How is Gainesville?

[LightMan]

Originally Posted by LeafUF

Ugh, not a fan of that area of VA. Worked in Newport News, at Ft. Eustis back in 04-05. Maybe Hampton Roads was better but I kind of dislike the whole Norfolk area.

Yeah I have been stationed here for about 6 years. My wife and I considered staying but once we started looking at houses it became less likely. $250,000 for about 2000 sq ft and the houses are so close. Not to mention most of the neighborhoods didn't seem like anything I want my son growing up in. Traffic is horrible also...

[LightMan]

Originally Posted by swampbabe

I would suggest that you look at careers other than teaching. 30 year educator here

LOL. Can't be that bad, right? I wanna teach high school math in a lower level income area. Reason behind that is because before moving to Okeechobee I lived in a pretty rough neighborhood in Canton Ohio, there was a teacher who made a big impact on my life. Sounds somewhat corny but I would like to try and make the same impact on someone else's life.

[swampbabe]

Originally Posted by LightMan

LOL. Can't be that bad, right? I wanna teach high school math in a lower level income area. Reason behind that is because before moving to Okeechobee I lived in a pretty rough neighborhood in Canton Ohio, there was a teacher who made a big impact on my life. Sounds somewhat corny but I would like to try and make the same impact on someone else's life.

Yeah, it is that bad. Many districts are cutting positions, here in Brevard County we are cutting approx. 400 teachers. I'm a high school social studies teacher, taught for 18 years here in Florida and 12 years in VA. We just moved back last summer so I will probably lose my job as well.

In addition, there is no more "tenure" in the state of Florida. You will only get a series of annual contracts, forever. In essence, laid off every May/June and hopefully rehired in August. Also, starting in 2014 your salary will be dependent on your students' test scores and part of your evaluation will depend on students that you don't even teach

[gatordavisl]

Lived in G'ville for two different stints, ultimately having lived there more than any other town. I love it. It's a great town to raise a family in. I don't agree with Swampbase about the teaching profession (she might be jaded because SS teachers are often on the chopping block), but should mention that Alachua Co is one of the lowest-paying counties in Florida. The schools are excellent, with many UF grads on faculty. Good place to send kids to school and good place to teach. Just not a good place to collect a paycheck. Other downside is the heat during summer (no Gulf or ocean breeze). Otherwise, it's a great place.
There is so much good about G'ville though. I encourage you to go there and enjoy every minute of it.

[swampbabe]

Originally Posted by gatordavisl

Lived in G'ville for two different stints, ultimately having lived there more than any other town. I love it. It's a great town to raise a family in. I don't agree with Swampbase about the teaching profession (she might be jaded because SS teachers are often on the chopping block), but should mention that Alachua Co is one of the lowest-paying counties in Florida. The schools are excellent, with many UF grads on faculty. Good place to send kids to school and good place to teach. Just not a good place to collect a paycheck. Other downside is the heat during summer (no Gulf or ocean breeze). Otherwise, it's a great place.
There is so much good about G'ville though. I encourage you to go there and enjoy every minute of it.

Oh, don't misunderstand. I LOVE my job (and I'm good at it, too) but understand ALL teachers are on the chopping block, STEM folks, too. The evaluation system is what positively SUCKS and unfortunately many young and enthusiastic folks are also leaving voluntarily. I just wish the average citizen understood the entirety of the situation. The getting laid off (in essence) every year is really a morale buster.

[bakaduin]

Agreed on Alachua county being pretty bad about paying teachers.

My wife is an elementary school teacher here. She loves it because she is at a great school but she would make quite a bit more teaching in another county in Florida. Alachua is one of, if not the lowest paying county.

[gatordavisl]

Originally Posted by swampbabe

Oh, don't misunderstand. I LOVE my job (and I'm good at it, too) but understand ALL teachers are on the chopping block, STEM folks, too. The evaluation system is what positively SUCKS and unfortunately many young and enthusiastic folks are also leaving voluntarily. I just wish the average citizen understood the entirety of the situation. The getting laid off (in essence) every year is really a morale buster.

I hear ya babe. And I agree that the validity of teacher evaluations continues to decompose. As for average citizens understanding, there's just no way. Very few understand the simple (let alone the complex) ins-and-outs of educating a body of students. Just visit "Too Hot" for about five minutes and you realize how ignorant so many are about education. I understand the annual contract issue, as well. When I taught in Hillsborough Co., we were always on annual contracts and did not even receive them until the end of the year. There can be no doubt that only those with extraordinary dedication and the willingness to make certain sacrifices shall remain in the profession.
Sorry - back to the topic at hand! Go Hogtown! I miss it there.

[fubar1]

I have an ill relative that may require I move back to Central Florida. I've thought about G-ville but I'm worried about how I'll adjust. It's been 20+ years since I've lived in Florida and have spread my wings quite a bit. Lived in D.C., Nashville, Chicago and now L.A. My girlfriend is European and has lived globally. She's not averse to a smaller town, but I wonder for how long.

