yeah, stuff happens, but you really can avoid sinkholes pretty well as they don't occur in that many places. There are lots of places that aren't that dangerous from natural disasters, also, I live in one (Maryland, not on the eastern shore where you can get more possible hurricane damage). I'm from Ohio and there are occasional tornadoes there but not really as many as some of those Plains states. There is occasionally a minor tornado in Maryland, also.

How about the FLorida peninsula, like around Pensacola?

Take a look at York County in Virinia, 45 minutes from Norfolk. It's near military bases so there are civilian jobs for ex-military with the right skills. The school system is excellent. Yes, it's in Hampton Roads which has a lot more going for it than folks on this thread will have you think.

I have reported this advertisement.

See Dukey, you did find something fun to do. Good morning to you.

Thanks, Birdie <G>

I've lived in Tampa and the majority of my friends sent their kids to private school or tried to get them into a magnet school. The Westchase section of Tampa has better schools, but it will be a drive to the beach, and I'm not sure if you could find a house that size under $400. Our DD and SIL are in St Pete, and if they had not gotten their son into the school of their choosing through the lottery, he would have had to go to private school as well.

You asked for other suggestions and San Antonio came to mind immediately...but of course, it is far from the beach. It is a huge draw for retired military because of BAMC, and the Commissary is at your disposal too. Property taxes are high, but there is no state income tax. Schools are especially good in the northern suburbs, and housing is far more affordable than most areas of the country, but even so, 5 bedrooms under $400, might be tough, especially in the better school districts. The negative...no beach, and excessive heat in the summer.

The schools in the suburbs ringing Tampa--like Westchase--are overcrowded, the Fishhawk Ranch area and Brandon especially.

< the majority of my friends sent their kids to private school >
If they lived in South Tampa, I'm very surprised to hear this. The Gorrie-Wilson-Plant school district is among the best in the country.

Yes, almost all were in south Tampa and spending nearly as much for private school as we spent for our kids college, although one whose child was at Gorrie was very happy with it, and she was picky. The mobile classrooms in school parking lots were a real turn off to me too. Has that been remedied?

No, those are still there, OO! I confess, not having kids, I am going by what my neighbors say, and stats and so on. I don't envy parents the burden of choosing the right school for their kids, that's for sure. But I know a handful of young couples who are moving from the suburbs to South Tampa, despite increased housing costs, in order to save money by sending their kids to public schools.

To each his/her own! The one thing I take umbrage to is the idea that all public schools in FL are awful. They vary.

beachfamilyof6 hasn't posted since last year.