by back in the water.
Doctor still says no deco dives for now as a safety precaution, and to be extra careful when entering and exiting the water. Use steps for now as opposed to slippery rocks, etc.
I thought Manatee would fit the bill perfectly and it did.
good to hear you're back Gene
I lived in Orlando for many years and always liked Disney. If you ever have some time to kill ride the Disney Transportation System from resort to resort. Its free and pretty cool to see all the different things there. You can also ride the boats for free at the Disney Village to Port Orleans and other resorts.Quote:
Originally Posted by snakedoc
What the hell, Welcome to Florida:
http://www.clickorlando.com/image/vi...a-road-jpg.jpg
I spent 6 years in Gainsville so that i could pursue my cave diving ! In those first 3 yrs i was able to dive 3-4 days a week exploring both tourist caves & vents found ridge walking ! The last 3 yrs i went broke in Gainesvilel ! Jobs are scarce as mentioned below and housing is both tight & expensive ! I ended up moving back to Denver to find work & restablish myself.
I now live in Orlando, where work is readily available & housing is moderate to expensive. If you are a doctor or lawyer, than by all means move to Gainesville, but you may be hard pressed to find clients !
Good luck !
Jack
I moved from Southern Illinois to Ocala in 2000, loved every minute of it! I dove every chance I got and met a lot of great people. in 2004 I moved to Munice, IN and haven't dived a lick. Retirement looms in the near future and I'm looking forward to returning back to Cave Country. If you can afford to do it, by all means live your dream.
But you have a GREAT place to fly Model AircraftQuote:
Originally Posted by sdalcher
I am trying to take orders back to Florida just for the cave diving.
Does this mean you are cleared to dive again?Quote:
Originally Posted by adam0321
Yay!Quote:
Originally Posted by adam0321
Well once I left the dive school I was fully cleared for diving/jumping duty. But I spoke with my new command and we agreed that with me being the commands only diving supervisor I would simply monitor and run the dives for the unit. While slowly working my way back into the water. After having been out here for over a year I started diving again. First on my own just basic OW scuba dives ( yes with a yoke regulator sludge. I'll make up for it when I get state side). I have since been doing some dives on the rebreathers at work and some deeper scuba dives. No ear problems!! When I get back to the states I am going to attempt to work back into the caves slowly. Probably take a refresher class.
I'll be perfectly honest I think I spent about a year maybe a bit less between my intro and full cave cert. but I still think I rushed it a bit and let my confidence and ego push me further and faster than I should have gone. I read somewhere that if you are lucky god will grant you one mistake in the caves. I consider that my mistake. Although my injury occurred while doing a working dive while at the school. and I did dive with in my certification level maybe a bit beyond my skill and experience level. Lesson learned and I am very thankful that I may be able to dive again.
It looks like after this I might be going back to North Carolina for a few years and after that my name is on a very small list to come back to panama as the head of our dive school.
That is great news!Quote:
Originally Posted by adam0321
Orlando has a ton of Engineering and hospitality jobs. If you're not in one of these fields, finding work might be a lot more difficult-- especially if you're used to NYC where 6 figure jobs are literally on every corner (of course the cost of loving negates much of that). I went to college here, and a lot of friends who really enjoyed Orlando had to move to find work in their field.Quote:
Originally Posted by JE
I haven't looked a ton personally (because if I'm moving, it's to Colorado), but a lot of people I mentioned having to leave to find work have had good luck finding jobs in Tampa or Jacksonville.
I think having an annual pass makes theme parks a lot of fun. You don't feel as if you have to stay all day, you can go, ride a coaster or two, and go home. Since you're local, you can stop by after work during the week when it's slow, or on weekends during non peak seasons. I would never even consider spending a week long vacation at the theme parks, but the method I mentioned is a great option to have.Quote:
Originally Posted by snakedoc
"I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome I took some comfort there, la la la la la la la..."Quote:
Originally Posted by jj1987
Nice. An S&G reference. One of my favorites.
Sent from behind a pint of Guinness.
Sludge, that was not a typo, the cost of loving negates most of your income no matter where you live and work.