I make six figures and would keep my income working remotely for a big company. I'm sure I'd live high on the hog, but wonder if G-ville would bore me to tears regarding restaurants, theatre etc. I know I'd love Gator sports access, but just wonder if I should choose Orlando, even though I have other reservations about it.

[raycgator]

Originally Posted by LightMan

Yeah I have been stationed here for about 6 years. My wife and I considered staying but once we started looking at houses it became less likely. $250,000 for about 2000 sq ft and the houses are so close. Not to mention most of the neighborhoods didn't seem like anything I want my son growing up in. Traffic is horrible also...

I just finished a 2 year stint working in NS Norfolk. I agree that the prices of homes there are outrageous. I didn't have too much of a problem with the city itself but the cost of living there is just too much. Rentals take advantage of the military personnel's Housing allowance and set the rates that high. $1100/mo for a 1 bedroom 700sf apartment in VB was what i was paying

[gtr2x]

Originally Posted by fubar1

I have an ill relative that may require I move back to Central Florida. I've thought about G-ville but I'm worried about how I'll adjust. It's been 20+ years since I've lived in Florida and have spread my wings quite a bit. Lived in D.C., Nashville, Chicago and now L.A. My girlfriend is European and has lived globally. She's not averse to a smaller town, but I wonder for how long.

I make six figures and would keep my income working remotely for a big company. I'm sure I'd live high on the hog, but wonder if G-ville would bore me to tears regarding restaurants, theatre etc. I know I'd love Gator sports access, but just wonder if I should choose Orlando, even though I have other reservations about it.

Coming from LA, orlando would be almost as big of an adjustment as gville imo. No beaches, no palm trees, etc, but a lot cheaper and a lot more trucks.
Yea, Orlando has better restaurants, Disney type stuff, better access to big cities to the south, better airport for travel, offset by more traffic (not LA, but still bad), more sprawl, less access to gator sports and gvilles cheap entertainment. Not really much more culture in Orlando either. You could always take the gf to epcot tho and give her the nations tour for the intl flavor. If you have bucks, Windermere is a quaint Orlando burb without a lot of the hassle and close to the turnpike for Gator access.

[toon66]

Originally Posted by LeafUF

Ugh, not a fan of that area of VA. Worked in Newport News, at Ft. Eustis back in 04-05. Maybe Hampton Roads was better but I kind of dislike the whole Norfolk area.

I am with you 100% on this.

[Welshgator]

Originally Posted by bakaduin

Agreed on Alachua county being pretty bad about paying teachers.

My wife is an elementary school teacher here. She loves it because she is at a great school but she would make quite a bit more teaching in another county in Florida. Alachua is one of, if not the lowest paying county.

My wife has taught elementary school in Alachua county for 20 years. She really loves teaching and is a good teacher. Shame that Alachua County and Florida State treat teachers like 2nd class citizens. For what she has to do and what she gets paid, I likely wouldn't roll out of bed in the morning. Seem to look after the horde of admin people though.

[fubar1]

Originally Posted by gtr2x

You could always take the gf to epcot tho and give her the nations tour for the intl flavor

Pretty funny actually. I wonder if I can get a season pass so I can keep Epcot on speed dial if she gets homesick.

Makes me wonder how many times in one year a person can watch an 360 degree IMAX.

[toon66]

Originally Posted by fubar1

Pretty funny actually. I wonder if I can get a season pass so I can keep Epcot on speed dial if she gets homesick.

Makes me wonder how many times in one year a person can watch an 360 degree IMAX.

The question is how many times can you do "beers around the world?"

[Al E Gator]

Originally Posted by fubar1

I have an ill relative that may require I move back to Central Florida. I've thought about G-ville but I'm worried about how I'll adjust. It's been 20+ years since I've lived in Florida and have spread my wings quite a bit. Lived in D.C., Nashville, Chicago and now L.A. My girlfriend is European and has lived globally. She's not averse to a smaller town, but I wonder for how long.

I make six figures and would keep my income working remotely for a big company. I'm sure I'd live high on the hog, but wonder if G-ville would bore me to tears regarding restaurants, theatre etc. I know I'd love Gator sports access, but just wonder if I should choose Orlando, even though I have other reservations about it.

I've thought about going back to Gainesville in the past, but couldn't do it now. Spent a boatload of years there for school and then some...then left for the city life and haven't looked back. When I went back to G-ville for a visit, it was like nothing had really changed...there were some new things of course, but all in all, it was similar to when I left!

I think you would get bored very easily if you are coming from the cities you've lived in...Orlando would probably be more to your liking and you should even consider Jacksonville (one of my favorite Florida towns!).

On the plus side, G-ville would be cheap as dirt to live in and you would have Gator sports readily available there. And you would have Publix readily available there, too...forgot about that...haha