[E39lolz]

Currently my wife, our son (6 yrs old) and her daughter (14) rent a house in good ol' Beacon NY, about an hour north from NYC. She works in the medical field and I delivery pizza's for a living for the past 4 years. Why? Well I got laid off from a marketing firm back in early 2009 and haven't been able to find work in my field since. I only have a BS degree in the crummy field of finance from SUNY New Paltz and have been told that I'm overqualified many times. So last summer we decided that a change is needed as we're getting sick and tired of the cold weather in NY and that if we stay here I'll be delivering pizza's until I'm in my 60's.

Well the real reason is that my mother is offering to give us her house in the Kendall area of Miami, a pretty good/safe area near US1. Also, I have a job in line thanks to my aunt and my wife has many leads for employment in the medical field. Over the past 6 months whenever she would apply for a job in the Miami area they would call her back within the hour for interviews. She has contacts to dr's and medical offices that told her to call up when we move down on June 21st. We'll have about 6 months of expenses saved up, plus employment (hopefully) within a few weeks after we move down.

So school me on living in Miami. I lived down over in Cutler Ridge (now named Cutler Bay) back in 93-94 during 10th grade and thought it was ok back then but now I'm older with a family. My son will adapt anywhere as he's a little PITA and very outgowing. Step daughter is excited but will be missing friends and this dude she likes. Time for a shotgun and a shovel. As for vehicles we'll be bringing down a 13 Mustang v6 and a 13 x1 35i. The house has a pool/lake in the backyard and is much bigger than our house here in NY. I'm looking forward to weekend trips to Key West, Daytona Beach and visiting a mouse over in the Orlando area. So anyone here in the Miami area?

Cliffs: tired of delivering pizza's, moving to Miami with the family, jobs pretty much inline, tips on living in Miami.

[dreamingat30fps]

I lived on South Beach for a few years before moving more north to Palm Beach county. Having never lived in a cold area I don't know how people can do it. I visit Boston occasionally and last time was during Christmas. People were telling us how lucky we were that the weather had been so good during our stay compared to other years. We were dying it was so freaking cold.

Anyways as for specific tips I'm not sure. Speaking spanish is definitely a plus. I have been told by others they felt like everything was in Spanish and they would go to places and no one would speak English. However being Cuban and speaking Spanish I may not be very cognizant of that issue.

Honestly now days I try not to head to Miami much it's just too crowded for me. Traffic is crazy, people are crazy and it feels like everywhere I go there's a line. Weather right now is getting bad (hot & humid) but honestly we have had a good run this year of I would say at least 6-7 months of awesome top down weather. I can't think of anywhere else I would want to live (for more than a month or so).

[E39lolz]

I'm Cuban, Dominican and Peruvian and my Spanish it horrible =/. I know all too well about the traffic in Miami and the crazy drivers everywhere. Its like driving in Manhatten IMHO. Also something I should point out is that both of our cars are blk/blk so that equals death in the Miami heat (I hate the NBA team lol). Its a bad sports town, though I love the Hurricanes as my father went to the U back in the 70's. I will miss NY and the great driving roads upstate NY has to offer, though as I mentioned earlier we are in need of a change.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by E39lolz

I'm Cuban, Dominican and Peruvian and my Spanish it horrible =/. I know all too well about the traffic in Miami and the crazy drivers everywhere. Its like driving in Manhatten IMHO. Also something I should point out is that both of our cars are blk/blk so that equals death in the Miami heat (I hate the NBA team lol). Its a bad sports town, though I love the Hurricanes as my father went to the U back in the 70's. I will miss NY and the great driving roads upstate NY has to offer, though as I mentioned earlier we are in need of a change.

I enjoy driving down A1A (although big difference when you go further north). Sometime I'll take A1A all the way home from work and just chill. As for the car heat its never bothered me much though I'm probably use to it. Just hold the fob to put the windows down before you get in the car.

