In this post, I’d like to talk a bit about how my experience traveling, and even living in hotels, has informed my decision of where to live. I call Miami home, and people often contact me when they’re thinking of moving here to ask my take.
So let me share my philosophy more broadly, and then I’ll share my specific thoughts on Miami. This is partly prompted by Chris, who yesterday left a comment saying “I would love a post on your opinion on the best and worst things about living in Miami itself!”
In this post:
What travel has taught me about where to live
In my early 20s, I lived in hotels full-time for several years. There were a few motivations for that, not the least of which was that I was indecisive about where I wanted to live, so I decided to just not live anywhere in particular.
Many people assume that the more you travel, the more you have absolute favorite places, and the more you’re decisive about where you want to live (this always brings me back to “the curse of the traveler”). For me it has been exactly the opposite:
- There are places I adore, but I’m not sure I’d necessarily want to live in them long-term; there’s a huge difference between being a visitor somewhere, and actually living there
- The more places I’ve been, the more I’ve realized some of the cons to the places I love, and some of the pros to the places that I didn’t think I loved
- The specific place I live doesn’t impact my happiness much — rather it’s certain environmental factors that I’ve found to be much more important
- Given how little free time the average person has after factoring in work, family obligations, hanging out with friends, fitness, and other activities, I think people tend to place too much value on what cities have to offer, rather than other factors (which isn’t to say that those things aren’t important, but I just think they aren’t the most important)
Now, there are a few things worth acknowledging about my particular situation:
- I’m very fortunate that I can work from anywhere in the world; I recognize that for a lot of other people, job opportunities are what drive where people live, but that’s not the case for me
- I’m an introvert, so I’m not looking for big social scenes, and in that sense, I care more about having a small number of quality friends than being “connected”
- Admittedly this isn’t just about me anymore — I’m married, and we have two kids, so of course that makes any sort of move a much bigger decision
- I stay pretty busy in my own “bubble” when I’m home — I spend most of the day working, I spend most of the time I’m not working with family, and I try to make time to work out every day, since it helps me clear my mind
What I look for in a place to live, and why I like Miami
Miami is a pretty polarizing city. Some people think it’s an amazing place to live and vacation, and come here all the time. Some think it’s the least appealing and most overrated city in the United States.
Now, I probably have the least “Miami lifestyle” of anyone living in Miami. I go to bed early, get up early, and rarely go over to Miami Beach. So, what do I like about living in Miami? Let me share some of the things, ranked roughly in the order that I prioritize them:
- Warm weather and sun — personally I’m someone who loves to be in warm weather and to have sunlight, as it impacts my mood in such a positive way; if you have the same preferences that I do, there aren’t many places with weather as good as Florida
- Views & landscape — I love a place with beautiful views and geographic diversity, and I find it to be so inspiring as a backdrop; that could mean living in the middle of nowhere in the mountains, or having a view of the water, even if it’s in the distance (I wish Florida weren’t so flat, but I’ll take the ocean)
- Being close to family — while not in Miami, most of our family does live in Florida, so it’s great to be able to see them without traveling too far, and that has proven particularly valuable in recent years, as my mom battled cancer
- Proximity to an international airport — I love the fact that many places in Miami are just 10-20 minutes from the international airport, which is oh-so-convenient, especially when you’re a frequent flyer (even if Miami Airport leaves a lot to be desired)
- An easy life & access to services — one day I’d absolutely love to live in the middle of nowhere, but at this point in my life I appreciate the ease of living in a major city where you’re minutes from anything you could need, and where you have access to services like Uber Eats, Instacart, or whatever else; you can have just about anything delivered to your door in 30 minutes, and that saves me so much time and hassle
- A city that feels international — I absolutely adore how international Miami feels, as some days I legit feel like I’m in an expat in a different country; while I definitely feel like an outsider, I don’t mind it one bit (Ford, meanwhile, might now speak better Spanish than English… I’m not as linguistically talented)
- Cost of living — if you have the flexibility to live anywhere, cost of living is an important factor; unfortunately Miami has become much more expensive in recent years, but at least historically, there were benefits to the lack of a state income tax (though that doesn’t exist in a vacuum — other taxes are sometimes higher)
- Somewhere that’s accepting — I’m gay, married, and have kids, and while Miami certainly isn’t as liberal as many other major cities, I still feel relatively accepted, and don’t face any day-to-day issues in that regard; then again, I think in most places in the United States, that’s not a huge issue nowadays
That being said, Miami definitely isn’t my “forever home”
I think people often feel the need to promote and defend their home city as if they own it, or something. When people ask about me about moving to Miami, I’m not typically overly enthusiastic. Miami also has a lot of downsides, and it has gotten much worse over the years that I’ve lived here, in my opinion. What don’t I love about Miami? I’d say it comes down to two main areas.
