Just curious.
Realistically, it seems like everything most of us want in a city -- urban vibrancy, great mass transit, a sense of identity, respect for the past -- is a long, long way off, and that's assuming that the city ever reverses its trend of screwing up every major undertaking it attempts.
Why stay?
What's either a) the reason you can't leave, or b) the silver lining that prevents you from leaving for the greener pastures of a more progressive city that actually likes itself.
I've been here for seven years now, and as optimistic as I was when I first moved here, I'm really reaching that point where I kind of see Jax as a legitimately lost cause.
Absolutely not trying to flame in the least bit, I'm just genuinely curious as to why everyone, especially here at MetJax, hasn't throw their hands up in the air and moved to one of the other 20 or 30 cities in the country that actually seem to doing things properly and moving in the right direction.
This has been home to me all of my adult life , except for 9 years that I resided in Orlando. I can certainly see why some would deem Jacksonville a "lost cause". The way I see Jacksonville is a diamond in the rough. Absolutely endless potential. It is never too late to turn it around. I remain hopeful that it eventually will.
Home is where the heart is. Mine is in Jacksonville,Fl.
I grew up in Jacksonville and always wanted to leave it for greener pastures. I did. I went from never having left the Southeast to extensively exploring most of the continent. A few years later, unexpected circumstances brought me back here. Now I'm older, more experienced, and seeing my hometown through different eyes, seeing its many good qualities and the things that I missed about it and never even realized. I'm now willing and even wanting to give it another shot. You're not going to find a city without problems. I began to see them everywhere I went, no matter what city -- after all, this is a single country with pretty homogeneous ideals and values, even in its best of cities. And it hit me: it's really easy to be picky. It's really hard to accept faults (in a country, in a city, or in people, or in anything) but it's essential to finding peace with one's life.
With the right attitude Jax can be a great place to live. It's in a gorgeous setting, it has a lot of potential, plenty of great people, and plenty of things to keep you busy. If you're not comfortable in the suburbs, it can indeed be several times harder to find your niche here than in other cities, and it might feel like you're swimming upstream, but it can be done. You can find kindred spirits here. MJ is a testament to that. We're like pioneers in a perpetual frontier, but eventually this town's going to grow up, as long as we don't abandon it. Be a part of shaping Jacksonville and it gives you a whole new purpose for being here.
With the wrong attitude, any city can be a lost cause. You will end up gravitating to any city's faults.
I have house, long term friends, and a good paying job here. Why leave?
My neighborhood is vibrant, love my friends here, and well....I travel a lot so can get my fill of real city living while I wait for Jacksonville to catch up.
If you think DT is borning go to some of these suburban neighborhoods on the weekend!
My wife and I both have good jobs we like...and a house that is worth less than we paid for it. :(
One reason: it's cheap! (especially now)
I love most of the old major northeastern cities and a few on the west coast but cost of living has been one huge factor that's kept me here. My friends in those cities with similar skill sets have to have 2 or more roommates to keep rent or mortgage from eating up a majority of their income, and that's after adjusting for the cost of living adjustments on their paycheck. They do live in the desirable areas of their respective towns, I’m sure it's possible to find a cheap rental or house in the suburbs, but why move to another city just to live there?
I can live in Jax, travel to NYC and live it up for a week. Or live in NYC and deal with living in a shoebox or making sure I have enough roomies and hopefully scrape enough money for a plane ticket home to see everyone.
Having deep roots also keeps me planted here. If I were someone from a different city with no real attachments here, I could see why they'd want to move on. It seemed like a downtown and urban core renaissance was underway, but that came to a screeching halt a few years ago.
The beach, the river, fishing, friends, sun, family, my house, my neighbors, my job, the Jaguars. I could go on and on. I too once left for greener pastures in a much bigger city, but realized Jacksonville really isn't that bad. Whats funny is while I was living in Atlanta, to hear the people up there complaining about MARTA you would have thought it was JTA.
This is the cheapest city...everything is cheaper...i can't figure out why rich boys are screaming ..."my taxes..my taxes.."...millionaire boys...i think it's nuts...our republican leaders have lowered the taxes so much that we can't run anything now..so...thanks republicans for running this city into the mud....thanks alot.
Quote from: Garden guy on February 17, 2011, 08:54:45 AM
This is the cheapest city...everything is cheaper...i can't figure out why rich boys are screaming ..."my taxes..my taxes.."...millionaire boys...i think it's nuts...our republican leaders have lowered the taxes so much that we can't run anything now..so...thanks republicans for running this city into the mud....thanks alot.
Someone needs some serious therapy.
"Why do you stay in Jacksonville?"
"Because the republicans ran it into the ground!!"
Wha??
For all its faults and shortcomings, this is the place that I have wanted to be for a long time. Anyone who says "my hometown sucks!" obviously has never lived in Melbourne/Palm Bay/Brevard County. :D
So it's all perspective, and it's all subjective. In spite of it all, I like this place.
I love it here! Go Jax!
because i may go to law school here
Retired Navy guy here. Stationed at NAS as a youngster... and NAS again in early 90's. I have lived in, and visited for extended periods, nearly every region of this country(and others) and many major metropolitan areas. When my wife and I looked for a place to call "home" after 20 years of travel we picked Jacksonville.
Cost of living was a MAJOR factor in this decision. Housing, food, utilities, recreation is substantially less expensive than other areas we considered.
At the time... Jville had a great job market with a diversity of industries. I needed somewhere I could begin a second career. We also considered it a "diamond in the rough". We fully expected Jville to blossom...
Climate and nature.
While Jville has served its purpose for us... if things work out... we will likely leave at some point. Our wants and needs have evolved since moving here and since we are not tied by family to this area we will likely seek another place to call "home" eventually.
Job and so I can save enough money to move out.
Because when you've lived all over the America's and really shake out the pros and cons, Jacksonville's biggest problems are minuscule compared to the next best place!
OCKLAWAHA
I stay in Jacksonville because my friends and my immediate family live here. I have established ties and roots with them (especially my folks). I have moved away before and missed my friends and family most. I also missed the positive memories and events from my past. To move to a 'better' city would force me to start a new life from scratch. I live in an imperfect city, but it has wears like an itchy sweater during winter that, although uncomfortable, gives me comfort against the elements.
If you owned a kayak, you would understand!
Quote from: Ocklawaha on February 17, 2011, 09:32:08 AM
Because when you've lived all over the America's and really shake out the pros and cons, Jacksonville's biggest problems are minuscule compared to the next best place!
OCKLAWAHA
Agreed.
Well... My wife and I just moved here for jobs and we are kind of hooked. For some reason we really like it here. We are from the northeast and do miss the vibrant core, but I am sure it will come. I did a lot of research on this city before we decided to move here and things are moving forward due to some forward thinking groups (hint). I think the recession set a lot of cities back, so it looked like progress was lost, but we need to just wait. Personally I do want to see the core thrive not because I want to make this place more like where we came from, but just because it is economically healthier and a hell lot better for the environment. The people here are also very special. We have made such deep friends since we have been here. Personally I think when we first got here we kept moving in the back of our heads, but as we live here that sediment seems to become undesirable.
Great topic / question.
When I was growing up, I and all my friends were always counting down the days until we could move out of Jax.
In my early 20's I started traveling extensively and each place that I visited I looked at as an opportunity for relocation. By my mid 20's I was still traveling but had found myself rooted in my job and even deeper in this city. Now at 30 I couldn't be happier here.
I'm getting married in April. Both of our families are here and provide great support.
I picked up golf a year or so ago playing every chance I get.
March thru September I spend on the boat cruising the spectacular NE FL waterways... fishing in the intercostal or beaching on an uncrowded stretch of sand in St. Augustine is where I've found the most peace in life.
Late August through December it's Jags games and the football season... tailgating with friends & family.
Nightlife priorities have taken a back seat to rising early and enjoying the day. I'm sure one day my priorities will shift again and maybe that means wanting out of Jax again... but for now everything I love is right here.
Burrito Gallery.
Also, being from the real 'burbs of NJ, the sprawl in this town isn't all that bad relatively speaking. Also, there's no traffic here which is nice (If you think Jax has traffic, you have never seen traffic). See NJ, LA, DC, or SoFL to a lesser extent for both of these points.
QuoteI've been here for seven years now, and as optimistic as I was when I first moved here, I'm really reaching that point where I kind of see Jax as a legitimately lost cause.
I'm only here because I am making money hand over fist and someone has to do it.
Quote from: mtraininjax on February 17, 2011, 11:55:02 AM
QuoteI've been here for seven years now, and as optimistic as I was when I first moved here, I'm really reaching that point where I kind of see Jax as a legitimately lost cause.
I'm only here because I am making money hand over fist and someone has to do it.
You must be one of those evil rich Republicans we've all heard so much about! ;)
Quote from: mtraininjax on February 17, 2011, 11:55:02 AM
QuoteI've been here for seven years now, and as optimistic as I was when I first moved here, I'm really reaching that point where I kind of see Jax as a legitimately lost cause.
I'm only here because I am making money hand over fist and someone has to do it.
Do tell. Are you selling lift kits for pick up trucks??
Quote from: Captain Zissou on February 17, 2011, 12:16:26 PM
Quote from: mtraininjax on February 17, 2011, 11:55:02 AM
QuoteI've been here for seven years now, and as optimistic as I was when I first moved here, I'm really reaching that point where I kind of see Jax as a legitimately lost cause.
I'm only here because I am making money hand over fist and someone has to do it.
Do tell. Are you selling lift kits for pick up trucks??
Or camo-painted rifles?
Or UF Gators gear?
I am from here, moved away at 18, lived all over south Florida, the Northeast, and LA, CA. Moved back in 2003 due to job loss in CA and change of careers to law. At 39, I wasn't interested in big city nightlife; I've enjoyed the growth of happening bars for grownups in this town (especially downtown and Riverside - thank you Dos Gatos and Kickbacks). I miss my friends very much, most of who live in NYC or LA, but I have family and close friends here too and for a while it was econimically good to live here. lately though my job situation has been bad and I just got a fantastic career opportunity, so I will be leaving Jax Monday and moving to Tallahassee for a couple of months, then West Palm Beach.