Still prefer to live through a few months of hot humid weather than freezing weather. It's easy to fix hot and humid, you either stay inside or take off clothing and jump in the water. Beats putting on 24 sweaters (then taking them off when you get somewhere )

[fireline43]

first of all let me tell you "i'm sorry". Miami should be cut off the US in my opinion.

But anyway, enough of that. Spanish culture and language are pretty much going to be your life now. You will have to drive like you are in a third world country. Alot of businesses only speak spanish. People will be selling fruit at light intersections because that's what they do in their countries. There is a ridiculous amount of crowding and congestion ( you might be used to it from NYC though).

I'm from palm beach, and it's amazing how the world changes driving an hour south in Florida.

[E39lolz]

I have relatives over in Boca Raton (Glades exit off of I-95 IIRC) and I love it there. Miami has so much diveristy and I'm not saying its a bad thing, just something that we have to get used to. I just don't want to get that feeling when the 'honeymoom' is over after the 3rd week that we are thinking about moving back up north. However, I know that if we came back I wouldn't have employment, finding another place to live and all that crap. I'm sure things will work out as I understand a period of transition will be both positive and negative for us four. As for the driving roads, I drove A1A from Boca all the way to Miami and it has its twits and turns that will satisfy my driving needs to a certain extent. Also, alot of area's in Miami must be avoided like the plague but that exists in every major city.

[Mr Tonka]

Hope you don't like driving and you speak spanish.

Sounds like it'll be good for you in other areas though. Good luck!

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by fireline43

first of all let me tell you "i'm sorry". Miami should be cut off the US in my opinion.

But anyway, enough of that. Spanish culture and language are pretty much going to be your life now. You will have to drive like you are in a third world country. Alot of businesses only speak spanish. People will be selling fruit at light intersections because that's what they do in their countries. There is a ridiculous amount of crowding and congestion ( you might be used to it from NYC though).

I'm from palm beach, and it's amazing how the world changes driving an hour south in Florida.

It seems most Floridians despise Miami. haha

Edit, i should say most Floridians would despise living there. It is a nice place to visit for a weekend as stated below. I lived in Hollywood, FL for 3 years and came back to tampa almost every weekend.

[Wakka]

For what its worth... im in tampa and i love miami. not so sure i could live there... but its a blast to have a weekend there.

[TK-421]

I'm in Tampa and love Miami.... to visit. Fuck living there unless it's in Coral Gables or something.

[stimpy]

Originally Posted by TK-421

I'm in Tampa and love Miami.... to visit. Fuck living there unless it's in Coral Gables or something.

+1. Lived in Tampa a couple of years with a short stint in Boca. Tampa = awesome. Miami = the suck.

Diviertete

[HOG4DNR]

I have lived in Pompano Beach (just North of Ft. Lauderdale) for 35 years and seen my Miami change.

The people are nice but since I don't speak Spanish or want to deal with the drivers and traffic, I rarely ever venture south of the Broward county line.

Also, stay away from older Nissan Sentras, Toyota Corollas, and Isuzu Rodeos, especially on the entrance ramps to 95, unless you want to merge at about 35mph.

[justinnum1]

Kendall is not the safest place in south florida...

[kevinbahnz]

I was about to say congratulations after reading the OP.

['Cane]

Do you know what is the nicest thing about Miami?















That its so close to the United States.



J/K, not serious.






OK, a little serious.

[E39lolz]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

Kendall is not the safest place in south florida...

I never mentioned that Kendall was the safest place in south Florida but it is better than other areas. West Kendall is ehhh IMHO but we'll be east. Not sure of the street/avenues as its still confusing but the house is right on Lake Galloway for those keeping score at home. 106 street or 106 ave??? Its gonna take some time to get used to it all.

I know the car scene is pretty huge so I'm hoping to maybe tag along with you guys to any local BMW meets and drives. Gotta make new friends now -_-

[E39lolz]

Originally Posted by 'Cane

Do you know what is the nicest thing about Miami?

That its so close to the United States.