First, Miami has become really, really expensive. It’s not that Miami was ever cheap, but as people have flocked down here post-pandemic, the costs of everything have skyrocketed. Restaurants now have New York prices, and as someone who has the ability to live anywhere, it’s kind of hard to justify living here.
Second, and I’m trying to think of the polite way to put this… Miami doesn’t necessarily have the highest quality people. Look, I don’t want to paint with too broad of a brush, and in a city as big as this, of course it’s easy to carve out your own community and find good people.
However, there’s no denying that the city attracts a certain type of crowd. Miami is often referred to as “a sunny place for shady people,” and I think that’s partly true. So many “crypto bros” move here for a year looking to make a quick buck and save on taxes. And then you of course mix that with transient New Yorkers, who are here for six months and one day. Miami is kind of like the Dubai of the United States. To be clear, I’m not saying any of those are “bad” people, but just that they’re here for a specific reason.
The level of “flash” in Miami is also next level. The number of people who spend more on leasing their car than they do on rent is kind of wild, but it’s oh-so-Miami. A studio apartment and a Lamborghini? That’s totally normal here! So that also creates a really distorted sense of reality, which I certainly have some concerns about, as our kids grow older.
So many people in Miami don’t care about quality, they just care about scene. For example, many of my favorite restaurants, which actually put pride in what they serve and have amazing food, struggle to stay in business. People would rather flock to a “clubstaurant” with sparklers, and where they can rub shoulders with other flashy people.
Like I said, everyone can carve out their own community, and of course there are also lots of great people here. But I definitely approach people here with a higher level of skepticism than I might in other cities.
Of course having kids complicates things greatly, and they are our priority in terms of picking a place to live and staying somewhere long term, so they feel they have a stable situation.
However, I still fantasize about one day living in the middle of nowhere. It just can’t be too cold, and has to have beautiful views. Gosh, how I’d love to live rural France, though I also realize I’m totally romanticizing that. There are obviously a lot of upsides to a life like that, but also many challenges.
Bottom line
Travel has no doubt changed what I’ve looked for in a place to live. I used to think there was one perfect place to live, and that I just needed to find it. Then I accepted that there are pros and cons to just about every place, and that if there were a perfect place to live, it would no longer be perfect because everyone would be there.
Personally I’m relatively happy living in Miami, even though I may not be your “typical” Miami person. I’m not a partier, and I don’t love the beach. For me Miami is a solid home base — the weather is nice, I love looking at the water, I love how international the city feels, I love how close it is to the airport, etc.
However, there are downsides that have certainly made us reconsider living here, and they’ve gotten worse over time. It’s just getting so damn expensive, and the people are very much a mixed bag (to put it politely). We’d move somewhere else if we had a good idea, but I haven’t actually found a place that’s a better fit for us.
I’m curious to hear how you guys feel — how important is choosing the right place to live, what do you look for, and what’s your favorite city?
Interesting comment re car payment vs rent.
Even as someone who's never bought a new car, or even an expensive second-hand one, I'm struggling to see anything positive about paying less for a marvel of modern mechanical engineering, design, material science etc (and the market-based economy as a whole) than for the exclusive use of a space that's always been there and someone else happened to inherit/buy from the descendants of whoever violently grabbed...
