Pro's and Con's of Miami
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5/29/2006
I have lived in Miami for most of my life, and I love it. But then again, I'm a boater, and there is not another place in the country where the boating is as great. The Biscayne bay is amazing. It is shallow, and full of places to explore. The barrier islands and patch reefs are like none other. Only you are only an hour and a half from the Bahamas. If you are a boater, this is paradise. Unfortunately, inexpensive boats, and 3-world country mentality reduces it's appeal. You have to be able to do your boating during the week. But, you in Miami you can also go all winter long, and it is beautiful. The weather in Miami is the best, sans the hurricanes. The only palace better might be San Diago where it is dry. The hurricanes are a problem all the way up the eastern coast and the gulf and western coast of Florida. They are mostly just "very bad" storms, that are a pain in the neck. But I predict in a few more years of the current pattern, everybody will have generators and the inconvience will be minimized - baring a really major storm like Andrew. Even the summer weather here is not that bad. I laugh when people talk about how hot it is here, how humid it is here. It is just as humid all up the east coast and hotter. The record tempature is 97 degrees in Miami and if you check the records elsewhere, you will find them a LOT hotter. The problem is that the tempature in the middle of summer does not vary it stays high 80's low nineties, day and night. But that is why we all have swimming pools.
The real problem with Miami is crowding. It is landloacked by the everglade to the west and the ocean on the east and still people keep moving here. There is no where to build anymore roads to relieve the congestion, and people are from all different backgrounds making the road rage pretty scary at times. The cost of the neighborhoods you want to live in are 600K and up. Then your windstorm insurance is going to cost you between $4000-$8000 a year if you are east of the highway. Auto insurance is also much more in Miami, and insurance costs are expected to get worst. If you are from a premominately english speaking part of the the country, you're going to have to get used to the fact that you are now a minority. Latins are 65% according to statisitcs, but It really appears to be a lot higher.
If you don't like a really big city, Miami is not for you - it is now a really busy big city. If you do like that kind of thing, it's a great place.
Robert | Palmetto Bay, FL