Trying to offer an objective view
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1/15/2007
Having lived in several states and several metropolitan areas, I know that no place is perfect...and if there was a place, then I couldn't afford it.
Ft. Lauderdale has its ups and downs. So it's important to recognize what you value and what doesn't bother you.
Weather: Warm weather all year round. Some say humid, but always has a breeze. Hurricanes are hit or miss (unless we get a direct hit, which has happened, then it's not a big deal). I know it sounds strange, but I get tired of wearing shorts every weekend all the time. The media freaks out about a cold front when it dips below 70 degrees (at night). I would love to comfortably wear jeans, but it's just easier to wear shorts all the time (that is while I am not at work).
Housing/Cost of Living: Honestly, the price of gas, milk, movie tickets, etc. won't break the bank, but the cost of housing is really out of control. Remember, property taxes and homeowners/hurricane insurance is based off housing price. If you earn a pretty penny or are moving into the area with a lot of equity, then it's not that offensive. However, if you are starting off, or wanting to buy a first or second house, then, this is not the place for you. Even condos cost more than houses do in the rest of the country. If you are moving here from NY, then you might see this as a good deal. If you are from the south or midwest, you will wonder why places cost so much for such a little space. Housing is certainly the biggest concern.
Traffic: Enough already. Every city has unbearable traffic at 7am and 5pm. South Florida is a metroplex, therefore expect traffic. The one thing I don't like about South Florida's traffic is that cops don't pull too many people over like I see in other cities. I know this sounds stupid, but this translates to lots of cars with no brake lights, people driving too fast or too slow, lots of red light runners, etc. It makes you a more aggressive driver.
Diversity: This is a tricky one. Although you get a lot of Latin culture down here (which is nice), there are a alot of vocal minority groups. I must explain that "minority" does not referance race. Certain groups down here alienate themselves so much that you get forced into a group yourself(which is so wrong). These groups are so vocal, that they end up getting listened to, which makes the majority worse off. People down here aren't as open to each others views as you would hope. Once again, if you are coming from the
Abhd | Sunrise, FL