Quote from: PeeJayEss on February 17, 2011, 10:16:22 AM
this town isn't all that bad relatively speaking
Couldn't agree more. This is about as far south as you can go before everyone speaks spanish.
Seriously though if you think Jacksonville is that bad, then go spend some time in Leesburg, Dade City, Lake City and Deland.
Maybe you will appreciate what we have here...
I lived in jax for3 years and I was disappointed about the downtown area and missed the big city. Right now I live in a big city and miss jax. How easy it was to get around and the room and space of Jacksonville, clean beaches and friends. Here in houston it is always busy and crowded and congested. I Hope to live in jax once again....they should focus on getting a smaller part of downtown really vibrant and alive and grow from there. Open a a NFL museum and position aretired navy ship In the st johns river downtown as a museum as well.
The winter is too cold in Chicago.
I grew up in Jacksonville and always liked it just fine, until I went away to college and found out what a real city was like. I love the excitement and diversity that a true urban (as opposed to suburban) city offers. I still visit Jacksonville with some frequency because most of my family lives there, and the first 24 hours or so that I'm there I think "this isn't so bad, I could live here." But that feeling quickly evaporates and by the end of the trip I can't wait to leave.
I agree with some of the posters above who say that a few years ago it seemed like things had finally begun to move in a positive direction. But like so many times in the city's past, the opportunity was squandered and in many ways things appear to be at all-time lows.
I find it interesting that an oft-recited reason for people staying/not leaving is the place is cheap. Maybe I'll return when I retire.
Quote from: cephus on February 17, 2011, 12:55:52 PM
I am from here, moved away at 18, lived all over south Florida, the Northeast, and LA, CA. Moved back in 2003 due to job loss in CA and change of careers to law. At 39, I wasn't interested in big city nightlife; I've enjoyed the growth of happening bars for grownups in this town (especially downtown and Riverside - thank you Dos Gatos and Kickbacks). I miss my friends very much, most of who live in NYC or LA, but I have family and close friends here too and for a while it was econimically good to live here. lately though my job situation has been bad and I just got a fantastic career opportunity, so I will be leaving Jax Monday and moving to Tallahassee for a couple of months, then West Palm Beach.
Where did you go to law school, and what kind of law do you practice? I assume both questions are valid, as you mentioned you changed your career to law...
It's cheap, but it's not middle of Alabama cheap. You get some elements of a larger city while keeping the overall cost of living down. But hey, you get what you pay for.
What's really kept me here is that the things I like to do in other cities when I visit (aside from seeing some a-list bands, shows etc) I can do here.
The more I travel the country the more I realize we all do pretty much the same routine. We have a set group of people we hang out with, a set list of places & events we go to & attend (even in a city like NY, with 100,000,000 options, people fall into their routines)
The determining factors for staying or leaving Jax are basically, what you do for a living and is there a strong job market for it here, what are you truly looking for in a city? If you want that fast, diverse urban bustle you'll have to plant yourself somewhere else.
If you want a decent sized city that has growth potential, a moderate cost of living or a place that's small enough it'll let you make your mark on it, it's not that bad. If you want a city that pulls in the best music acts and artist from around the country or a city that will cater to a very specific niche ...it's not your first pick.
Jacksonville, It's like limbo!
For all of you 20 something’s that are thinking about leaving , you should probably get out and experience a larger city while you're in that mindset because one day you'll wake up and realize that it actually doesn't suck that bad and you might enjoy it here! (or you'll get "stuck" here as some of my friends say.) But seriously, there's no right or wrong answer.It’s a case by case basis.
family
I am still fairly young, but I was born and raised here. I'd love to move to a city like Portland, Denver, or Seattle (3 favorite cities after my mothers hometown of NYC), but the thought of leaving Jacksonville just makes me sick. I just have faith that this place will change for the better, thats all you can do when this place is all you know.
I have already left Jacksonville, but I'll offer what would keep me there and what I would miss that my current city has:
I occasionally miss the small town feel where everyone knows everyone and their business (sounds bad, but that can be fun and interesting sometimes as long as you stay on the good side of "business").
I miss the waterfront and palm trees.
I miss boating on real bodies of water (not a lake).
I miss grid street patterns, timed lights, and having no traffic.
I miss having cheaper gas, cheaper food, cheaper places to live, cheaper everything.
What I enjoy in Atlanta that I can't get in Jacksonville, per se (and wy I'll put up with Godly traffic, higher COL, and higher stress to live here):
-On the flip side of missing the small town feel, I normally prefer to be anonymous and in an environment where people care more about your intelligence and accomplishments than your social standing (more transplants and smaller, tighter social networks, so therefore a lot less gossip and superficial talk)
-Borderline true urban living
-Transportation alternatives
-Just being around smart, ambitious, success seeking people
-Faster way of life (people walk faster and drive faster and think faster and perform tasks faster...Jax is so slooooowwwww)
-Every single amenity one can think of
-Much higher pay
-COL is still not nearly as high as in DC, Boston, NYC, SF, or LA
-Stuff is happening...new projects, new construction, heck Bain & Company is in my building...there are big players, big money, and big time investors everywhere
-2 top tier colleges and several other notable colleges with UGA nearby creating a huge research and start up synergy/climate
-I can go anywhere from the airport without connecting (and take the train to the airport)
-If I want to move up the ladder from Atlanta to say DC, NYC, or LA it's not that difficult to do (or to go international), I would think it's a lot more difficult to move up from Jacksonville which many people haven't heard of and where it’s more challenging to develop a bomb resume
Best way to describe why I stay in Jacksonville is "inertia" - ended up here more or less by accident, Put down some roots in the manner I may have in any random city, and the cons of leaving at this point (wife and I both have great jobs for starters) outweigh the cons.
Quote from: Clem1029 on February 17, 2011, 08:07:06 PM
Best way to describe why I stay in Jacksonville is "inertia" - ended up here more or less by accident, Put down some roots in the manner I may have in any random city, and the cons of leaving at this point (wife and I both have great jobs for starters) outweigh the cons.
Ditto
I was born and raised in Jax, spent 4 yrs in G-ville and 6 in St. Aug but soon discovered Riverside/Avondale and wouldn't live anywhere else in NE FL. I have traveled quite a bit and like to dream about living in other cities but I've found a week or two staying elsewhere is sufficient to satiate my curiosity.
Jax is far enough south to have a tropical feel but far enough north to have an 'Old South' feel and a nice season change where you actually have a winter and a transition of fall and spring. Many places in Florida can't say that. You can say 'good morning' to someone on the street and they don't look at you like you have an ulterior motive. Generally someone will let you merge in traffic and, in my experience, folks are very friendly and willing to help if needed.
The history of this part of Florida is amazing when you really look into it and the natural spaces are incredible. Where else do you have hundreds of waterways to explore, a beach that's just minutes away (some where you can be completely alone), barrier islands that are lost in time and a pretty reasonable cost of living on top of all that.
Last, but not least, Jax has a HUGE upside that many metropolitan areas cannot claim. Many other cities have peaked and are somewhat on the decline but Jax is still growing in terms of population and granted, that can be done poorly with continued sprawl. But we have an opportunity to create a denser city core and improve overall quality of life in the city and protect natural areas outside the city. That would take more progressive leadership and maybe, one day, we will all get a chance to see that.
Sometimes, you have to be from somewhere else to appreciate your adopted home town.
I'm a D.C. native, went to college in Pennsylvania, lived in London for a year, then in Manhattan for 5 years, and yet I genuinely love living in Riverside Avondale. It's refreshing to be in a place whose future is ahead of--not behind--it. The people are cool, the architecture is great, the culture is vibrant, the streets are walkable, the trees and parks are awesome, and the living is, comparatively, way cheaper than elsewhere. I can easily hop a plane to NYC for my big city fix, but as far as a place to live and raise kids, JAX (at least my corner of it) is pretty damned sweet.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on February 17, 2011, 12:16:26 PM
Quote from: mtraininjax on February 17, 2011, 11:55:02 AM
QuoteI've been here for seven years now, and as optimistic as I was when I first moved here, I'm really reaching that point where I kind of see Jax as a legitimately lost cause.
I'm only here because I am making money hand over fist and someone has to do it.
Do tell. Are you selling lift kits for pick up trucks??
LOL.... quite amusing :)
I was born in Riverside Hospital, where the Riverside Publix now stands.
I was adopted at a very early age by a native of Jacksonville and a native of New York. My father is a native of Jacksonville and went to far away exotic lands while in the Air Force, my mother always a traveling willbury. They both chose to forge out their own American dream right here in Jacksonville, FL. I've had countless opportunities to leave, but I am honored to say that I have stayed. I've traveled all over, but there is no better feeling then when you return and the Jacksonville sun kisses your face as if to say 'welcome home'.
I fell in love with Jacksonville because of FCCJ. They, along with the Jacksonville Historical Society, produced a television program called Jacksonville: The Inside Story. Our daily neighborhood football game was interupted by rain one day, and I came inside only to turn on this show by sheer happenstance. The rich, often untold/untapped history of this city was mesmorizing to an impressionable young boy. Not but one week later, we had an assembly at school where divers that studied the shipwreck Maple Leaf showed us pictures of the ship and let us touch artifacts uncovered from the wreckage. From that point, I bought into Jax 100%.
Waking up everyday and seeing the sun sparkle over the St Johns River, I am reminded why this is home.