J/K, not serious.



OK, a little serious.

Cubans are all over like roaches and I'm Cuban. I know they'll look at you funny if you speak English. Forgot to mention that I went to Florida Atlantic University over at the Davie campus Fall 2003 semester and I was over at Little Havana for nearly every Hurricane home game and I loved the Orange Bowl. Shame they tore it down. Anyway, I'm surprised to hear so much negative. Any positives? I'm not going to be hanging around Homestead (eon's away from everything) nor Carol/Liberty City gangland territories. South Beach, Bayside, Grove all get played out but I just see this as a better opportunity.

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by E39lolz

Cubans are all over like roaches and I'm Cuban. I know they'll look at you funny if you speak English. Forgot to mention that I went to Florida Atlantic University over at the Davie campus Fall 2003 semester and I was over at Little Havana for nearly every Hurricane home game and I loved the Orange Bowl. Shame they tore it down. Anyway, I'm surprised to hear so much negative. Any positives? I'm not going to be hanging around Homestead (eon's away from everything) nor Carol/Liberty City gangland territories. South Beach, Bayside, Grove all get played out but I just see this as a better opportunity.

It's probably different if you're from NYC. It seemed that when i lived down there everyone was from Cuba or NYC. So you're good!

[fireline43]

Originally Posted by E39lolz

Cubans are all over like roaches and I'm Cuban. I know they'll look at you funny if you speak English. Forgot to mention that I went to Florida Atlantic University over at the Davie campus Fall 2003 semester and I was over at Little Havana for nearly every Hurricane home game and I loved the Orange Bowl. Shame they tore it down. Anyway, I'm surprised to hear so much negative. Any positives? I'm not going to be hanging around Homestead (eon's away from everything) nor Carol/Liberty City gangland territories. South Beach, Bayside, Grove all get played out but I just see this as a better opportunity.

hmm positives? your closer to the Keys? lol. But your cuban and you went to college down there. It won't be bad for you. As a pompano beach born floridian, miami is garbage. It honestly feels like another country.
You could always live in pembroke pines or weston, that's the cubans who wanted to be away from miami area. I don't like those areas either because they are far west.
To me the palm beach area such as boca raton/delray is the best on the east coast. Low crime, clean, low taxes, nice resturants and bars, close to the ocean. Broward is the middle ground between palm beach and miami. It's were I grew up, but It's changed alot over 30 years also. Take the neighborhood I'm from. It was all rednecks until like 10 years ago, now it's little haiti/brazil and alot of crime.
There is alot of opportunity in miami, so your right on that, but it's not the same. Alot of favoritism and politics. Everything is very corrupt down there.

[Brunotheboxer]

Get a gun.

[E39lolz]

Originally Posted by Brunotheboxer

Get a gun.

I'm a man without it.

Obviously I was quoting Ice Cube from the movie Friday. Seems that everyone is packing heat and I know road rage is a major issue. US1 sux major ballz no matter what time of day it is. Where I'm at now traffic isn't an issue so we're gonna have to get used to the congestion.

[dreamingat30fps]

I don't personally like Miami because I don't like crowds or traffic, however some of the comments here are just so over the top they are ridiculous. Many of my friends live in Miami and don't speak a word of spanish. One of them works an hour away in Boca and drives every day. I ask him why he doesn't move north closer to work and he says he LOVES Miami and he would never move. Different strokes for different folks.

OP I'm not sure this applies to all industries, but I have personally noticed salaries north of Miami are significantly better than Miami. IMO it's pretty low in Miami, better in Ft Lauderdale, best around Boca then drop off again as you go further north towards west palm (less jobs also at least in my field).

You you may start off in Miami and end up moving north or decide you really like it and stay there. I'm in Boynton near Delray and I really like it. It's much calmer than Miami, cheaper housing and then you have Delray right there if you want to go out they have great bars and restaurants. Of course we have a lot more grey hairs around here which some people are not a fan of but it's fine with me.