Native of Ft. Lauderdale
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7/6/2008
There are pockets of nice, educated people in Ft. Laud., and there's actually quite a lot of family-oriented activities. Fantastic children's art and science museums. beautiful nature centers and parks, and good city-sponsored sports programs for kids of all ages. Excellent private schools, but lots of iffy public schools; the state spends little on education. The state university system, until this year, had some Ivy League-level majors and programs, but state budget cuts are now decimating the colleges.
For single people, especially in the age range of 30-50, Ft. Laud. is a terrible place to be. The scene is materialistic, with lots of plastic surgery-enhanced women looking for meal tickets, and paunchy, flashy men who take full advantage with revolving bedroom doors to the gold-diggers.
Cost of living and housing remains extremely high, even with the real estate slump. It's brutally humid from mid-May to mid-October, making it unpleasant to do anything outside. Atlantic ocean breezes do make it less miserable than Florida's central and west coast cities, though. The pop. is very diverse, with Hispanics now the slight majority. If you are a well-to-do married couple with children who enjoy a mix of different cultures and hot weather, Ft. Lauderdale is ideal. If not, re-consider. As a 43-yr-old Ft. Laud. native and now a single mom, I'm ready to find a city with more down-to-earth, smart, non-gay men, where public schools are more of a priority. Any suggestions?
Bp | Fort Lauderdale, FL