Where else can you wake up and choose to either go surfing at the Poles, ride a bike trail at Hanna Park, go windsurfing at Hugenot, go fishing(Stockton Park for mullet, Northside for sheephead-drum, offshore for world-class Snapper-grouper-kingfish, Jax Beach fishing pier for mackerel-flounder), take a hike through Timucuan Preserve, go sailing along the majestic St Johns, waterski/wakeboard on black creek, paddle a kayak off Dutton Island, take a stroll along the riverwalk, ride your bike down the beach, eat a meal on the waterfront at the Landing that doesnt cost you an arm and a leg, take a stroll down tree lined streets in Avondale, ride a bike under a majestic tree canopy in Old Mandarin, get up one March morning and go to the NCAA basketball tournament, have a picnic at Memorial Park, take a hike at the Jacksonville Arboretum, see a butterfly garden at Tillie Fowler Park, browse through unique vendors at RAM, watch Division 1 college basketball(tonight at the Arena JU vs Kennesaw State), spend a lazy afternoon at the premier minor league baseball statdium in America, watch your hometeam take on the NFL's best at Everbank Field, play golf at any number of world class facilities, bike amongst the white-tailed deer along the Baldwin Trail, have your choice of musuems to appreciate art(MOCA or Cummer), attend a blues festival at the beach, attend the jazz festival dowtown, attend the shrimp festival in Fernandina, attend the seafood festival at Jax Beach, watch F-18's perform acrobatic ariel displays right over your house, experience fine dining in San Marco/Riverside-Avondale/Downtown/Beaches at a fraction of the cost it would set you back in other cities of similar size, watch live music at Freebirds-Jack Rabbits-Florida Theatre-Symphony @ Times Union Center or just kick back with beer in hand and enjoy the weather... did someone notice that in mid-February we have temps in the 70's????????
I live in a city where you can walk around town and people smile at you. People ask how you are doing and sincerely anticipate your answer. If you're lost, people will let you know where you need to go. If you're happy, people here will give you a high five(try it). If you're not so happy, people here will lend you a helping hand.
If you took a quarter and placed it on a map where my home is, half of my family lives within that quarter . Just the other day I ran into my aunt jogging across the Ortega River Bridge. Where else are you going to see someone you know no matter where you go? It's a big city that still manages to keep a small town charm.
QuoteI can live in Jax, travel to NYC and live it up for a week. Or live in NYC and deal with living in a shoebox or making sure I have enough roomies and hopefully scrape enough money for a plane ticket home to see everyone.
Here, here!
A lot of people complain about what we don't have. We're working on making some changes, no doubt. But the minute we remove the insecure complex we hold as a city, the easier it will be to enjoy what we have. Because what we have is pretty fantastic.
Thirty years ago I reluctantly gave up a career as a government administrator and returned to Jacksonville (reluctantly) from a happy life in the Tampa/St. Pete area at the request of my family who needed help with their businesses.
You think Jacksonville is bad now? You should have seen it then! Downtown was just as dead, but so were Springfield, Riverside and San Marco. Jax Beach was trashed. The River was more polluted. The air stank from the paper mills.
To eat out at a decent restaurant you had to go to St. Augustine or be a member of one of the private clubs in town. We celebrated the opening of the first and only Japanese restaurant in North Florida downtown on Duval St.
We were horribly homesick for the cultural diversity we had become used to in Tampa. Jacksonville was completely whitebread/redneck to us.
Because family roots and then business roots were here we stayed and have marveled at the growth in sophistication and energy that have occurred here in the past three decades.
Now that we are happily embedded in Riverside again, I tend to get hives and nosebleeds if I go into a zip code area that doesn't have a zero in the next to the last position.
(Quavery voice) "Ya thinks it's bad now, sonny! Ya should have seen it in MY day!"
+1
Well said. Dan O'Byrne the new CEO of Visit Jacksonville needs to read it. One more activity to put on your bucket list is to go under the Times Union building on McCoys Creek. Bring your fishing pole and lets see who catches the first fish.
I wrote this in response to Field but DW +1 to you too.
Quote from: fieldafm on February 18, 2011, 08:43:15 AM
Where else can you wake up and choose to either go surfing at the Poles, ride a bike trail at Hanna Park, go windsurfing at Hugenot, go fishing(Stockton Park for mullet, Northside for sheephead-drum, offshore for world-class Snapper-grouper-kingfish, Jax Beach fishing pier for mackerel-flounder), take a hike through Timucuan Preserve, go sailing along the majestic St Johns, waterski/wakeboard on black creek, paddle a kayak off Dutton Island, take a stroll along the riverwalk, ride your bike down the beach, eat a meal on the waterfront at the Landing that doesnt cost you an arm and a leg, take a stroll down tree lined streets in Avondale, ride a bike under a majestic tree canopy in Old Mandarin, get up one March morning and go to the NCAA basketball tournament, have a picnic at Memorial Park, take a hike at the Jacksonville Arboretum, see a butterfly garden at Tillie Fowler Park, browse through unique vendors at RAM, watch Division 1 college basketball(tonight at the Arena JU vs Kennesaw State), spend a lazy afternoon at the premier minor league baseball statdium in America, watch your hometeam take on the NFL's best at Everbank Field, play golf at any number of world class facilities, bike amongst the white-tailed deer along the Baldwin Trail, have your choice of musuems to appreciate art(MOCA or Cummer), attend a blues festival at the beach, attend the jazz festival dowtown, attend the shrimp festival in Fernandina, attend the seafood festival at Jax Beach, watch F-18's perform acrobatic ariel displays right over your house, experience fine dining in San Marco/Riverside-Avondale/Downtown/Beaches at a fraction of the cost it would set you back in other cities of similar size, watch live music at Freebirds-Jack Rabbits-Florida Theatre-Symphony @ Times Union Center or just kick back with beer in hand and enjoy the weather... did someone notice that in mid-February we have temps in the 70's????????
A lot of people complain about what we don't have. We're working on making some changes, no doubt. But the minute we remove the insecure complex we hold as a city, the easier it will be to enjoy what we have. Because what we have is pretty fantastic.
+1 million. That was refreshing.
As an aside, there was a conference in town at the Hyatt last week. We were looking for a quick bite, and a took a couple people to the food court at the Landing. The guy from NYC commented how great he thought it was to have a place like the Landing right there on the river. Its easy to forget that, for all its shortcomings, its not a bad place.
QuoteAs an aside, there was a conference in town at the Hyatt last week. We were looking for a quick bite, and a took a couple people to the food court at the Landing. The guy from NYC commented how great he thought it was to have a place like the Landing right there on the river. Its easy to forget that, for all its shortcomings, its not a bad place.
Seriously! Go down for lunch at the Landing, you might see me on the weekend, and ask any out of town guest to our city what they think of Jacksonville. You'll have plenty to choose from b/c you're always going to find someone in town on business. I make a point to do it. In the last two months I've ran into people from NYC, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Minneapolis, Nebraska and even as far away as Zimbabwe at the Landing.
The feedback you're gonna get is incredible.
so true field. Many out of towners love visiting and enjoy the riverfront downtown. it's the locals that are so negative.
Oh and Memorial park riverfront is gorgeous!
This is a beautiful and blessed area of the country. I choose to live here for many reasons. Would I change some things if I could? Yes. But I won't bitch about what I can't control. Work for what you want, but enjoy all of the wonderful weather, people, nature, etc. that Jacksonville has to offer.
I am going to write in 'fieldafm' for mayor. That was an inspiring message and what I call VISION.
Thanks. I don't feel so bad about my stolen bike now.
Quote from: fsujax on February 18, 2011, 11:40:02 AM
Many out of towners love visiting and enjoy the riverfront downtown. it's the locals that are so negative.
Perhaps it's the difference between being in Jacksonville a day or two as compared to actually living here.
Quote from: finehoe on February 18, 2011, 02:26:01 PM
Quote from: fsujax on February 18, 2011, 11:40:02 AM
Many out of towners love visiting and enjoy the riverfront downtown. it's the locals that are so negative.
Perhaps it's the difference between being in Jacksonville a day or two as compared to actually living here.
The same could be said about every city that we compare ourselves to.
$2 Natty Light Draft at Chicago Pizza along the water. Great place to watch the people go by on a Sunday afternoon.
FieldAFM, that was a wonderful post that echoes how I feel about Jacksonville.
I'm a (frequent) visitor, so perhaps my opinion could be dismissed as that of someone who only experiences Jacksonville for a few days at a time. But I also read up on the city every day. This site has made me far more aware of Jacksonville's shortcomings, but it has also made me love it more.
I love Jacksonville's history, architecture, natural setting, football team, and warm and friendly people more than I could adequately express. I love my area too, and my job and friends are here and family nearby, but I would live in Jacksonville cheerfully and without questions but for those factors.
Quote from: finehoe on February 18, 2011, 02:26:01 PM
Quote from: fsujax on February 18, 2011, 11:40:02 AM
Many out of towners love visiting and enjoy the riverfront downtown. it's the locals that are so negative.
Perhaps it's the difference between being in Jacksonville a day or two as compared to actually living here.
This. I think pretty much any place that's new/foreign/possibly exciting is fun to visit. Living is an entirely different matter.
Plus, when I am in town and I encounter visitors to the area I do enquire, and I bet most of us do. It's a sign that we are so down about our town from living here that we must ask every out of towner about it and hope for approval. To comment that there are business visitors to our downtown from random places is also a sign that that is not as common as in other places. Once you go to CBDs in Atlanta, Miami, New York, Houston, LA, etc you realize that there are at least as many business travelers as actual permanent office workers at any given time. It's nothing new or extraordinary and it's not even a conversation starter.
I deal with out of towners pretty frequently and very rarely do I ask them how they like Atlanta because I could care less since I like Atlanta (for all its faults). They're already familiar with the place, have been a million times, and will invest in something based on fundamentals (not on personal taste). Jacksonville's fundamentals are so wishy washy that investors must rely on hopefuls and personal taste when investing in the city (which is why there aren't a lot of big time investors in Jacksonville).
Unfortunately my parents [dad especially] need to plan jobs ahead and to sell a house.
If this is accomplished, I'll be in my dreamland, New York City, hopefully brooklyn.
If I can't, I'll wait, and go there, or Moscow.
