Possibly relocating to Orlando area
 

If you were offered a job that was based in Orlando, and you accepted it even though you're not really into Florida, cause you're a tree-loving, mountain-climbing, nature nut from Canada, but your kids lived in south Florida, and so you decided to accept the job so that you could see them more often, but you REALLY didn't want to live in Orlando because, well, you're just not too crazy about Orlando, so you're thinking you'd like to live in a small city (or big town?) outside of Orlando, as long as it wasn't TOO long of a commute, and your husband is saying he's willing to commute as much as 40 minutes a day just so that you can buy a reasonably-priced house outside the city, but you really don't want him to spend that much time driving every day to work, and so you're thinking maybe a 20 minute commute would be good, but you end up agreeing on 30 max (even though it was hard to acquiesce because you still don't want him to have that long of a commute), which place/community/city/town would you choose to live in?

Bloom

Winter Park, FL is quite nice and you may like it. No mountains (it's Florida after all), but many many trees everywhere, a groomed and landscaped golf course, and a nice downtown center with shops galore.

There are many small towns ringing Orlando that are quite nice. One thing to keep in mind, the traffic in Central Florida is bad and getting worse. Your choice of towns/places to live would depend on where in the Orlando area you would be working. You would not want to traverse the city daily to and from work...

Agree with RedRock; there are a lot of nice smaller towns in the Orlando area, but we'd need to know where you'd be working to make a recommendation.

BTW, if you're a nature nut, are you in for a treat! What we here refer to as "real Florida" is filled with natural beauty. Hiking, kayaking, bird-watching, surfing - let us know what you're interested in, and we can tell you about some great places.

You don't get to far in Orlando in 30 minutes.
Where is the job located? I think a nice spot right outside Orlando is the Clermont area. It does have rolling hills but of course no mountains. But if the job is in the south Orlando area you could take the turnpike into town.

From your post, don't even think about going.

Instead of giving Orlando a chance, you've already gotten it into your head you'll hate it.

The job was originally located in Ocala, which I fell in love with after doing research on it. But they told us last week that the head office will now be in Orlando. They've yet to find office space for it. Thank you very much for your input...will keep you posted as to a more specific location in Orlando.

GoTravel- I am having a hard time getting my head around living in or around Orlando, especially after having looked at properties online in Ocala, but I want to make the best of it. I wrote my post in such a way as to hopefully get some positive feedback...and I did, from bkluvsNola, Redrock and 321go (thank you!) I'm looking forward to discovering some of the more nicer aspects of living in that location...that's if our work permit gets approved by US immigration...(but that's another thread- argh)

Bloom

I live in Orlando, and I just love it here. I am originally from upstate NY, and I love being in the warm weather, not dealing with snow/slush, and being only an hour from the beach. There are many nice communities around Orlando. In the north, there are Maitland, Winter Park, Longwood, and Lake Mary which are all very nice places to live. I don't know anyone from Ocala--I think it's a little removed... Lake Mary and Longwood will be a longer commute than Winter Park or Maitland, but the housing prices generally get more reasonable the further north you go. If you like being outside, you will love it here--you can play golf/tennis year round, and the beaches are beautiful! Let me know if you need any further info...

Well, it all depends on WHERE in Orlando he will be working. Traffic can be a bear.

I do like Winter Park. There was a neighborhood of neat little "I Dream of Jeannie" houses I was browsing a few years ago when I thought I may be moving there. Family members lived in Altamonte Springs - before it mushroomed. A good friend loves living in the Sorrento area - but doesn't have to commute into Orlando. Your description made me think of Deland - but that's a long commute. Mt. Dora is delightful.

Find out WHERE and we'll have more ideas.

Winter Park is lovely. And there's a very cute area just south of downtown that has some lovely homes (with lots of new restaurants popping up in the area). If all you've seen in Orlando are the tourist areas, you're in for a big surprise.

And there are a lot of tree-loving activities for a nature nut in the area. Try to get excited about kayaking, snorkeling with manatees, water sports (Orlando has tons of lakes and the ocean is close), the Everglades, nature trails, etc.