Interesting comment re car payment vs rent.
Even as someone who's never bought a new car, or even an expensive second-hand one, I'm struggling to see anything positive about paying less for a marvel of modern mechanical engineering, design, material science etc (and the market-based economy as a whole) than for the exclusive use of a space that's always been there and someone else happened to inherit/buy from the descendants of whoever violently grabbed it from the indigenous inhabitants. Housing costs in lots of places have gotten out of hand and often end up sucking the blood out of the productive economy (the UK being a prime example).
Interesting perspectives! I also have certain criteria I use when choosing where to settle down with my family — for us, that ultimately led to Europe. When we lived in the U.S., our decision-making process was much simpler: we focused on the quality of local schools; if local schools were good it usually meant the neighborhood was a safe, pleasant place to live as well. If the instead you went to the local schools and...
Interesting perspectives! I also have certain criteria I use when choosing where to settle down with my family — for us, that ultimately led to Europe. When we lived in the U.S., our decision-making process was much simpler: we focused on the quality of local schools; if local schools were good it usually meant the neighborhood was a safe, pleasant place to live as well. If the instead you went to the local schools and all you heard was spanish or ebonics, then it meant there were probably better alternatives elsewhere.
I lived in Miami for a couple years. I developed a slogan, based on the people, the services and government.
Miami: Looks great and doesn’t work
TIL Miami has a landscape.
Fascinating observations on Miami.
Perhaps, if you really wanted to look into rural places, I might explore options such as Kalispell Montana, or Homer Alaska!
Also, perhaps rural Allgau in Bayern? It certainly is not surpassed by natural beauty.
For the sake of your beautiful family, please… leave Florida
I lived in Miami for 18 years. Have been gone for 12 years now and don't miss it one bit. Moved out for the same two reasons you state. Cost of living, and don't wanting to raise my kids there because of how rudely and inconsiderate people behave, drive, constantly doing shady stuff, fraud, etc. I'd get in my office building's elevator to a bunch of people already there, and every morning I would say...
I lived in Miami for 18 years. Have been gone for 12 years now and don't miss it one bit. Moved out for the same two reasons you state. Cost of living, and don't wanting to raise my kids there because of how rudely and inconsiderate people behave, drive, constantly doing shady stuff, fraud, etc. I'd get in my office building's elevator to a bunch of people already there, and every morning I would say "good morning", and it's like people didn't know what to make of it or answer back. That was my Miami experience. I miss the food and seeing some friends and family, but that's about it. I live in Tampa now and also lived in San Antonio for a while.
I think the other major reason, is you do not want to raise school age kids in Florida. The public education system is deplorable, and given the current administration in Tallahassee, subjecting kids to substandard teaching methods and restrictive subject matter.
If you can afford private, then maybe a different consideration, but there are other negative consequences.
#1 reason for you to consider somewhere else.
I lived in Miami for almost four years. It's an easy place to fall in love with, but a very difficult place to STAY in love with. If you remove people from the equation, the lifestyle is terrific - warm weather (yes, very hot for about 4-5 months), tropical skies, beaches, water everywhere you look, access to culture and, if you know where to look, some very good food.
But the people. My God,...
I lived in Miami for almost four years. It's an easy place to fall in love with, but a very difficult place to STAY in love with. If you remove people from the equation, the lifestyle is terrific - warm weather (yes, very hot for about 4-5 months), tropical skies, beaches, water everywhere you look, access to culture and, if you know where to look, some very good food.
But the people. My God, the people. An assemblage of some of the nastiest, shadiest, dumbest people you'll find anywhere. It's not a dig at Americans, either. Miami is very popular with the upper classes of pretty much every Latin American country, and while that sounds good on paper, the sad truth is those classes tend to be demanding, infantile, pushy, entitled, and selfish. Most have spent their whole lives with maids and nannies and gardeners and chauffeurs and a general disdain for the rest of society, and it absolutely shows in the rhythm of life in Miami. Throw in shady crypto bros, New Yorkers, corrupt local government and the general "mañana" attitude that comes with a tropical culture, and it all just... doesn't work.
