4 months here and loving Miami - A success story

[sportf190]

Hey guys! Long time since I have been on here, but I wanted to say I successfully moved from Connecticut to Miami at the end of January. I live in the sky lake area which is by the aventura mall, and love everything about Miami. I am also 23 have no family down here and pulled it off by myself. Here is my list of what I love so far compared to Connecticut

1) weather, weather, and weather!Sunshine Palm Trees
2) ALWAYS something to do year round down here! CT bars close at 145am on weekends here I can go out until 5-6am. Beaches everything
3) CHEAP cost of living- CT I would be paying 30% more in electric, and oil for heating bills on top of property taxes through the roof, down here.. just pay electric which is like 30-50$ a month for my condo (AWESOME) On top of I bought a condo for under 40k ( with updated granite counters in kitchen) in CT a similar place in a suburban area would have cost at least 120k
4)People from all over, love it never met people from south america, europe, etc. In CT there is nothing except typical inner city people and white suburbia

So to those who want to come down here and are looking for more out of life I can relate. I hated CT for the 6-7 months of the year with freezing temperatures, cloudy miserable days. down here you feel ALIVE. My family hates me for all the pictures I send them of the scenery though =)

[moltobene]

I'm also moving to Florida sooner then expected.. Moving to Orlando not Miami ,would love to live there but my company resides in the Orlando area.. I also hate the weather up here in Rode Island ,but on the flip side I love the Italian food and will Miss that aspect of my state ... Hope I have the same experience as you in Miami, will try to visit Miami once a month ...

[lshatch59]

did you have a job before you moved there? or did you have to find work once you moved there, thats my concern before I would be able to move to Miami

[Gus]

sportf190, thanks for updating us about your success.

Moving to a new city by yourself is a big step. Congratulations for following your dream and not letting the fear of the unknown stop you. Doing this type of thing develops skills and strengths that you can use in other areas of your life.

[sportf190]

Yes I got a serving job part time now, and have a real estate business. I also had money saved up and kept my expenses real low, which helped me be successful in the move. To get a serving job it isn' hard if you have to, just search craislist. and indeed and you will find something. You can make it work, but it took me 6 months of planning before and visiting to make sure I wanted to call it my home. Just remember to have at least 10k saved up and you will be fine. Best of luck to anyone and yes the italian food doesn't compare, but I wasn't going to let food stop me from the excellent quality of life down here. I am telling you will never be bored!

[Doug]

It's good that you were able to plan everything out so well before you got here. What are some of the things you saw as a resident in South Beach that was different from your perspective as a visitor?

[Mario]

That's great that were able to stay and see the city as a resident. The great thing that Miami has is that we have activities all year round and no winter pause.

[Matt Meltzer]

4 months is not a success story, sir. I'm glad you're enjoying your honeymoon phase, and I"m glad it beats winter in Connecticut. That said, waiting tables and having a real estate gig may be the most ubiquitous profession in South Beach. And while it's cool you've made it this far, you need about 20 more months before saying it's a "success." I think there's people who've vacationed here longer.

Posts like this once again beg the question, that I have yet to see answered here:

If Miami is such a great place to live, why is it so transient?

Best of luck, pal. But if you haven't even been towed yet, I'd hardly start calling this place "home."

[northeast]

lol, i read the title of this thread and thought - Matt would rip this one apart... i've obviously been lurking around this forum for a while.

sport, as long as your enjoying yourself keep it up and gluck.
I think the part I like the most about living in miami is that you meet people from all walks of life, all parts of the world. I guess thats what i needed coming from a douchbag area where everyone looks/dresses/thinks the same - so boring.

[fake_sunglasses]

I am going to have to agree whole heartedly with Matt on this one. Love your enthusiasm for Miami (especially that fact that you love the Aventura area THAT MUCH...Have you BEEN to the Beach, Brickell, Midtown, Wynwood???) but ya, I'd say hold off on plunging your flag into the ground a la Tom Cruise in "Far and Away" until about a year or so.

And also, as Matt mentioned, if Miami is so great of a place, how come it is so transient? My experience: Puffy clouds and palm trees are beautiful, but you know what else is beautiful? Upward mobility and a dynamic economy. There just isn't enough industry in Miami (and if someone else mentions to my that "Carnival Cruiselines" is based in Miami, I may actually jump out of the window that I am sitting next to right now. People say Miami is the gateway to Latin America, as far as jobs. Nope, it's New York and Washington DC. Sorry.

In summation, glad you like Miami, but hope you last.