And is this liberal? If so, I feel like I can say my opinions about the people here...
You go for what you want in life and I wish you luck.
Quote from: iLenin on October 13, 2011, 05:02:04 PM
Unfortunately my parents [dad especially] need to plan jobs ahead and to sell a house.
If this is accomplished, I'll be in my dreamland, New York City, hopefully brooklyn.
If I can't, I'll wait, and go there, or Moscow.
And is this liberal? If so, I feel like I can say my opinions about the people here...
I was just a little older than you when i left Jax for NYC. It was the most exciting event in my life. Its great to hear your energy for it. For me, and its just my opinon, NYC is a place for people like you young and full of energy. I think it would be great for you as it will, it is always, changing. The best time for so many were the 70s, like you said. I doubt you will catch such in these times, but you will go and make it your own.
Ive had enough of the city as over the years, ive seen so many of my friends leave for other places ( i am an artist). In moving to Jax i strive to help and move this city forward and i'm very happy with my results. But you should carry on with your desire.
p.s. Moscow is a GREAT 2nd choice!
I live in Jacksonville because it is easy to survive. Gotta a good job and alot of good things going on. Have great friend who know how to party and I hit up the NFL games on Sunday. Im 29 years old and there has never been a shortage of things for me to do. I am not a very hard person to please, which is shocking for my age. I think it all depends on your personallity and what type of city you prefer to stay in. I am laid back so Jacksonville is fine for me. I have friends who stay in more progressive cities. Everytime I visit, Im ready to come home. To each its own. jacksonville is not for everyone just as Atlanta, Miami or NY is not for everyone. Its a free country and different people like different things.
Quote from: simms3 on February 18, 2011, 06:25:13 PM
Quote from: finehoe on February 18, 2011, 02:26:01 PM
Quote from: fsujax on February 18, 2011, 11:40:02 AM
Many out of towners love visiting and enjoy the riverfront downtown. it's the locals that are so negative.
Perhaps it's the difference between being in Jacksonville a day or two as compared to actually living here.
This. I think pretty much any place that's new/foreign/possibly exciting is fun to visit. Living is an entirely different matter.
Plus, when I am in town and I encounter visitors to the area I do enquire, and I bet most of us do. It's a sign that we are so down about our town from living here that we must ask every out of towner about it and hope for approval. To comment that there are business visitors to our downtown from random places is also a sign that that is not as common as in other places. Once you go to CBDs in Atlanta, Miami, New York, Houston, LA, etc you realize that there are at least as many business travelers as actual permanent office workers at any given time. It's nothing new or extraordinary and it's not even a conversation starter.
I deal with out of towners pretty frequently and very rarely do I ask them how they like Atlanta because I could care less since I like Atlanta (for all its faults). They're already familiar with the place, have been a million times, and will invest in something based on fundamentals (not on personal taste). Jacksonville's fundamentals are so wishy washy that investors must rely on hopefuls and personal taste when investing in the city (which is why there aren't a lot of big time investors in Jacksonville).
Simms, dude serious question. Why are all your post comparing Atlanta to Jacksonville?? It doesnt matter the subject, it always ends up getting spinned to why ATL is better than Jacksonville. Just curious....
Quote from: hillary supporter on October 13, 2011, 05:30:02 PM
Quote from: iLenin on October 13, 2011, 05:02:04 PM
Unfortunately my parents [dad especially] need to plan jobs ahead and to sell a house.
If this is accomplished, I'll be in my dreamland, New York City, hopefully brooklyn.
If I can't, I'll wait, and go there, or Moscow.
And is this liberal? If so, I feel like I can say my opinions about the people here...
I was just a little older than you when i left Jax for NYC. It was the most exciting event in my life. Its great to hear your energy for it. For me, and its just my opinon, NYC is a place for people like you young and full of energy. I think it would be great for you as it will, it is always, changing. The best time for so many were the 70s, like you said. I doubt you will catch such in these times, but you will go and make it your own.
Ive had enough of the city as over the years, ive seen so many of my friends leave for other places ( i am an artist). In moving to Jax i strive to help and move this city forward and i'm very happy with my results. But you should carry on with your desire.
p.s. Moscow is a GREAT 2nd choice!
I noticed that age plays a huge role. Im 29. There are a few people I know that were older than me that screamed how they hated Jacksonville. They left to go to"bigger cities". After 7-8, they came back. (now in their late 30's) I think its because they got older and was like " Okay this was fun, but Im think Im ready to go back to Jacksonville and relax again."
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 13, 2011, 05:48:44 PM
Quote from: hillary supporter on October 13, 2011, 05:30:02 PM
Quote from: iLenin on October 13, 2011, 05:02:04 PM
Unfortunately my parents [dad especially] need to plan jobs ahead and to sell a house.
If this is accomplished, I'll be in my dreamland, New York City, hopefully brooklyn.
If I can't, I'll wait, and go there, or Moscow.
And is this liberal? If so, I feel like I can say my opinions about the people here...
I was just a little older than you when i left Jax for NYC. It was the most exciting event in my life. Its great to hear your energy for it. For me, and its just my opinon, NYC is a place for people like you young and full of energy. I think it would be great for you as it will, it is always, changing. The best time for so many were the 70s, like you said. I doubt you will catch such in these times, but you will go and make it your own.
Ive had enough of the city as over the years, ive seen so many of my friends leave for other places ( i am an artist). In moving to Jax i strive to help and move this city forward and i'm very happy with my results. But you should carry on with your desire.
p.s. Moscow is a GREAT 2nd choice!
I noticed that age plays a huge role. Im 29. There are a few people I know that were older than me that screamed how they hated Jacksonville. They left to go to"bigger cities". After 7-8, they came back. (now in their late 30's) I think its because they got older and was like " Okay this was fun, but Im think Im ready to go back to Jacksonville and relax again."
dude you got me pegged!
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 13, 2011, 05:34:08 PM
I live in Jacksonville because it is easy to survive. Gotta a good job and alot of good things going on. Have great friend who know how to party and I hit up the NFL games on Sunday.
We are so blessed with our jaguars. To get tickets to Giants,Jets, you must INHERIT THEM! and that's even when they (Jets/Giants) STINK!
Hmm first time seeing this topic, I am a native here and I moved away when I went into the service. Came back home worked at St.Vincents for a while, then moving to Atlanta for 8 yrs, then back to Jax before we hosted the SB. Even as a kid growing up I have always disliked Jacksonville. If I had not bought a house in 06 I am sure I would have already left.
I like to remember when I first joined Metjax back in the day and how excited I was for the city with all the new developments and things. Super Bowl on the way and how much fun my friends from Tampa and Atlanta had that weekend. All those things quickly went away and alot of plans and proposals died. Well finally after 8 yrs plus here things have finally been set to what I will say is to free myself of this place. No its all bad and doom and gloom, but I just want to live somewhere where there's alot more going on. I just hope I can still go to Jags game though, since I have really made alot of friends with the people in my section over these last three yrs. I hope no one bashes me for what I said but its just the way I feel.
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 13, 2011, 05:35:57 PM
Quote from: simms3 on February 18, 2011, 06:25:13 PM
Quote from: finehoe on February 18, 2011, 02:26:01 PM
Quote from: fsujax on February 18, 2011, 11:40:02 AM
Many out of towners love visiting and enjoy the riverfront downtown. it's the locals that are so negative.
Perhaps it's the difference between being in Jacksonville a day or two as compared to actually living here.
This. I think pretty much any place that's new/foreign/possibly exciting is fun to visit. Living is an entirely different matter.
Plus, when I am in town and I encounter visitors to the area I do enquire, and I bet most of us do. It's a sign that we are so down about our town from living here that we must ask every out of towner about it and hope for approval. To comment that there are business visitors to our downtown from random places is also a sign that that is not as common as in other places. Once you go to CBDs in Atlanta, Miami, New York, Houston, LA, etc you realize that there are at least as many business travelers as actual permanent office workers at any given time. It's nothing new or extraordinary and it's not even a conversation starter.
I deal with out of towners pretty frequently and very rarely do I ask them how they like Atlanta because I could care less since I like Atlanta (for all its faults). They're already familiar with the place, have been a million times, and will invest in something based on fundamentals (not on personal taste). Jacksonville's fundamentals are so wishy washy that investors must rely on hopefuls and personal taste when investing in the city (which is why there aren't a lot of big time investors in Jacksonville).
Simms, dude serious question. Why are all your post comparing Atlanta to Jacksonville?? It doesnt matter the subject, it always ends up getting spinned to why ATL is better than Jacksonville. Just curious....
Evidently, simms has suffered some kind of cranial injury that causes him to mix his associations. Via repeated pairing, he has come to associate virtually all topics with Atlanta, and now tragically misinterprets metrojacksonville.com as an Atlanta website, or some other forum where people give a damn about how things are done in Atlanta. Everyone else is simply too moved by pity to correct him. ;)
Quote from: stephendare on October 13, 2011, 07:26:44 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on October 13, 2011, 07:10:24 PM
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 13, 2011, 05:35:57 PM
Quote from: simms3 on February 18, 2011, 06:25:13 PM
Quote from: finehoe on February 18, 2011, 02:26:01 PM
Quote from: fsujax on February 18, 2011, 11:40:02 AM
Many out of towners love visiting and enjoy the riverfront downtown. it's the locals that are so negative.
Perhaps it's the difference between being in Jacksonville a day or two as compared to actually living here.
This. I think pretty much any place that's new/foreign/possibly exciting is fun to visit. Living is an entirely different matter.
Plus, when I am in town and I encounter visitors to the area I do enquire, and I bet most of us do. It's a sign that we are so down about our town from living here that we must ask every out of towner about it and hope for approval. To comment that there are business visitors to our downtown from random places is also a sign that that is not as common as in other places. Once you go to CBDs in Atlanta, Miami, New York, Houston, LA, etc you realize that there are at least as many business travelers as actual permanent office workers at any given time. It's nothing new or extraordinary and it's not even a conversation starter.