A number of folks have mentioned Switzerland. My company transferred me to Switzerland at the beginning of the year and what a splash of cold water that has been! It's literally everything Miami isn't - clean, dependable, well-organized, quiet, understated and focused on quality and durability. Beautiful scenery and lots of history. Like Miami, the cost of living is VERY high, but you do feel like you're getting quality for your money more often.
It's been an interesting contrast. Ultimately it comes down to what's important to you, as Ben has noted.
I love that description of Switzerland. It sounds like an incredible change.
How are the parks in Miami? You have young kids, you know that's the most important question :-)
My family was so impressed with the parks, playgrounds, and public pools of Europe that the kids wanted to move.
I lived in Miami for many years and admittedly this wasn't on my radar since I didn't have kids back then. But I have been to many parks in many countries with our kids in Europe and it's night and day. I don't recall seeing or being impressed with any kid-friendly parks in all my years living in Miami. And of course you have to drive to all of them since Miami has virtually zero...
I lived in Miami for many years and admittedly this wasn't on my radar since I didn't have kids back then. But I have been to many parks in many countries with our kids in Europe and it's night and day. I don't recall seeing or being impressed with any kid-friendly parks in all my years living in Miami. And of course you have to drive to all of them since Miami has virtually zero public transportation. So any park visits would be more of a planned affair than happening spontaneously like in Europe, where the kids would just stumble into one and just stay playing while you took a break for a while.
Incredible parks especially in Miami Beach.
As someone else noted, and as a fellow liberal gay man, I'm surprised you didn't bring up the political environment in Florida, which is why I was always quite surprised you picked that state to settle even if I understand Miami is a bit more liberal than the rest of the state (constant erosion of LGBTQ rights, raising kids where so many books are banned, what happens if your kid ends up being transgender, etc). Curious to know how you feel about that.
Oh bloody hell, you must be 60+ years old and still have your head stuck in 20th century!
Another vote for SRQ (Sarasota). It retains that 'Florida' feel, has an upscale but more relaxed lifestyle compared to MIA, quality health and education facilities, accepting of LGBTQIA+ culture. Its friendly, real estate is well priced, has many great beaches and water views. Excellent shopping, good to interesting restaurants, 2.5 hours drive to MIA and 1 hour to TPA on I-95. Airport - SRQ is not particularly 'international' but on the other hand, one of...
Another vote for SRQ (Sarasota). It retains that 'Florida' feel, has an upscale but more relaxed lifestyle compared to MIA, quality health and education facilities, accepting of LGBTQIA+ culture. Its friendly, real estate is well priced, has many great beaches and water views. Excellent shopping, good to interesting restaurants, 2.5 hours drive to MIA and 1 hour to TPA on I-95. Airport - SRQ is not particularly 'international' but on the other hand, one of the best 2nd tier airports in the USA. Staff are universally friendly and accommodating, Parking, local taxes and general cost of living somewhat lower than MIA and great value for money. Population of approx 60,000 people. Big enough to provide the majority of your needs but well-sized in terms of protecting your privacy. Its not over-run with tourists but does attract an acceptable number of British and European visitors - which tends to make the city interesting but not over-whelming. I spend approximately 2 months a year there and far prefer it to the Miami-FLL- West Palm Beach strip. SRQ still retains its charm.
We are gays with kids in our future and live in Maine. We get the sea and a peaceful life. Plus Logan is just 90 minutes away.
climate
thank you, once again, for sharing your mind and heart with us.
Most of your readers are in a unique (from the perspective of total world population) to choose any number of good options of where to live. It is indeed a privilege. Working remotely and traveling are the backbone of a growing class of workers and inhabitants around the world.
It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on people that seek residency and...
thank you, once again, for sharing your mind and heart with us.
Most of your readers are in a unique (from the perspective of total world population) to choose any number of good options of where to live. It is indeed a privilege. Working remotely and traveling are the backbone of a growing class of workers and inhabitants around the world.
