Thu May 25, 2023, 09:37 AM

Cyrano (14,350 posts)

I want to leave Florida. It ain't that easy

I often find myself thinking of my grandparents who had to leave the only country they'd ever known to come here to America. It must have been terrifying to head for a place where there was no one you knew and you didn't speak the language. I can always picture them on a boat in New York Harbor, sailing past the Statue of Liberty, looking at it with awe, knowing they had arrived in a safe place where they could be free.

This is no longer the country they came to. Fascism is on the march, and Florida is right up there in the lead. Fighting our fascist governor and legislature is virtually impossible. They've gerrymandered the state, and installed voter suppression "rules," to the point where it's virtually impossible for them to lose control in the foreseeable future.

As few as ten years ago, no one thought that FL would have a ban on abortion after six weeks, no need for a license to carry a gun, bans on countless books, attacks on education and banning the teaching of true American history, "Don't say gay." And it really is becoming ever more worrisome here if you're Black, Jewish, Muslim, or anyone who isn't a specific type of white, "Christian." Many here don't hesitate to fly confederate flags, but I'm guessing it's just a matter of time before some people will feel free to display swastikas.

I've lived here for many years now and moving means leaving behind friends, community, a way of life, and there are also financial considerations. I know how difficult it would be to start over again in someplace sane and new.

I now realize the tremendous courage that my grandparents had and I hope that I can find in myself. Nonetheless, this is not a place in which I wish to remain.