I deal with out of towners pretty frequently and very rarely do I ask them how they like Atlanta because I could care less since I like Atlanta (for all its faults). They're already familiar with the place, have been a million times, and will invest in something based on fundamentals (not on personal taste). Jacksonville's fundamentals are so wishy washy that investors must rely on hopefuls and personal taste when investing in the city (which is why there aren't a lot of big time investors in Jacksonville).
Simms, dude serious question. Why are all your post comparing Atlanta to Jacksonville?? It doesnt matter the subject, it always ends up getting spinned to why ATL is better than Jacksonville. Just curious....
Evidently, simms has suffered some kind of cranial injury that causes him to mix his associations. Via repeated pairing, he has come to associate virtually all topics with Atlanta, and now tragically misinterprets metrojacksonville.com as an Atlanta website, or some other forum where people give a damn about how things are done in Atlanta. Everyone else is simply too moved by pity to correct him. ;)
meh. Its an apt comparison. Atlanta and Jacksonville are natural competitors, and they frankly have kicked our asses over the past 60 years.
Plus Simms is from here, but living there. I find his observations about Atlanta very helpful and insightful actually.
Oh, I was just teasing. I do like Atlanta (in town Atlanta, anyway) and enjoy reading simms' posts and photos about living there.
[/quote]
meh. Its an apt comparison. Atlanta and Jacksonville are natural competitors, and they frankly have kicked our asses over the past 60 years.
Well in many respects it's a good thing Atlanta has kicked our collective azzzz.
What we need is another Beltway to help equal some common denominators........
No doubt our collective psyche is all about adolescent growing pains,'catching up'.To what exactly??
it is fascinating to watch similarities unfold......not to mention comparisons to (insert:"Evil") Miami/South Florida
(hence the 'North Miami' user name)
for me personally and apparently quite a few others the emerging ills of surrounding NE Florida county "growth" answered by retreat to (insert:'Evil') Duval county.Long established core Riverside/Avondale core habitat.
I married a Jacksonville Native,her Daddy the city's first General Counsel under consolidation..
There is a loving,tenacious connection to Jacksonville.
Our hoped for possible alternative Better Place is populated by citizens who would rather not promote the region to the world;confident and pleased with Place,vigilant in Stewardship.
In the mean time,for many of us Jacksonville is unequalled in the departments of weather,spontaneous and diverse outdoor recreation and landscape.
in the mean time for some of us
Ha, well the last time I commented on this thread was 8 months ago! Also, aside from the past week I rarely even post on MetroJax. I like comparing cities and I can most accurately compare what I know from experience. Problem with that?
I'm in real estate, it's my nature. I have to know a lot about various markets.
To answer the initial question, I have as strong family ties to this place as anyone could, plus a great job at UNF. But more than that, I love Jax as a place to live more than anywhere else I've ever been or heard tell of.
Most of why anyone likes anywhere is preference. I've never been much for either big city or quaint small town living. Traveling to them is one thing, living in them is another. I need a place with enough going on, but not so big and impersonal that you're totally anonymous. In terms of the stuff I like, Jacksonville strikes just that balance. Even the craft beer scene is improving. Additionally, Jacksonville has assets no other place in the world does. There are no better beaches this close to a city anywhere on the East Coast. There is no better weather in a state known for it, no better parks and preserves, and the region's history is unlike anything.
And work is big. I'm lucky; I get to not only work for my alma mater, but be part of the development of a truly dynamic and up and coming university. No other city could offer that.
I've always felt the city's shortcomings are surmountable, and outweighed by the positives. And it has so much potential to be more.
My wife would like to try out other places, so if things work out (ie, we find equally good or better jobs in an equally good or better place), we may leave. But I like to think that we'd eventually land back here.
Quote from: simms3 on October 13, 2011, 09:04:33 PM
Ha, well the last time I commented on this thread was 8 months ago! Also, aside from the past week I rarely even post on MetroJax. I like comparing cities and I can most accurately compare what I know from experience. Problem with that?
I'm in real estate, it's my nature. I have to know a lot about various markets.
I was just asking. Ive noticed that you are QUITE passionate about Atl. LOL
Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on October 13, 2011, 06:53:02 PM
Hmm first time seeing this topic, I am a native here and I moved away when I went into the service. Came back home worked at St.Vincents for a while, then moving to Atlanta for 8 yrs, then back to Jax before we hosted the SB. Even as a kid growing up I have always disliked Jacksonville. If I had not bought a house in 06 I am sure I would have already left.
I like to remember when I first joined Metjax back in the day and how excited I was for the city with all the new developments and things. Super Bowl on the way and how much fun my friends from Tampa and Atlanta had that weekend. All those things quickly went away and alot of plans and proposals died. Well finally after 8 yrs plus here things have finally been set to what I will say is to free myself of this place. No its all bad and doom and gloom, but I just want to live somewhere where there's alot more going on. I just hope I can still go to Jags game though, since I have really made alot of friends with the people in my section over these last three yrs. I hope no one bashes me for what I said but its just the way I feel.
Hey its all about preference Keith. We all like what we like.
Quote from: stephendare on October 13, 2011, 07:26:44 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on October 13, 2011, 07:10:24 PM
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 13, 2011, 05:35:57 PM
Quote from: simms3 on February 18, 2011, 06:25:13 PM
Quote from: finehoe on February 18, 2011, 02:26:01 PM
Quote from: fsujax on February 18, 2011, 11:40:02 AM
Many out of towners love visiting and enjoy the riverfront downtown. it's the locals that are so negative.
Perhaps it's the difference between being in Jacksonville a day or two as compared to actually living here.
This. I think pretty much any place that's new/foreign/possibly exciting is fun to visit. Living is an entirely different matter.
Plus, when I am in town and I encounter visitors to the area I do enquire, and I bet most of us do. It's a sign that we are so down about our town from living here that we must ask every out of towner about it and hope for approval. To comment that there are business visitors to our downtown from random places is also a sign that that is not as common as in other places. Once you go to CBDs in Atlanta, Miami, New York, Houston, LA, etc you realize that there are at least as many business travelers as actual permanent office workers at any given time. It's nothing new or extraordinary and it's not even a conversation starter.
I deal with out of towners pretty frequently and very rarely do I ask them how they like Atlanta because I could care less since I like Atlanta (for all its faults). They're already familiar with the place, have been a million times, and will invest in something based on fundamentals (not on personal taste). Jacksonville's fundamentals are so wishy washy that investors must rely on hopefuls and personal taste when investing in the city (which is why there aren't a lot of big time investors in Jacksonville).
Simms, dude serious question. Why are all your post comparing Atlanta to Jacksonville?? It doesnt matter the subject, it always ends up getting spinned to why ATL is better than Jacksonville. Just curious....
Evidently, simms has suffered some kind of cranial injury that causes him to mix his associations. Via repeated pairing, he has come to associate virtually all topics with Atlanta, and now tragically misinterprets metrojacksonville.com as an Atlanta website, or some other forum where people give a damn about how things are done in Atlanta. Everyone else is simply too moved by pity to correct him. ;)
meh. Its an apt comparison. Atlanta and Jacksonville are natural competitors, and they frankly have kicked our asses over the past 60 years.
Plus Simms is from here, but living there. I find his observations about Atlanta very helpful and insightful actually.
Ive been dying to take a stab at Simms for the longest. Its all in good fun.
Dying to take a stab? Why don't you? Like I said before, this is just another thread that I hadn't posted in since February...before I even started my first post-college job! Why don't you take a stab at my more recent posts? Try to poke holes in my arguments. Tell me why you're pissed that I bring up another sunbelt town that happens to have turned into something of a successful cosmopolitan city! Maybe there are some things Jacksonville could learn? If I lived in Charlotte or Nashville, I would do the same thing because obviously those towns are turning into pretty cool, urban cities. They must be doing something right, too.
Nobody has yet to really quash my argument that Jacksonville should not attempt to be some medical/biotech hub (because it's so clearly not) and instead should focus all efforts on the port and a starter streetcar line. Poke holes in that...I bring Atlanta and so many other cities up in that discussion, too. :D
Quote from: simms3 on October 13, 2011, 11:36:56 PM
Dying to take a stab? Why don't you? Like I said before, this is just another thread that I hadn't posted in since February...before I even started my first post-college job! Why don't you take a stab at my more recent posts? Try to poke holes in my arguments. Tell me why you're pissed that I bring up another sunbelt town that happens to have turned into something of a successful cosmopolitan city! Maybe there are some things Jacksonville could learn? If I lived in Charlotte or Nashville, I would do the same thing because obviously those towns are turning into pretty cool, urban cities. They must be doing something right, too.
Nobody has yet to really quash my argument that Jacksonville should not attempt to be some medical/biotech hub (because it's so clearly not) and instead should focus all efforts on the port and a starter streetcar line. Poke holes in that...I bring Atlanta and so many other cities up in that discussion, too. :D
Its all in good fun Simms. Simmer down Atl boy :D
Quote from: simms3 on October 13, 2011, 11:36:56 PM
Dying to take a stab? Why don't you? Like I said before, this is just another thread that I hadn't posted in since February...before I even started my first post-college job! Why don't you take a stab at my more recent posts? Try to poke holes in my arguments. Tell me why you're pissed that I bring up another sunbelt town that happens to have turned into something of a successful cosmopolitan city! Maybe there are some things Jacksonville could learn? If I lived in Charlotte or Nashville, I would do the same thing because obviously those towns are turning into pretty cool, urban cities. They must be doing something right, too.
Nobody has yet to really quash my argument that Jacksonville should not attempt to be some medical/biotech hub (because it's so clearly not) and instead should focus all efforts on the port and a starter streetcar line. Poke holes in that...I bring Atlanta and so many other cities up in that discussion, too. :D
Simms you're okay man.. I don't care what Duvaldude says ;) he's just playin wit ya anyway.. hes good people too .