It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on people that seek residency and citizenship outside of their home or original passport country. They, by definition, become frequent travelers and likely were before they moved away from "home" and they also often have higher financial means.
Wondering if you, personally, have seriously considered moving to any number of places in the world that check many of the boxes you mention but w/ different weights for some factors vs. others.
Miami has one of the lowest unemployment and crime rates of any major US city. If it were me I’d proceed to A1A. Beachfront Avenue !!!!
Don’t move to Switzerland. It’s too expensive. There are better tourist options in Europe for Instagram and nature.
Lived in Miami for 11 years.
Pros:
City has a great mayor and is generally well run. (Ditto the state).
Crime is contained to certain areas. I was just in San Diego. Walking through the Gaslamp District people shooting up on fentanyl out in public. Balboa Park has become a haven for the homeless. The historic buildings are all dirty and the paint is peeling. You would not see that in Miami, even...
Lived in Miami for 11 years.
Pros:
City has a great mayor and is generally well run. (Ditto the state).
Crime is contained to certain areas. I was just in San Diego. Walking through the Gaslamp District people shooting up on fentanyl out in public. Balboa Park has become a haven for the homeless. The historic buildings are all dirty and the paint is peeling. You would not see that in Miami, even in Government Center which can be sketchy after hours
Great weather from November through April. However, horrific the other months of the year
An educated, productive, and very patriotic Hispanic professional population that is VERY ANTI illegal immigrant. The lectures I've heard
No income tax, state or local
Miami is attracting new business from all over the US, not just a LATAM center anymore
Airport is centrally located. Many direct flights
Cons:
Traffic, horrible roads
Rising cost of living, NYC and LA style
As noted above weather from May through October
The Airport-has to be the worst in the USA
Mass transit (rail) isn't sufficient. Back in the 1980s there were plans for 5-6 lines but only two lines exist today
Sometimes getting something done quickly can be problematic. Lots of graft to go around
I don't see myself retiring here. Probably in the Panhandle where the cost of living is much lower, far less congestion, and more of a change in season
As a fellow "I don't meet the stereotype" Miami-resident, your observations echo mine. The weather and ability to travel anywhere via convenient MIA make it hard to beat. I also love cruising and the ability to book a last minute escape and drive 10-40 mins to the two largest ports is incredible.
That said, the people really suck here. New Yorkers (who people point to as the definition of rude) have a "we're local...
As a fellow "I don't meet the stereotype" Miami-resident, your observations echo mine. The weather and ability to travel anywhere via convenient MIA make it hard to beat. I also love cruising and the ability to book a last minute escape and drive 10-40 mins to the two largest ports is incredible.
That said, the people really suck here. New Yorkers (who people point to as the definition of rude) have a "we're local and you aren't following our customs" rudeness, which I can kind of understand. Miami residents are just straight up nasty people with zero care for their neighbor, which can make it straight up miserable to live here at times.
The inflation of the past 5 years is chasing a lot of longer-term residents away. Most of my friends have moved to Broward/Palm Beach. While real estate sky rocketed in those areas as well, their social scenes are thankfully still authentic. Miami has just become a place that imports every "big name" restaurant/club from Dubai, Paris, Madrid, Vegas, etc. Countless great local restaurants have closed in the past two years, only to be replaced by over-the-top expensive "the instagram photo is better than the food" type of places.
As a gay male with a child through surrogacy I would absolutely not feel comfortable living, and subsequently supporting, many places in the world. Florida included. I’m very lucky that I can make that choice because many aren’t as fortunate. As I choose places to travel it’s incredibly important to feel like I won’t face trouble at customs or asking for a hotel room with a single bed. I’ve no time to waste in places like that.
Might be a bit too far from a major international airport for you right now, but you should consider making the short journey north to Boca Raton when it's time for something quieter. Great for families, much-improved food scene and close to your family, and Miami is there when you need it. I've lived in LA, Las Vegas, DC and a few other places in this country but Boca has turned out to be the best fit in terms of city size, culture and amenities for us.
