Ocala, FL

[Ranger850]

I don’t even know how big Ocala is. I’ve always thought it was a Monticello with a Walmart.

2 hr 23 min (162.7 mi) via I-75 N and I-10 W

Monticello is about 4 square miles,
Ocala is about 47 square miles, slightly larger than PC.

 

[Ranger850]

Send him the back way. It's a nicer ride

actually he's in Panama City, ( or somewhere in Bay County ) so he could take the very scenic HWY98 for a ways before he takes a right to go south. but it will take a little longer than 2.5 hours.

 

[Chapap]

actually he's in Panama City, ( or somewhere in Bay County ) so he could take the very scenic HWY98 for a ways before he takes a right to go south. but it will take a little longer than 2.5 hours.

I do frequent 98 down to PSJ and Apalach. One of these days I need to take the bridge out to St George just to do it. I wish Shell Point wasn’t out in the middle of absolutely nowhere. I turned down a really nice house cause of that. I shudda jumped on it. It was a bargain only a few years ago compared to what they’re doing now.

 

[Fast Eddie]

actually he's in Panama City, ( or somewhere in Bay County ) so he could take the very scenic HWY98 for a ways before he takes a right to go south. but it will take a little longer than 2.5 hours.

I was just thinking what's it's like when there's an accident on 75. But gee, that NEVER happens

 

[bilbo]

Well the Ocala job did not work out, but I am moving to Clewiston now. There's a sugar mill there that I got a job at. I'm pretty excited to drastically reduce my future chances of frostbite.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Where's that?

 

[Sloryd66]

Where's that?

SW side of Lake Okeechobee.
@bilbo congrats. I’ve been in Orlando just over 8 years now and came from Connecticut. First couple of years the humidity was unbearable but believe it or not, you kinda acclimate. What I feel the trade off is you can still hit a local watering hole on a weekend night after the sun goes down, sit outside in shorts and a t-shirt and be somewhat comfortable. February up north…that ain’t happening and all you want to do is hibernate in a warm house. You don’t get that boredom in the heat of the summer that we endured in the bitter cold. I actually love it here now and wouldn’t go back up north for any money. The change of latitude changed my attitude

 

[bilbo]

Thanks! I’m hoping that I never reach a point where I take the weather for granted. I’m also excited about u-pull yards! We don’t have any up here any more and I love scrounging. I will, however miss the farm yard “junkyards” we have here. I have got a lot of car parts from the guy down the road for little money, and good conversations while we pulled the parts together.

 

[Sloryd66]

Yes !!! U-Pull's are awesome. Heck, I've found myself going there a couple of times not really looking for anything in particular just to poke around because i'm bored and the $2 admission is worth it. I have to admit...even if i don't "buy" anything, I come home with a pocket full of fuses and light bulbs, lol.

I know....sinner !!! My local yards actually don't care...they need the cars stripped of everything non metal prior to crushing them so don't crucify me guys

 

[Fast Eddie]

WELCOME TO FLORIDA!!!

 

[Fast Eddie]

 

[bilbo]

WELCOME TO FLORIDA!!!

View attachment 76580

Haha, they look similar in size to MN mosquitoes.

So far there are two responses when people find out I'm moving there, and not really anything in between. They are as follows:

1. Good for you, I'm happy for you, good luck on your new adventure, etc.
2. I've been there, do you know how hot it gets there? Did you know they have [hurricanes, alligators, snakes, spiders]? It's going to be awful, you'll be back in a year.

 

[Ranger850]

I moved to Florida from Arkansas when I was in the 6 the grade (1988). I hated it at first, now I'm a full fledge Florida Man.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Haha, they look similar in size to MN mosquitoes.

So far there are two responses when people find out I'm moving there, and not really anything in between. They are as follows:

1. Good for you, I'm happy for you, good luck on your new adventure, etc.
2. I've been there, do you know how hot it gets there? Did you know they have [hurricanes, alligators, snakes, spiders]? It's going to be awful, you'll be back in a year.

I can't remember the exact number but one of the statistics quoted for FL is people who move there from northern states last less that one summer and move back. I do remember it was somewhere north of 70% because I remember thinking 'I would have guessed 50% and it was more than that.

 

[bilbo]

I can't remember the exact number but one of the statistics quoted for FL is people who move there from northern states last less that one summer and move back. I do remember it was somewhere north of 70% because I remember thinking 'I would have guessed 50% and it was more than that.

Yeah I know it's definitely a thing, and in the end it may not work out for us. We made an offer on a house, and the couple that lives there moved down 6 months ago and is already going back North, though not all the way to their native PA. We figured we have to give it a shot or we'll just do the 'what if' thing forever. Just funny how it's two extremes, no real in between. Either they're extremely happy for you and think it would be awesome or passionately tell you about how absolutely awful it is going to be.