Simms3 ,I think youve made a good decision in moving to Atlanta. I dont know whether you chose to move there or had the opportunity, but your high vitality and enthusiaism makes you well set for the definitive urban area of the south.
i'm of the opinion that the great cities, and Atlanta is one, have had their peak in the 20th century.
One very big advantage of Atlanta is travel or global commuting. Atlanta is one of the worlds major air hubs. But technology and business is innovating the airline industry. As I'm fortunate to be able to travel abroad regularly,its actually cheaper to fly from jax to europe than direct from major hubs. Money has never meant so much for air travel than then today.
Anyhow, i compliment you on your experience in the big city. Get all you can out of it!
This may have been my favorite thread to read on this site. Glad it popped back up and I got a chance to see it tonight! Everyone's got a nice perspective and we got to see a few very cool narratives about life in the river city.
I'm here because my family is here, it's my hometown (first 18 years of my life and plenty of memories) and I travel often enough that I don't feel stuck here. That said, I'm in my late 20s and all my life assumed I'd live AND WORK in a big city someday (I went to school in Chicago for a little while) and some days I begin to realize my time is running short if I want to live a big city life before settling down. I'm a bit too comfortable right now, but hopefully one day soon I'll snap and pick up and leave. Easier said than done, of course.
Quote from: Shwaz on February 17, 2011, 10:16:08 AM
Great topic / question.
When I was growing up, I and all my friends were always counting down the days until we could move out of Jax.
In my early 20's I started traveling extensively and each place that I visited I looked at as an opportunity for relocation. By my mid 20's I was still traveling but had found myself rooted in my job and even deeper in this city. Now at 30 I couldn't be happier here.
I'm getting married in April. Both of our families are here and provide great support.
I picked up golf a year or so ago playing every chance I get.
March thru September I spend on the boat cruising the spectacular NE FL waterways... fishing in the intercostal or beaching on an uncrowded stretch of sand in St. Augustine is where I've found the most peace in life.
Late August through December it's Jags games and the football season... tailgating with friends & family.
Nightlife priorities have taken a back seat to rising early and enjoying the day. I'm sure one day my priorities will shift again and maybe that means wanting out of Jax again... but for now everything I love is right here.
I love it. This is why I know my heart will always be in Jax no matter where I end up. Congrats on your wedding, btw.
Quote from: hillary supporter on October 14, 2011, 01:11:07 AM
Simms3 ,I think youve made a good decision in moving to Atlanta. I dont know whether you chose to move there or had the opportunity, but your high vitality and enthusiaism makes you well set for the definitive urban area of the south.
i'm of the opinion that the great cities, and Atlanta is one, have had their peak in the 20th century.
One very big advantage of Atlanta is travel or global commuting. Atlanta is one of the worlds major air hubs. But technology and business is innovating the airline industry. As I'm fortunate to be able to travel abroad regularly,its actually cheaper to fly from jax to europe than direct from major hubs. Money has never meant so much for air travel than then today.
Anyhow, i compliment you on your experience in the big city. Get all you can out of it!
hmmmmmmmm.......
I grew up moving quite a bit, I’ve lived in Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado. I moved back to Florida from Colorado after my stint as a snowboard bum and decided to finish college. I didn’t like UCF, USF or UF and I had 2 friends attending UNF so I decided to move up to Jacksonville. The first year or so I lived near campus and was ready to leave Jacksonville as soon as I got my degree. Then something amazing happened, I was introduced to Riverside. Since then I’ve really enjoyed living here and see the great potential this city has. For all it’s potential, it has a lot of shortcomings though.
I’ve seen many of my friends who are well educated and motivated move because this city doesn’t offer much to keep them here. I’m only hanging around now because my girlfriend is in school and we will probably move to wherever she gets accepted for grad school. I like Jacksonville, primarily the urban core, but it needs to do something fast to keep the educated 20-35 year old demographic here.
I grew up on LI, went on to college in Philly and then to grad school in Chicago. I drove straight here from grad school in early 1973, because I was a planner and Jacksonville was growing and in need of planners. By 1975 it was time for a move to Nashville and some much needed seasoning.
But before leaving I met the love of my life at the Jacksonville Area Planning Board, and we have been married ever since. We raised a nice family up there, and then we came back to Jacksonville (Avondale) in 2004.
I have an office that I rent inexpensively downtown and I live less than 30" from the airport, so this is really a pretty good base of operations for a consulting planner. Thanks to Southwest I can spend a half day or a full day back in Nashville, and still come home in time for bed.
Quote from: KenFSU on February 16, 2011, 11:06:46 PM
Just curious.
Realistically, it seems like everything most of us want in a city -- urban vibrancy, great mass transit, a sense of identity, respect for the past -- is a long, long way off, and that's assuming that the city ever reverses its trend of screwing up every major undertaking it attempts.
Why stay?
masochist - definition of masochist by the Free Online Dictionary ...
mas·och·ism (m s-k z m) n. 1. The deriving of sexual gratification, or the tendency to derive sexual gratification, from being physically or emotionally abused... Where else could you go?
Ocklawaha
Quote from: hillary supporter on October 13, 2011, 05:30:02 PM
Quote from: iLenin on October 13, 2011, 05:02:04 PM
Unfortunately my parents [dad especially] need to plan jobs ahead and to sell a house.
If this is accomplished, I'll be in my dreamland, New York City, hopefully brooklyn.
If I can't, I'll wait, and go there, or Moscow.
And is this liberal? If so, I feel like I can say my opinions about the people here...
I was just a little older than you when i left Jax for NYC. It was the most exciting event in my life. Its great to hear your energy for it. For me, and its just my opinon, NYC is a place for people like you young and full of energy. I think it would be great for you as it will, it is always, changing. The best time for so many were the 70s, like you said. I doubt you will catch such in these times, but you will go and make it your own.
Ive had enough of the city as over the years, ive seen so many of my friends leave for other places ( i am an artist). In moving to Jax i strive to help and move this city forward and i'm very happy with my results. But you should carry on with your desire.
p.s. Moscow is a GREAT 2nd choice!
NYC is vibrant, and I have a former Floridian friend who just moved into Brooklyn. My energy for it mostly revolves around the people, the music, and the night ; also, the subway is a great factor (gotta love mass transit!) The 70s was probably interesting before it went into its economical decline. Russia too ; mostly for Russia, as a Leninist, I want to visit all of its memorials and I just want to visit Mother Russia in her own sense.
Quote from: Dashing Dan on October 14, 2011, 09:02:29 AM
I grew up on LI, went on to college in Philly and then to grad school in Chicago. I drove straight here from grad school in early 1973, because I was a planner and Jacksonville was growing and in need of planners. By 1975 it was time for a move to Nashville and some much needed seasoning.
But before leaving I met the love of my life at the Jacksonville Area Planning Board, and we have been married ever since. We raised a nice family up there, and then we came back to Jacksonville (Avondale) in 2004.
I have an office that I rent inexpensively downtown and I live less than 30" from the airport, so this is really a pretty good base of operations for a consulting planner. Thanks to Southwest I can spend a half day or a full day back in Nashville, and still come home in time for bed.
What town on LI?
Quote from: TPC on October 14, 2011, 08:31:05 AM
I grew up moving quite a bit, I’ve lived in Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado. I moved back to Florida from Colorado after my stint as a snowboard bum and decided to finish college. I didn’t like UCF, USF or UF and I had 2 friends attending UNF so I decided to move up to Jacksonville. The first year or so I lived near campus and was ready to leave Jacksonville as soon as I got my degree. Then something amazing happened, I was introduced to Riverside. Since then I’ve really enjoyed living here and see the great potential this city has. For all it’s potential, it has a lot of shortcomings though.
I’ve seen many of my friends who are well educated and motivated move because this city doesn’t offer much to keep them here. I’m only hanging around now because my girlfriend is in school and we will probably move to wherever she gets accepted for grad school. I like Jacksonville, primarily the urban core, but it needs to do something fast to keep the educated 20-35 year old demographic here.
Couldn't agree more. I was born and raised here. Left to go to undergrad in Charleston, SC. Came back here for law school because I was short on options (always cared more about partying than studying in undergrad). Met my gf in undergrad, so she's here now (she's from NYC area). We loved it for 1-1.5 years. Riverside is amazing, the beaches are beautiful. There's 'stuff' here, for sure. BUT, we're bored. When I finish up with law school, probably heading back to Charleston, SC (unless my gf ends up going to grad school in Asheville, NC)...this time for good. Love Jacksonville--it's my home. But, I'm bored. I'll always have family here to visit, so that's good!
Maybe Im just lame, but I really have fun in Jacksonville and Im in my 20's. I dont know if it has to do with the fact I hang around fun people, but we have NEVER had a shortageof things to do. The thing is were just party animals. We just club and drink our selves stupid LMAO But I will admit Jacksonville lacks alot of organized activity. We have spurts of activity DT, but definately not enough. We need things like the Jazz Fesitival year round. We are definately lacking in alot of areas.
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 14, 2011, 05:08:19 PM
Maybe Im just lame, but I really have fun in Jacksonville and Im in my 20's. I dont know if it has to do with the fact I hang around fun people, but we have NEVER had a shortageof things to do. The thing is were just party animals. We just club and drink our selves stupid LMAO But I will admit Jacksonville lacks alot of organized activity. We have spurts of activity DT, but definately not enough. We need things like the Jazz Fesitival year round. We are definately lacking in alot of areas.
It's not so much as things to do, but stimuli outside of getting drunk/high and hanging out with friends. As I mentioned in my post (maybe not clear enough), there's plenty of 'stuff' to do. I think it's incredible there's a beach and a river, both within 5-15 minutes drive from anywhere in the city. Again, Jax is my home, and I DO love it. No disrespect. Maybe it's because...well...Charleston is one of the most gorgeous cities in the US (maybe even the world), and I had the best four years of my life there. It's like living on a movie set. Food scene, buildings, public transportation, nice people, history that dates back to...well...a long ways. So, maybe I AM biased, but yes, I plan on returning there.