@ Ben - I have a similar background to you. I grew up in Germany, lived in Miami for about 20 years and then left once I had kids. I didn't want to raise my kids in Miami, for similar reasons as you point out in this post. I moved to Austin about 8 years ago and it's been great for my kids. I still miss Miami a lot. I have a strong love/hate relationship...
@ Ben - I have a similar background to you. I grew up in Germany, lived in Miami for about 20 years and then left once I had kids. I didn't want to raise my kids in Miami, for similar reasons as you point out in this post. I moved to Austin about 8 years ago and it's been great for my kids. I still miss Miami a lot. I have a strong love/hate relationship with Miami. It's also where my brother and his family live and so we visit often. Austin is far from perfect. The airport is tiny, the city has also gotten more expensive, it's not very international, etc. But it's been a great place to raise kids and they are my priority now. I know how difficult the decision is, I hope you find the right balance for your family. Sending you lots of love!!
Excellent self-reflection, Ben. Thank you, as always, for sharing with us. For those who travel regularly, many of us ponder these 'is the grass greener' thoughts, quite often. And, our perspectives do change after a big loss (sometimes, we want to rush into big decisions, like moving, which may or may not be wise). Our priorities really should be the best interests of our families, spouses, children, parents. I've always hoped that the goal was...
Excellent self-reflection, Ben. Thank you, as always, for sharing with us. For those who travel regularly, many of us ponder these 'is the grass greener' thoughts, quite often. And, our perspectives do change after a big loss (sometimes, we want to rush into big decisions, like moving, which may or may not be wise). Our priorities really should be the best interests of our families, spouses, children, parents. I've always hoped that the goal was to seek safe, healthy, supportive communities with quality schools, healthcare, and access to enriching experiences.
That said, I grew up in South Florida (which very much can be a 'cool' place... as a 'rich kid') and live in NYC now (ah, same), so, I certainly resonate with your "really, really expensive" comment (however, 'affordability' has become an issue for everyone, everywhere, not just big cities, and even the well-off are feeling a squeeze, lately, lest there be another 1929 crash, then we're all doomed).
And, one of the reasons I left FL (other than wanting 'seasons' and not wanting 'hurricanes' though, wow, what a calm season so far) was that it really is a "sunny place for shady people" (unfortunately, I don't see that getting any better, anytime soon.) Especially since the pandemic, regrettably FL became a much less tolerant place (practically, it's now 'redder than Texas,' the governor going to war with Disney, the legislature doing little-to-nothing about property insurance, the real concerns over condos after Surfside, largely pushed under the rug, I can go on).
So, while it might seem nice to run away to a 'farm upstate' or in Italy... based on your travel interests, I think you'd get bored there, quickly. Some people instead invest in a second 'vacation' home in places like Colorado or North Carolina (yawn, better to just visit when you want, or go to more interesting places overseas, again, a huge 'privilege'). Folks like us really do need an international airport nearby (whether MIA or JFK). Like, it just wouldn't be as 'fun' if you had to take a CRJ to ATL, DFW, or DEN in order to get anywhere.
Based on the picture where dreaming to live, Switzerland by a lake, hillside sound pretty ideal. Great travel location, albeit ZRH being most expensive departure point worldwide for tickets. 3h car to northern Italy, Austria. Capital gains are tax free, depending on location reasonably low income taxes. Great public schools, safe, neutral, religion is a non-factor. Labor market protected against non-EU. Consumer prices in surounding countries are these days high enough to match Switzerland. And...
Based on the picture where dreaming to live, Switzerland by a lake, hillside sound pretty ideal. Great travel location, albeit ZRH being most expensive departure point worldwide for tickets. 3h car to northern Italy, Austria. Capital gains are tax free, depending on location reasonably low income taxes. Great public schools, safe, neutral, religion is a non-factor. Labor market protected against non-EU. Consumer prices in surounding countries are these days high enough to match Switzerland. And Ben's EU passport gives him access. Boring but that's what you have travel for.