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180 replies	Author	Time	Post
I want to leave Florida. It ain't that easy (Original post)	Cyrano	May 25	OP
Sadly they are trying to make America like Florida, and they may succeed.	dem4decades	May 25	#1
You're always welcome here in Pennsylvania	FakeNoose	May 25	#2
we left Pennsylvania 45 years ago	onethatcares	May 25	#3
Personally	claudette	May 25	#6
LOL you sound like me, Claudette	FakeNoose	May 25	#12
Went to Miami once	claudette	May 25	#15
God, Miami is a hellhole!	Aristus	May 25	#22
I can imagine what's it's like in summer.	Disaffected	May 25	#53
It was in	claudette	May 25	#79
It wasn't the humidity that hampered your breathing	ExWhoDoesntCare	May 26	#144
Breezier than Houston, more clouds and t-storms to cool off.	carpetbagger	May 25	#118
I know that clammy feeling well.	soldierant	May 26	#127
Tell me.	Disaffected	May 26	#139
Isn't the state bird in Florida an insect? n/t	elocs	May 25	#90
Yes, it's called The swampy flying roach.	Dave Bowman	May 25	#101
It's called a Palmetto Bug and we don't consider them roaches even though they are. They do fly.	Lochloosa	May 26	#134
LOL!	claudette	May 27	#156
Imagine Florida's weather and climate but with	misanthrope	May 25	#110
Same here-never move to FL	Rebl2	May 25	#20
It will be pretty great when Mr. Kunz defeats Josh Hawley	mahina	May 25	#26
I wish/hope	Rebl2	May 25	#27
+1	chowder66	May 25	#45
Same here	Rebl2	May 25	#61
son lives in KC	UpInArms	May 25	#76
Gerrymandering doesn't affect the Senate.	ShazzieB	May 25	#88
Yes	Rebl2	May 25	#92
Ah, I see!	ShazzieB	May 25	#95
I understand your point that gerrymandering	markodochartaigh	May 25	#97
One of these is wrong in most parts of FL.	lark	May 25	#28
Same! Give me the cold any day over the heat, humidity and fascism.	PortTack	May 25	#31
We can dress to stay warm in cold weather	KS Toronado	May 25	#40
Exactly!!	chowder66	May 25	#47
Yep!!	claudette	May 25	#78
Oh god forbid!! I'm too old to go naked without ppl screaming in horror!	PortTack	May 26	#147
Humidity, heat, love bugs,	moreland01	May 25	#37
and	bdamomma	May 25	#85
Yikes 😳	claudette	May 25	#86
OK?	Freethinker65	May 25	#13
FYI......	Butterflylady	May 25	#17
Air conditioning	ExWhoDoesntCare	May 26	#143
State income tax was one of the reasons?	JanMichael	May 27	#159
Florida not having a state income tax is meaningless	Marius25	May 27	#173
I've lived in Pittsburgh and love that city	Mysterian	May 25	#11
I was	claudette	May 25	#14
Florida will survive DeSantis just as it survives every other storm that passes through it.	BlackSkimmer	May 25	#4
Exactly. Been here since 1955 except for a 12 year stint in Appalachia and 4 years in Indiana back	dameatball	May 25	#38
I may still come back, but at this point I'm not sure.	BlackSkimmer	May 25	#46
Like the old commercial said, "We'll leave the light on!"	dameatball	May 25	#54
Keep a cold one in the fridge!	BlackSkimmer	May 25	#66
Message auto-removed	Name removed	May 25	#73
the only people I saw attacked	NJCher	May 25	#87
Truer words, my friend, truer words...	In It to Win It	May 25	#52
DeSantis is just the latest wannabee. The real question is, "Will FL survive Republican fascism?"	Cyrano	May 25	#72
It's wonderful	claudette	May 25	#5
I hear you	edhopper	May 25	#7
Comparing Florida to Nazi Germany is just hyperbole.	BlackSkimmer	May 25	#48
The problem with your post is you're trying to think of 1940s Germany	Marius25	May 25	#55
No, I'm not.	BlackSkimmer	May 25	#65
Numerous gay pride events have already canceled because of fear over the new laws	Marius25	May 25	#70
You might be surprised to learn how man actual Nazis live in North Florida	RegulatedCapitalistD	May 25	#59
I wouldn't be surprised to learn how many "actual Nazis" live in any state.	BlackSkimmer	May 25	#67
I have lived in a lot of States	RegulatedCapitalistD	May 25	#69
I lived in Gainesville FL when Unite the Right had their Charlottesville follow-up rally	carpetbagger	May 25	#120
The changes are in small increments so you don't really notice. Then they reach a tipping point.	diva77	May 26	#124
Search for "nazi allies in Florida" online.	Pacifist Patriot	May 27	#165
So you really believe "IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE?"	Cyrano	May 25	#75
No	Pacifist Patriot	May 25	#114
It's happening - and your parent's friend would have agreed with the following:	GoneOffShore	May 26	#130
I have lived most of my life here in Florida. If I jumped where would I go?	mitch96	May 25	#8
And from late spring into early fall up north	ExWhoDoesntCare	May 26	#148
"And no, we don't go from heated this to heated that during the winter."	mitch96	May 26	#149
I'm amost a geezer (61)	ExWhoDoesntCare	May 26	#153
I moved to Delray Beach five years ago.	Earth-shine	May 25	#9
...	BlackSkimmer	May 25	#49
I hear ya	Mysterian	May 25	#10
Careful with Oregon (and many other states). Only the coast is somewhat liberal.	erronis	May 25	#80
if you go to Oregon,	barbtries	May 25	#123
Really? I heard it was turning blue	Tree Lady	May 26	#137
that's encouraging,	barbtries	May 26	#138
I know some dems that live there	Tree Lady	May 26	#142
My wife and I left good State jobs and moved 3k away to California	obamanut2012	May 25	#16
While you remain there, I'll remain grateful to you for being there.	Mister Ed	May 25	#18
Hard to fight back when Republicans control all the levers of power	Cyrano	May 25	#21
I'm a Texan and I feel the same way - it's not possible for my family	walkingman	May 25	#19
I understand.	lark	May 25	#23
We should start a Project to begin helping people abandon Florida.. Refugees...	RegulatedCapitalistD	May 25	#24
I totally agree and I think it would be successful	FakeNoose	May 25	#29
These states should start Asylum Programs.....	RegulatedCapitalistD	May 25	#33
That's exactly what they want. Let's be careful about playing into that.	tinrobot	May 25	#51
I LOVED Florida for DECADES.... I moved to and then married a Floridian	RegulatedCapitalistD	May 25	#58
On what basis do you say that Florida is a very close state?	Mariana	May 25	#102
