Why do you stay in Jacksonville?

[hillary supporter]

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!

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!

[Keith-N-Jax]

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.

[Tacachale]

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.

[Tacachale]

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.

[north miami]

[/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

[simms3]

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.

[Tacachale]

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.

[duvaldude08]

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

[duvaldude08]

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.

[duvaldude08]

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.

[simms3]

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. 

[duvaldude08]

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. 

Its all in good fun Simms. Simmer down Atl boy 

[Timkin]

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. 

Simms you're okay man.. I don't care what Duvaldude says he's  just playin wit ya anyway.. hes good people too .

[hillary supporter]

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!

[ProjectMaximus]

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.

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.