Other alternative being Kuala Lumpur if city living. Cheap, low taxes, great family and health facilities, Singapore and BKK nearby. Far away from the madness of the US and high taxation of many other Asian countries. Although concerning about religion becoming a topic of interest.
Great write-up.
You're spot-on about the 305. Coming from fairly modest means in "middle America," I'll never forget my first journey there to visit a friend. From the moment I exited the airport, I was shocked at the number of young folks rolling around in a Lexus, Mercedes, etc. I figured everyone must be absolutely loaded and this must be the financial promised land.
I'll never forget how my friend explained it to me:...
Great write-up.
You're spot-on about the 305. Coming from fairly modest means in "middle America," I'll never forget my first journey there to visit a friend. From the moment I exited the airport, I was shocked at the number of young folks rolling around in a Lexus, Mercedes, etc. I figured everyone must be absolutely loaded and this must be the financial promised land.
I'll never forget how my friend explained it to me: "No, no, no, most of these guys are sales reps at MetroPCS (present-day Boost Mobile, I believe) and live with their parents or roommates."
Spot on.
Arizona sure sounds like it is calling your name!
Interesting that you didn’t mention the politics of it all. It would prevent me from living in Miami, but maybe your bubble protects you. Having to live 6 months of the year indoors due to the unbearable heat, not my thing either, but each to their own.
Great conversation! We live in Dallas as we need to be near a major airport and have business In Texas and Fla so just need to be able to hop back and forth. Dallas is absolutely not our forever home, but tax free income, warm weather, and a great airport are key priorities at this stage of life. Once this stage is over we will move somewhere much more quiet, but having direct flights to...
Great conversation! We live in Dallas as we need to be near a major airport and have business In Texas and Fla so just need to be able to hop back and forth. Dallas is absolutely not our forever home, but tax free income, warm weather, and a great airport are key priorities at this stage of life. Once this stage is over we will move somewhere much more quiet, but having direct flights to a good majority of major and minor cities is truly a blessing for our quality of life. Love articles like this and praying for your family with the loss of your mother!
I'm a native NYer and I hate it. The lifestyle is just too fast paced for me, the people are some of the rudest and meanest you'll ever meet in your life and as someone with sensitive skin, the weather and climate just doesn't work for me. And I do not take the subways anymore under any circumstances.
So I'm looking at Southern California whether its LA, Orange County, or San Diego. It's still not...
I'm a native NYer and I hate it. The lifestyle is just too fast paced for me, the people are some of the rudest and meanest you'll ever meet in your life and as someone with sensitive skin, the weather and climate just doesn't work for me. And I do not take the subways anymore under any circumstances.
So I'm looking at Southern California whether its LA, Orange County, or San Diego. It's still not landlocked, the ocean is on the other side, weather and climate is better, you have LAX, Long Beach and San Diego International, so what's not to like?! Aside from traffic and affordability, I rather be in control of how fast I get somewhere rather than be underground with complete strangers who have an attitude problem. And affordability is about the same if not a little less than what you would get in NY.
Healthcare is also something I look for, so that's not really a problem. Try living somewhere remote and access to healthcare is scarce.
If you want to go out of town, you have the Bay Area and Las Vegas within a 5 hour drive.
If you're into sports, the Dodgers are doing pretty well. Can't say the same anywhere in NY.
So that's just my take. Weather and climate, access to a major city and healthcare, pace of lifestyle is what I look for.
@Mike O have a look at Palm Springs. 9 months of the year the weather is attractive. Summer you can travel. It's much calmer than anywhere W of Mt San Jacinto. Rent a house for a week, get a feel for it, before dismissing the idea.
Soon, your boys will really influence where you choose to live (unless you home school them, which opens up living almost anywhere). My spouse wanted our girls to have a neighborhood of friends that was a part of their lives, and good schools for those formative years. They're both raised now, but with hindsight her vision was really important. You and Ford are entering a really fun and exciting time in your lives, raising children...