But hell, there are some things I'll really miss here.
13 Gypsies
Chamblin's
Avondale/Riverside
Bowl of Pho
San Marco Movie Theatre
etc etc etc. The list goes on...
Quote from: ben says on October 15, 2011, 03:04:28 PM
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 14, 2011, 05:08:19 PM
Maybe Im just lame, but I really have fun in Jacksonville and Im in my 20's. I dont know if it has to do with the fact I hang around fun people, but we have NEVER had a shortageof things to do. The thing is were just party animals. We just club and drink our selves stupid LMAO But I will admit Jacksonville lacks alot of organized activity. We have spurts of activity DT, but definately not enough. We need things like the Jazz Fesitival year round. We are definately lacking in alot of areas.
It's not so much as things to do, but stimuli outside of getting drunk/high and hanging out with friends. As I mentioned in my post (maybe not clear enough), there's plenty of 'stuff' to do. I think it's incredible there's a beach and a river, both within 5-15 minutes drive from anywhere in the city. Again, Jax is my home, and I DO love it. No disrespect. Maybe it's because...well...Charleston is one of the most gorgeous cities in the US (maybe even the world), and I had the best four years of my life there. It's like living on a movie set. Food scene, buildings, public transportation, nice people, history that dates back to...well...a long ways. So, maybe I AM biased, but yes, I plan on returning there.
But hell, there are some things I'll really miss here.
13 Gypsies
Chamblin's
Avondale/Riverside
Bowl of Pho
San Marco Movie Theatre
etc etc etc. The list goes on...
I feel you
Quote from: Dashing Dan on October 14, 2011, 05:15:19 PM
Quote from: ben says on October 14, 2011, 04:41:26 PM
Quote from: Dashing Dan on October 14, 2011, 09:02:29 AM
I grew up on LI, went on to college in Philly and then to grad school in Chicago.
What town on LI?
Freeport
South Shore, right?
Yeah, my girlfriend is from Mineola/Manhasset/Roslyn area. Incidentally, there are a lot of LI transplants in Jax...
Moran Theatre.....strolling out to the river at intermission........The Artist Series.........Florida Theatre........Ragtimes ( hit me with 'da Brick......Icy Cold Red Brick after a day at Talbot,delivered Rag Times via Ferry)
Moving here as a young'un from a small town in GA - where most of my family has returned - what keeps me in Jax?
Since the relative completion of I-295, I can get where I need to be in town in around a half hour, tops, depending on the time of day.
A wide variety of sports - from the NFL to youth leagues in football, enough variety besides the fall seasons to keep me engaged and interested.
That funky, freaky small-town/big city dichotomy; we're not either, yet we ain't both.
Enough controversy politically to keep the talk going.
Urban vibe, suburban sprawl and rural relaxation...often all on one block.
Nature that hasn't been completely denied; although we keep trying.
People that strike up conversations with you about the most unlikely subjects in the cashier's line at Winn-Dixie.
Good places to eat unusual things in unexpected places.
Meeting people who are passionate about the things that count to them, even if their cares are unimportant to you - just watch a whole City Council meeting and actually talk to the folks who filled out the blue card.
Yep, I like this place.
Quote from: Scarlettjax on October 15, 2011, 08:49:51 PM
Moving here as a young'un from a small town in GA - where most of my family has returned - what keeps me in Jax?
Since the relative completion of I-295, I can get where I need to be in town in around a half hour, tops, depending on the time of day.
A wide variety of sports - from the NFL to youth leagues in football, enough variety besides the fall seasons to keep me engaged and interested.
That funky, freaky small-town/big city dichotomy; we're not either, yet we ain't both.
Enough controversy politically to keep the talk going.
Urban vibe, suburban sprawl and rural relaxation...often all on one block.
Nature that hasn't been completely denied; although we keep trying.
People that strike up conversations with you about the most unlikely subjects in the cashier's line at Winn-Dixie.
Good places to eat unusual things in unexpected places.
Meeting people who are passionate about the things that count to them, even if their cares are unimportant to you - just watch a whole City Council meeting and actually talk to the folks who filled out the blue card.
Yep, I like this place.
Couldn't agree more.
"People that strike up conversations with you about the most unlikely subjects in the cashier's line at Winn-Dixie."
So... you've met my wife...
I am a Jax native. I am 28 years old and absolutely love it here! Mayby it is because I have never lived anywhere else? I am married now and have a baby, so my wife and I are really looking forward to Jacksonville's future!
Quote from: ben says on October 15, 2011, 08:18:50 PM
Quote from: Dashing Dan on October 14, 2011, 05:15:19 PM
Quote from: ben says on October 14, 2011, 04:41:26 PM
Quote from: Dashing Dan on October 14, 2011, 09:02:29 AM
I grew up on LI, went on to college in Philly and then to grad school in Chicago.
What town on LI?
Freeport
South Shore, right?
Yeah, my girlfriend is from Mineola/Manhasset/Roslyn area. Incidentally, there are a lot of LI transplants in Jax...
Definitely South Shore.
People knock Freeport but it really has a lot going for it. It was a good place to grow up.
(http://www.mytinyphone.com/uploads/users/sexy_boy/404427.jpg)
OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 15, 2011, 06:36:58 PM
Quote from: ben says on October 15, 2011, 03:04:28 PM
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 14, 2011, 05:08:19 PM
Maybe Im just lame, but I really have fun in Jacksonville and Im in my 20's. I dont know if it has to do with the fact I hang around fun people, but we have NEVER had a shortageof things to do. The thing is were just party animals. We just club and drink our selves stupid LMAO But I will admit Jacksonville lacks alot of organized activity. We have spurts of activity DT, but definately not enough. We need things like the Jazz Fesitival year round. We are definately lacking in alot of areas.
It's not so much as things to do, but stimuli outside of getting drunk/high and hanging out with friends. As I mentioned in my post (maybe not clear enough), there's plenty of 'stuff' to do. I think it's incredible there's a beach and a river, both within 5-15 minutes drive from anywhere in the city. Again, Jax is my home, and I DO love it. No disrespect. Maybe it's because...well...Charleston is one of the most gorgeous cities in the US (maybe even the world), and I had the best four years of my life there. It's like living on a movie set. Food scene, buildings, public transportation, nice people, history that dates back to...well...a long ways. So, maybe I AM biased, but yes, I plan on returning there.
But hell, there are some things I'll really miss here.
13 Gypsies
Chamblin's
Avondale/Riverside
Bowl of Pho
San Marco Movie Theatre
etc etc etc. The list goes on...
I feel you
Same here... Along with friends, 13 gypsies chamblins riverside smmt. All will be missed..
I'm originally from South America, married to an american, two kids in College and lots of histories to tell...We lived in South Florida for quiet 8 years and moving to Jacksonville was a big change but we like it a lot.....we are basically urban people and Downtown and surrounded areas always have great activities, good restaurants, beautiful views and a lot of potential for the future..I wished more people try moving in!
Quote from: Ocklawaha on October 16, 2011, 11:11:16 PM
(http://www.mytinyphone.com/uploads/users/sexy_boy/404427.jpg)
OCKLAWAHA
Oh that picture is timeless!
Quote from: chachisweda on October 18, 2011, 05:09:35 PM
I'm originally from South America, married to an american, two kids in College and lots of histories to tell...We lived in South Florida for quiet 8 years and moving to Jacksonville was a big change but we like it a lot.....we are basically urban people and Downtown and surrounded areas always have great activities, good restaurants, beautiful views and a lot of potential for the future..I wished more people try moving in!
De que parte de sur America eres?
OCKLAWAHA
I stay in Jacksonville for the wonderful place it already is and the potential it has to be truly great. Yes, I want a downtown with greater energy and activity and a city that honors its past, while looking forward. I do want my city to celebrate and take care of its natural assets and take some risks. With that said I love Jacksonville because of the people, the beauty of the river, parks, beaches and the dizzying number of things to do in any given week.
My fave things about Jax...
Riverside/Avondale walks where I can end up in a park, on the banks of the St. Johns, or at Mojo4, Biscottis, 13 Gypsies or RAM
The Cummer Museum and MOCA
The ability to see fun theater at Theater Jacksonville, Players by The Sea, ABET, etc. on any given weekend
The Symphony, Ritz Chamber Players, local bands in a variety of venues almost any night of the week
Driving from downtown, down Heckscher and experiencing industry and the most glorious landscapes anywhere in just a few short miles
The Jazz Fest
Art Walk
The downtown library
Chamblins Downtown
13 Gypsies, Orsay, Moonriver Pizza, Chew, OBrothers Pub
Being the home of "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
Riverwalk
Jacksonville Suns Baseball...riding my bike to the games down the riverwalk from Riverside
Jaguars Football in the fall
Our Public Radio station, WJCT
It is a generous community, a beautiful place that is still trying to embrace its strengths and find the determination to actually tackle its weaknesses. I want to be part of that debate and the work ahead. I plan on staying in Jacksonville because of all these things.
Only because of my child that is here. We have now established a bit better of a relationship so I am looking to relocate again.
I stay in Jacksonville because of my family in Orange Park. I also have developed bonds (e.g. my church community) that would be difficult to recreate in a new city. I guess I am sentimental that way. If I was a solitary man, I would probably be living in Baltimore or Philadelphia.
I don't. Mainly because of work.
I grew up in jacksonville and I swear this city hated kids aged 13-18! There was NEVER anything to do, you could never go out anywhere, it used to baffle me when rednecks referred to this as a "city" (still does). I swore that one day I would move out!
A few years back, we moved to texas and it was the worst thing that ever happened to me. The hate towards outsiders was unbelievable, every single person there tried to brainwash you, it was just as bad as jacksonville. I thought jax wasn't so bad afterall. So I moved back in late 2010, thinking it must've gotten better. I actually think it got worse. I love nightlife and there was less of one, I like a good music scene and it seemed diminished, there were no good jobs hiring (and yes this was when the economy got really bad). The rednecks here got what they wanted by making things go even more backwards. Regency looked terrible, the beaches were dead, everything that I remembered was gone.