Been hearing that for 40 years here	madville	May 27	#161
If California is out of reach, consider the PNW	Fiendish Thingy	May 25	#25
Other than the wingnuts Arizona ain't too bad	Hugh_Lebowski	May 25	#30
Its the Wingnuts they are trying to avoid...	RegulatedCapitalistD	May 25	#34
Well, at least we have Katie Hobbs not DeSantis :)	Hugh_Lebowski	May 25	#43
Hugh, you know there are Dems here in Mesa....	AZ8theist	May 25	#111
Pima County Arizona home of the city of Tucson	Lady Freedom Returns	May 25	#81
Oh there are some Blue Areas in Florida too	RegulatedCapitalistD	May 25	#83
For us it's the Southern half of state that's blue.	Lady Freedom Returns	May 25	#94
Meanwhile...	RegulatedCapitalistD	May 25	#93
That's the difference between Tucson and Phoenix.	Lady Freedom Returns	May 25	#96
That's pretty much what it was like in NC before.....	RegulatedCapitalistD	May 25	#99
There is something that divides and rules over us that NC doesn't have	Lady Freedom Returns	May 25	#105
My family have been in Florida for 125 years. I hope that one day, the Republicans	Chainfire	May 25	#32
Sigh...as someone who has family from either side of the Mason Dixon	RegulatedCapitalistD	May 25	#35
I do believe	onethatcares	May 25	#106
Change is inevitable. But whoever thought we'd	Cyrano	May 25	#107
DeSaster will leave before you	malaise	May 25	#36
Nah, he will get his Leg and hand-picked SCOFL to let him stay Gov	obamanut2012	May 25	#44
Nah - the Disney disaster and the 2023 hurricane season	malaise	May 25	#50
sorry sis, disagree. MAGAts are moving into the state at a frightful rate	Celerity	May 25	#98
Florida is the biggest MAGAt magnet in the country by far.	Mariana	May 25	#104
Yes, but who's going to replace him?	Mariana	May 25	#103
We'll probably get Ashley Moody	madville	May 27	#160
To paraphrase the character Michael Bolton from the movie Office Space:	Tommy Carcetti	May 25	#39
I feel you.	hay rick	May 25	#41
They wear the hats, wave their kind of flags and signs, so that they can identify	chowder66	May 25	#42
Mixed emotions about leaving FLorida.	Fla Dem	May 25	#56
Me either	Oppaloopa	May 25	#57
My grandmother's family settled in western NY	Marthe48	May 25	#60
Moved out of Akron area in 2016, still working election protection for Ohio.	we can do it	May 25	#115
It's hard to know where to go.	Hope22	May 25	#62
I've lived in Florida my entire life	peace frog	May 25	#63
"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." Wherever one thinks they want to	TeamProg	May 25	#64
I know how this feels.	GoCubsGo	May 25	#68
Moved to CA	NowISeetheLight	May 25	#74
My family is in AZ, so that's where I'd wind up.	GoCubsGo	May 25	#77
It's never easy to make a major move.	MineralMan	May 25	#71
+1	llmart	May 25	#108
Exactly.	MineralMan	May 25	#112
That's what I am doing. If all goes to plan I should be out of FL	Pacifist Patriot	May 27	#167
Good plan.	MineralMan	May 27	#176
Many here responded to the OP by focusing on Florida heat, humidity, hurricanes, bugs, etc.	Cyrano	May 25	#82
Exactly!	Pacifist Patriot	May 25	#116
With you	AmBlue	May 25	#84
Same boat	Saoirse9	May 25	#89
About 3 million people move interstate each year	Kaleva	May 25	#91
And?	Pacifist Patriot	May 25	#117
Shows that it can be done	Kaleva	May 26	#145
Shows that it can be done. Doesn't indicate how difficult it is.	Pacifist Patriot	May 27	#158
Some do put more importance on connections...	Kaleva	May 27	#163
That's true, but ...	Pacifist Patriot	May 27	#164
I generally observe people's actions which I believe....	Kaleva	May 27	#171
Ok	Pacifist Patriot	May 27	#179
Well, my advice would be to do it before you end up doing it....	Lady Freedom Returns	May 25	#100
I live in a place	KT2000	May 25	#109
I am on realtor.com daily	Pacifist Patriot	May 25	#113
I sure wood. If I had children in schools.	OhNo-Really	May 25	#119
Lived in South Florida during the the wild and wooly 80's...	bahboo	May 25	#121
i feel that.	barbtries	May 25	#122
I want to get out of NC too. I hate it here.	GoodRaisin	May 26	#129
North Carolina is another big destination for MAGAt retirees.	Mariana	May 26	#150
I hear you. Hell, it takes a lot of guts to move across town	ecstatic	May 26	#125
Georgia seems to be heading in a good direction	ExWhoDoesntCare	May 26	#151
Those that came ( all my four grandparents too - Ellis Island)	Laura PourMeADrink	May 26	#126
I'm in the same boat when it comes to Texas	vercetti2021	May 26	#128
I live in Lakeland	tornado34jh	May 26	#131
The last time I moved and felt uprooted, I was 23.	DFW	May 26	#132
the dilema seems to be for us anyway	onethatcares	May 26	#133
Georgia is heading in the right direction, thanks to Atlanta.	ExWhoDoesntCare	May 26	#152
I'm in the same boat Cyrano. I have one more reason for wanting to leave.	Lochloosa	May 26	#135
We auctioned everything we own and moved to Costa Rica sight unseen. Never a visit beforehand.	LakeArenal	May 26	#136
Sight unseen? How is it working out? nt	ecstatic	May 26	#154
It's our total dream come true.	LakeArenal	May 26	#155
What was the quote?	Poiuyt	May 27	#157
No Spanish but it helps. We knew no Spanish and we are fine.	LakeArenal	May 27	#162
Lovely! That would be me. No need for a beach. Love mountains!	Pacifist Patriot	May 27	#169
Thanks!	Poiuyt	May 27	#180
I watch House Hunters International all the time	Marius25	May 27	#174
Can't get one here until you become a legal resident and three years.	LakeArenal	May 27	#175
Any properties on the market in your area?	Pacifist Patriot	May 27	#168
Our best advice is know what you like not what you want.	LakeArenal	May 27	#172
Excellent advice, thanks! The only thing that would turn me off is snow.	Pacifist Patriot	May 27	#177
There's one mountain here that gets a bit of snow.	LakeArenal	May 27	#178
Message auto-removed	Name removed	May 26	#140
We need to get Florida back	gulliver	May 26	#141
"What would we have to do to get more votes there?"	Mariana	May 26	#146
I would think about it, but there would be cost considerations	gulliver	May 27	#170
That's a question active Dems in FL like myself have been struggling with for decades.	Pacifist Patriot	May 27	#166