Soon, your boys will really influence where you choose to live (unless you home school them, which opens up living almost anywhere). My spouse wanted our girls to have a neighborhood of friends that was a part of their lives, and good schools for those formative years. They're both raised now, but with hindsight her vision was really important. You and Ford are entering a really fun and exciting time in your lives, raising children together as they grow and mature. Boy it goes fast. A great location that gives your family the quality of life you want and a home base to return to after travels will be important.
+1.
Focus on the kids. You may have to drive an hour and pay for parking to fly anywhere. I prefer the Coachella Valley to Florida (climate) but PSP isn't exactly Gateway Airport To The World. Toronto is a great place to raise kids, right in midtown, but uh um...climate.
Schools, community, neighbourhood for your kids. When they're in Uni you can live next door to any airport you like.
I couldn‘t live in Florida as I love outdoor activities and it’s just too hot there. The sun is nice but I prefer colder sunny weather with less humidity. But I like Florida for vacations. It was nice to visit Kennedy Space Center last month.
Am quite happy for the moment to live and study in Zurich, but for me even Zurich is too big. I think my perfect place to live is suburban...
I couldn‘t live in Florida as I love outdoor activities and it’s just too hot there. The sun is nice but I prefer colder sunny weather with less humidity. But I like Florida for vacations. It was nice to visit Kennedy Space Center last month.
Am quite happy for the moment to live and study in Zurich, but for me even Zurich is too big. I think my perfect place to live is suburban with access to Lakes and mountains and near a big city. Probably somewhere around Southern Germany or Switzerland with quick driving access to Italy and France for vacations.
I was born and raised in Miami. I grew up in the 60's and 70's. I loved growing up there. The year round weather, the sky, the clouds. We grew up southwest of the airport, so it was a very modest neighborhood out by where the Turnpike is now. It was the end of the city and we could ride our bikes to the levy and see the Everglades. We went on summer vacation in...
I was born and raised in Miami. I grew up in the 60's and 70's. I loved growing up there. The year round weather, the sky, the clouds. We grew up southwest of the airport, so it was a very modest neighborhood out by where the Turnpike is now. It was the end of the city and we could ride our bikes to the levy and see the Everglades. We went on summer vacation in the Keys and my dad would take us fishing in Card Sound. It was great.
But, the neighborhood started getting rough in the 70's and then really rough. And in the early 80's when I was looking at places to live with my career, it just didn't seem to have a lot of opportunities for jobs. So, I made my life elsewhere.
My parents left after Hurricane Andrew as they no longer wanted to live in that area. Most of my friends left Miami for the reasons I did.
But now, its like a different place, especially if you have more means. Its a nice place to be rich. There are more job opportunities. But I am not sure what it would be like to be a kid in Miami anymore. We loved it because our neighborhood was full of kids and things to do outside and nature was never too far away.
The only other thing I would say is after a major life disruption as you have just gone through, its important to take at least a year before making any major decisions. After my mother passed, I re-evaluated where I was living, but I waited 2 years before I actually changed jobs and moved (Detroit to Nashville). Good luck. Your evaluation of your surroundings at this time is natural, but give it at least a year.
But why Miami then? If warm weather and proximity to family are the major drivers, why not Naples or Sarasota (places where quality of people much better, albeit the food scenes are worse)?
Answer: MIA vs RSW/SRQ
@ Kosher Kimchee -- Those are fair questions. The choice to live in Miami isn't just about warm weather and proximity to family, and there are also some downsides to places like Naples. You don't have such proximity to major airports, as one example. I do in general like the west coast of Florida (having largely grown up in Tampa), so that area is definitely still appealing to us.
Hi, first time commenter, love your blog! Was wondering if you have ever considered doing a meet up type of event for loyal readers who live in the Miami area. Would be so much fun!
Second this! Fellow Miami local, would be awesome to meet up with other like-minded readers, especially in a city where folks can name every model of Lambo but roll their eyes at me when I get excited for the BA A380 departure sequence over Brickell
@ Rishi24 @ 305 -- I appreciate the interest and thoughts! I used to do meetups all the time back in the day, so maybe it's time to give this another shot, once I have a little more time on my hands. Stay tuned!
i would fly down for a meetup! keep us posted