And on top of things, there was a campaign by these rednecks wearing bulldog gear complaining on how they wanted the jaguars to leave jacksonville. (For the record, I find the anti-jaguar behavior to be with more bulldog fans than I do with gator fans.) Some of them actually said that lots of crime would go away if they left. I say it would only get worse. These rednecks are the same people fighting those who are trying to make the city move forward. They get angry about those who "want to make jacksonville a city, because that's just not jacksonville".
I left once again, mainly because there was no work I could find. Maybe one of these days, I'll move back if there was anything there for me personally. It's sad to see these rednecks and hoganites ruin what could be a perfectly good city.
I'm a Denverite by birth to age 18 and moved here after stints in Charleston, Spain, and adult Denver.
I stay in Jacksonville (Fairfax) because it has everything that a major city has to offer at half the price. If I were to live in Denver in a comparable neighborhood (Wash Park, Capitol Hill, Cheeseman), I would be spending 3X+ for the same 4,3 that we own. Secondly, the lack of a state income tax keeps us living here. We have 3 kids under the age of 6 and Fishweir Elem is an absolutely acceptable elementary school, I can walk to Harp's, Monty's, Publix, and Tom & Betty's in the same afternoon with my kids. We can park our cars on Friday afternoon, and not move them until Monday morning. We're both teachers in the inner-city schools, have been for longer than most people would dare, and love everything about this town.
I have found that everybody is different. Every person has their preference. I know people that love ATL, and I know some that hate ATL. I know several 100 percent bread new yorkers that hate it and said they will never go back yp New York because of the crime and snow, and they only go up there to visit, eat, shop, then come back to Jacksonville. Im only 30, but Im one of those people that dont need a whole lot of night life. As long as I have something to do when I get in the mood Im fine. From about January-August the Arena is super bust with concerts, basketball games, comedy shows, and the list goes on. Not mention to mention all the plays that are always happening. There is stuff to do. Contrary to a previous post, the nightlife has actually picked up in Jacksonville, especially in the urban core. There are tons more bars, clubs and resturants than there were 7 or 8 years ago.
Quote from: duvaldude08 on February 20, 2012, 11:16:22 PM
I have found that everybody is different. Every person has their preference. I know people that love ATL, and I know some that hate ATL. I know several 100 percent bread new yorkers that hate it and said they will never go back yp New York because of the crime and snow, and they only go up there to visit, eat, shop, then come back to Jacksonville. Im only 30, but Im one of those people that dont need a whole lot of night life. As long as I have something to do when I get in the mood Im fine. From about January-August the Arena is super bust with concerts, basketball games, comedy shows, and the list goes on. Not mention to mention all the plays that are always happening. There is stuff to do. Contrary to a previous post, the nightlife has actually picked up in Jacksonville, especially in the urban core. There are tons more bars, clubs and resturants than there were 7 or 8 years ago.
Agree. My fiancé is from the NYC area, moved down to Jax about 2 years ago, with no plans to move back up North. Hates the weather, the rat race mentality, cost of living, the dog-eat-dog life, etc. She'll always love the big city life, and we visit NYC frequently, but outside of a few visits a year, very happy down here. In fact, upon first moving down, she was flabbergasted how great the shopping, restaurants, and weather are down here. If you like boutiques, the shopping is good. If you like an up-and-coming restaurant scene, you have that too. Good weather--obviously.
Mobile, alabama now, gotta go where the work is
Quote from: civil42806 on February 21, 2012, 09:32:40 AM
Mobile, alabama now, gotta go where the work is
How is it there? Driven through...looks...interesting.
Quote from: ben says on February 21, 2012, 09:40:50 AM
Quote from: civil42806 on February 21, 2012, 09:32:40 AM
Mobile, alabama now, gotta go where the work is
How is it there? Driven through...looks...interesting.
I work in a small town in Mississippi, so ended up getting a place midway between Mobile and my work. I do find myself downtown in Mobile much more than when I lived in jax. Mardi gras was last week, much more civilized than the pig sty of NO, had a blast was a lot of fun. Go downtown to eat a lot, think one advantage is a lot more green space and its utilized, restaraunts have outside dining, the art walk every month.
Mortgage. Hey, it's ok. I can breathe. Family. Love 'em, but I can always visit. Critters, well, that's why I have a big house. Job? I'm virtual, can go anywhere. Neighborhood. Priceless.
Winter in Chicago is just too brutal.
The better question, in my opinion, is why wouldn't I stay in Jacksonville? Think about all the things we have down here that most of us take for granted on a daily basis. We have wonderful beaches, great shopping venues like The Avenues Mall; St Johns Towncenter; The Orange Park Mall; River City Marketplace; The Jacksonville Landing, a fantastic live event arena, a championship caliber minor league baseball team, an NFL team, we're mere minutes away from St. Augustine (one of the most lively and historical places in all of the US), and more. I love living where I live and I think everyone else should love it as much as I do. What might shock you the most is I'm 19 years old! People think everyone my age loathes living here, but I couldn't be happier.
Quote from: inkahnwetrust on March 07, 2012, 03:03:58 PM
What might shock you the most is I'm 19 years old! People think everyone my age loathes living here, but I couldn't be happier.
Just curious, but have you ever spent any time in a real city?
Quote from: finehoe on March 07, 2012, 03:25:31 PM
Quote from: inkahnwetrust on March 07, 2012, 03:03:58 PM
What might shock you the most is I'm 19 years old! People think everyone my age loathes living here, but I couldn't be happier.
Just curious, but have you ever spent any time in a real city?
Couldn't help but to laugh at that one...
Quote from: finehoe on March 07, 2012, 03:25:31 PM
Quote from: inkahnwetrust on March 07, 2012, 03:03:58 PM
What might shock you the most is I'm 19 years old! People think everyone my age loathes living here, but I couldn't be happier.
Just curious, but have you ever spent any time in a real city?
As I look down my long, arrogant, smarter than anyones nose. Kahn you are wise beyond your years. I have lived in "real" cities and I am always glad to come home.
Quote from: bill on March 07, 2012, 03:56:27 PM
As I look down my long, arrogant, smarter than anyones nose.
It wasn't meant that way at all. But if one thinks the Landing is a "great shopping venue" then one could benefit from the mind-broadening that spending time in other places often provides.
Quote from: finehoe on March 07, 2012, 04:12:39 PM
Quote from: bill on March 07, 2012, 03:56:27 PM
As I look down my long, arrogant, smarter than anyones nose.
It wasn't meant that way at all. But if one thinks the Landing is a "great shopping venue" then one could benefit from the mind-broadening that spending time in other places often provides.
^^ here here :)
And (outside of downtown) no parking meters. Last time I was in the metro DC area (Old Town Alexandria, VA) metered parking was $1.75 an hour!!
^ Miami is about the same.
I left Jacksonville, but it's not because of anything Jacksonville did. I just wanted to live somewhere else and do a bit of traveling. I'd left a couple of times before but never stuck it out.
I love coming back to Jax and visiting. I think the people are very friendly and although it's waaaay too hot for me sometimes, I think the climate is actually a pretty big selling point. The beaches are great (and not crowded). Riverside will always be home to me, and nothing beats taking a walk or bike ride on a lazy Sunday.
And last time I was in town, I ate at Carmine's. And it f'in rocked my world.
Quote from: Adam W on March 24, 2012, 05:12:59 PM
And last time I was in town, I ate at Carmine's. And it f'in rocked my world.
+1,000,000
Quote from: Adam W on March 24, 2012, 05:12:59 PM
I left Jacksonville, but it's not because of anything Jacksonville did. I just wanted to live somewhere else and do a bit of traveling. I'd left a couple of times before but never stuck it out.
I love coming back to Jax and visiting. I think the people are very friendly and although it's waaaay to hot for me sometimes, I think the climate is actually a pretty big selling point. The beaches are great (and not crowded). Riverside will always be home to me, and nothing beats taking a walk or bike ride on a lazy Sunday.
And last time I was in town, I ate at Carmine's. And it f'in rocked my world.
Where do you live now?
Quote from: ben says on March 24, 2012, 05:25:24 PM
Quote from: Adam W on March 24, 2012, 05:12:59 PM
I left Jacksonville, but it's not because of anything Jacksonville did. I just wanted to live somewhere else and do a bit of traveling. I'd left a couple of times before but never stuck it out.
I love coming back to Jax and visiting. I think the people are very friendly and although it's waaaay too hot for me sometimes, I think the climate is actually a pretty big selling point. The beaches are great (and not crowded). Riverside will always be home to me, and nothing beats taking a walk or bike ride on a lazy Sunday.
And last time I was in town, I ate at Carmine's. And it f'in rocked my world.
Where do you live now?
I live in London. I moved here in January 2007, but I usually visit Jacksonville once a year.
Quote from: Overstreet on February 17, 2011, 04:37:47 AM
I have house, long term friends, and a good paying job here. Why leave?
I've also lived in Illinois, Indiana, South Carolina, Georgia, Hawaii and Alabama. I've seen a lot of cities like Chicago, Atlanta and Honolulu. I'll take Jax with it's problems and pluses. I'm always doing something to the detriment of my yard maintenance. Tomorrow it is kayaking. Sunday pistol matches. Last week was panhandle fishing. Not long ago it was a trip to the mountains to hike up to the LeConte Lodge, with 7 single women. Its fishing at the jetties. Its shrimping in the river. Its the Wolfson Childrens Hospital Bass Tournament. Its shooting sporting clays. Its concerts at the St Augustine amphitheater, Ponte Vedra Concert hall, and Florida Theater. It is Friday night home games at the Suns. Sunday a blonde lady wants me to come over for dinner. Next week the brunette. Why leave?
It is what you make of it.