If you want to explore wilderness areas there are several within an hour or so drive of the Greater Orlando Area. No mountains to climb but plenty of trees and 'gators to hug. :)

To the south the Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee.

http://myfwc.com/recreation/cooperat..._river_pua.asp

http://www.lakeokeechobee.org/

To the North The Ocala NF

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/recr...ndex_oca.shtml

To the West The Green Swamp.

http://myfwc.com/recreation/cooperative/green_swamp.asp

and to the East The St Johns River and Canaveral National Seashore.

http://www.nbbd.com/godo/StJohns.html

http://www.nps.gov/cana/

I agree with al the others that office location makes a HUGE difference where you should live. We are in Maitland and call it New England with Palm Trees. It is a gorgeous area, and we are from MA originally. We have been here over 16 years now. People unfortunately think Orlando is the airport and Disney area. it is sooooo different than that, and in a good way!

Winter Park and Clermont deserve a look, but try to find something that's a 15 to 20 min commute to the office, because over the next few years that will easily become 30 minutes.

I wouldn't be surprised if your company ditched the Orlando idea and started looking at Ocala again, so don't give up hope.

Bloom, there are some really great parts of Orlando I think that would shock you.

Can you rent for a while first? Seriously, give the area a chance, I think the area will surprise you.

I will be in the Orlando area this coming week and, thanks to your positive words of encouragement, am looking forward to scouting out the outlying areas with a much better outlook!

Sincerely,
Bloom

Good luck, Bloom. Post back if you need any more info.

I agree with the folks who said it depends on where the office is - you could live in Orlando and work in Orlando and have a 45 minute commute... College Park, Winter Park and Downtown Orlando are some of the most desireable places to live in Orlando. Try renting somehwere for a couple of months and then decide. Plus in approximately 60 days you will be LOVING Orlando as you could be wearing short sleeve shirts and flip flops... And in approximately 240 days you will be hating Orlando as it will be hot as Hades!

Update:

I'm still here in Orlando and am sad to say that, upon further investigation of the company that wanted to hire my husband, we've prudently decided to decline the job offer...and so will not be moving down here afterall :(

Thank you all very much for taking the time to encourage me and educate me on this area. For what it's worth, it wasn't a waste of time as you helped me to see this area in a more positive light.

If another job offer came up in this area, we'd move here in a heartbeat.

Sincerely,
Bloom

So glad it worked out for you!

There are lots of great places in Orlando. Unfortunately, most people think it is a geographical and cultural wasteland that houses the Disney machine. It is much more.

The sad part is that people go to the airport, then Disney then back and never see what is "real" here. We have been in Maitland for over 16 years and take it upon ourselves to eduacate all guests to our beautiful area.

I totally agree about Central Florida. I used to travel to Apopka (if you're from Orlando then you know where it is) on business for quite some time and I fell in love with the place. So much more than Disney, but it sure is nice to have that attraction as well.

I remember going to the state park north of Orlando and snorkeling in a natural pool. Next day was a trip to Clearwater and the white sand and crystal clear water. It's a really nice place to be, and somewhat insulated from hurricanes due to being the interior of Florida.

If Florida is a leper, Orlando is a worm-filled stump he's waving in front of your eyes.

Forget the kids. Just not worth it.

I've lived in the Orlando area for 26 years and love it. Having grown up in Maryland and then spending many years in North Carolina, it was very different at first. You've gotten some good suggestions, and at the end of the day it all depends on your preferences. For example, Winter Park is undeniably a beautiful area. Lovely old homes, lots of lakes, and Park Avenue is the Rodeo Drive of Central Florida. It is also by far the most expensive area near Orlando and overrun with yuppies and yuppy wannabes. Most of the other areas mentioned are suburbs, consisting of housing developments and strip malls.
Thirteen years ago my wife and I, to the derision of our friends, bought a 1925 house in Sanford and lovingly restored it. We absolutely love Sanford. It has a real downtown with a couple of great restaurants, art galleries, and the best wine bar in Central Florida. It has a wonderful "Riverwalk" along the townside shore of 95,000 acre Lake Monroe. I work on the south end of Orlando (38 miles) and my commute (avoiding I-4 like the plague) is about 45 minutes.