Response to Cyrano (Original post)

Thu May 25, 2023, 09:41 AM

dem4decades (10,526 posts)

1. Sadly they are trying to make America like Florida, and they may succeed.

I wonder if they take control of the US government, what will it be like in a state like Massachusetts. Will the Nazi's there take control too?

I want to leave Florida. It ain't that easy

1. Sadly they are trying to make America like Florida, and they may succeed.

2. You're always welcome here in Pennsylvania

3. we left Pennsylvania 45 years ago

6. Personally

12. LOL you sound like me, Claudette

15. Went to Miami once

22. God, Miami is a hellhole!

53. I can imagine what's it's like in summer.

79. It was in

144. It wasn't the humidity that hampered your breathing

118. Breezier than Houston, more clouds and t-storms to cool off.

127. I know that clammy feeling well.

139. Tell me.

90. Isn't the state bird in Florida an insect? n/t

101. Yes, it's called The swampy flying roach.

134. It's called a Palmetto Bug and we don't consider them roaches even though they are. They do fly.

156. LOL!

110. Imagine Florida's weather and climate but with

20. Same here-never move to FL

26. It will be pretty great when Mr. Kunz defeats Josh Hawley

27. I wish/hope

45. +1

61. Same here

76. son lives in KC

88. Gerrymandering doesn't affect the Senate.

92. Yes

95. Ah, I see!

97. I understand your point that gerrymandering

28. One of these is wrong in most parts of FL.

31. Same! Give me the cold any day over the heat, humidity and fascism.

40. We can dress to stay warm in cold weather

47. Exactly!!

78. Yep!!

147. Oh god forbid!! I'm too old to go naked without ppl screaming in horror!

37. Humidity, heat, love bugs,

85. and

86. Yikes 😳

13. OK?

17. FYI......

143. Air conditioning

159. State income tax was one of the reasons?

173. Florida not having a state income tax is meaningless

11. I've lived in Pittsburgh and love that city

14. I was

4. Florida will survive DeSantis just as it survives every other storm that passes through it.

38. Exactly. Been here since 1955 except for a 12 year stint in Appalachia and 4 years in Indiana back

46. I may still come back, but at this point I'm not sure.

54. Like the old commercial said, "We'll leave the light on!"

66. Keep a cold one in the fridge!

87. the only people I saw attacked

52. Truer words, my friend, truer words...

72. DeSantis is just the latest wannabee. The real question is, "Will FL survive Republican fascism?"

5. It's wonderful

7. I hear you

48. Comparing Florida to Nazi Germany is just hyperbole.

55. The problem with your post is you're trying to think of 1940s Germany

65. No, I'm not.

70. Numerous gay pride events have already canceled because of fear over the new laws

59. You might be surprised to learn how man actual Nazis live in North Florida

67. I wouldn't be surprised to learn how many "actual Nazis" live in any state.

69. I have lived in a lot of States

120. I lived in Gainesville FL when Unite the Right had their Charlottesville follow-up rally

124. The changes are in small increments so you don't really notice. Then they reach a tipping point.

165. Search for "nazi allies in Florida" online.

75. So you really believe "IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE?"

114. No

130. It's happening - and your parent's friend would have agreed with the following:

8. I have lived most of my life here in Florida. If I jumped where would I go?

148. And from late spring into early fall up north

149. "And no, we don't go from heated this to heated that during the winter."

153. I'm amost a geezer (61)

9. I moved to Delray Beach five years ago.

49. ...

10. I hear ya

80. Careful with Oregon (and many other states). Only the coast is somewhat liberal.

123. if you go to Oregon,

137. Really? I heard it was turning blue

138. that's encouraging,

142. I know some dems that live there