I grew up in FL, living mostly on the Clearwater side, and as an adult on the Tampa side. I prefer the Clearwater side. That said, it really depends where you live in Tampa. You have basically two choices - live in a slummy area, or live in a nice area. For the nice area, expect to mow the lawn every Sat (you will be fined for over 4"), drive the right car (if you have a junky one, you will have to prove constantly that it runs, or you will be fined), wear the right clothes (in some cases, Walmart is acceptable for some things, just don't get caught there). You will be judged on how much money you make, what you drive, how you dress, etc, etc. Now, on the Clearwater side, you'll see millionares on the beach in cut off shorts, driving a clunker (and because of this, everyone is treated the same). Downtown Tampa at night is a dead zone (hopefully, they are working on that now; I've been gone for almost 3 years), but Ybor City is a hot spot. Don't miss Guavaween! It is sort of a Halloween version of Mardi Gras. Remember, Tampa is the lightning capital of the world, so don't get stupid in a thunderstorm. Don't worry, they don't stay long. Learn to work with the hurricane bands, not against them. I was depressed to see how trashy the beaches have become. They weren't like that when I was a kid. Shameful. My electic bill is higher in BFE Oklahoma, than it was in Tampa (as well as water, food, etc). If you know where to shop, and you aren't worried about impressing you neighbors, it can be surprisingly inexpensive to live there - until you hit the home owner's insurance. That's the price you pay for living in hurricane alley, though. I would love to go back to FL, and probably will someday.
Bp | Ada, OK | Report Abuse

I've lived in Tampa for 10 years and still love it every day! I live 5 miles from downtown, but have never witnessed nor been affected by crime. For my 1,200 square feet home, even in August, my electric bills have never exceeded $150/month. (My electric bills are only about $50/month in winter!) Home prices peaked in 2006 and now are undergoing a correction (downward), so there are many affordable properties on the market. We appreciate and respect our tourists because their sales taxes allow us to have no state income tax in Florida. I've found most people here to be friendly and courteous. After growing up in upstate New York, I'll take the summer heat and humidity (lounging on the beach)over the snow and slush of northern winters. Citizens are uniting through groups like the Green Armada to keep our beaches and waterways clean. Tampa has a bright future, and our family feels fortunate for the opportunity to be part of it!
Gina | Tampa, FL | Report Abuse