Tell me the good and bad things about Florida....

[Doug]

add to my lists....

MINUSES that I can see before I might move there. Plusses to follow.

Hot and humid summers
Poor job market/ economy
Well known for risk from Hurricanes, and now oil damage
Has a lot of intimidating looking insects and other nasty creepy crawlies
Bad traffic in cities. Miami looks awful for traffic
English is nearly a 2nd language there
High crime rate in some areas ?

[Arsenal]

No way I live in Florida. Too hot & humid. Plus Fishhead lives there. That is a big minus.

[mtneer1212]

Plus: No state income tax
Minus: Senior citizens everywhere

[Slim]

Plus: Lot of hoes wearing skimpy clothes
Minus: Fishhead lives there

[Flying Dutchman]

If you want to know about the people, read any of Carl Hiaasen's books.

[TheLock]

Not being able to habla Espanol is only a problem if you live in Miami

The weather is a huge minus. I've been living in Fla for 20 years now and the summers have gotten much longer.

It's so hot out right now I don't want to leave my house.


A big plus though is being close to all the hot women and restaurants/clubs in South Beach

[shari91]

add to my lists.... MINUSES that I can see before I might move there. Plusses to follow. Hot and humid summers Poor job market/ economy Well known for risk from Hurricanes, and now oil damage Has a lot of intimidating looking insects and other nasty creepy crawlies Bad traffic in cities. Miami looks awful for traffic English is nearly a 2nd language there High crime rate in some areas ?

Plusses (only for Orlando):

No state income tax (already been said)
Orlando is very spread out so you can basically choose the demographic within which you wish to live
You can avoid Snow Birds and tourists by staying away from Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee
Although there is a hurricane risk they usually weaken before arriving
Golf all year round
Close to the ocean
Two PGA events
NBA team
People always want to visit

Minuses:
Love bugs (but they're only bad in May and September and they're not even that much of a nuisance since they don't bite)
Can get a bit chilly in the winter
People always want to visit
Toll roads

[Slim]

Minus: Too many people in Florida. Living or visiting.

[warriorfan707]

Lots of girls in little outfits

[Flying Dutchman]

Look, they tend to over air-condition everything. I had to wear long sleeve shirts so I could roll them down inside, and then roll them up outside. With the over air-conditioning everyone gets Summer colds and is set up for the flu come Fall. Midday, in 3 minutes you are soaking wet with sweat. <- this is NOT BS, I timed myself one time.

You literally run from air conditioned car to air conditioned place of work, back to car, then to air conditioned house.

Gator Fans are everywhere! And they all think Tebow is a demi-God.

[shari91]

I just saw in your other thread you vetoed Orlando. If I remember correctly it was only a 40 minute max drive from Daytona Beach (which to me is an absolute dump but has the ocean nonetheless).

[Doug]

PLUSSES for Florida

Warm winters
Cheap
Fishhead lives there
Only state with Pro Jai Alai, which supposedly also has supersoft poker games
lots of Seniors= easy to snatch a purse if lose at poker game
It's 1,000 miles from Connecticut
No state income tax, but I wouldn't plan to make much taxable money anyway
Lots of hot women/ girls on Spring break,etc.
Cheap recreational mood enhancers
Opportunity to learn Spanish
One can probably take a vacation and fly cheaply to many places ?
Great fishing....maybe not now ?

[Flying Dutchman]

Shari don't you live in Western Australia? I'm told around Perth it is like San Diego with no Mexican food

[Flying Dutchman]

Doug, you cannot handicap Jai Alai...those fvkkers cheat

[Doug]

Look, they tend to over air-condition everything. I had to wear long sleeve shirts so I could roll them down inside, and then roll them up outside. With the over air-conditioning everyone gets Summer colds and is set up for the flu come Fall. Midday, in 3 minutes you are soaking wet with sweat. <- this is NOT BS, I timed myself one time.

You literally run from air conditioned car to air conditioned place of work, back to car, then to air conditioned house.

Gator Fans are everywhere! And they all think Tebow is a demi-God.

I had the same AC problems in LV. I wear a t-shirt and shorts in 110 degree weather to a casino....and want a sweater inside the place.

I do not use AC in my condo in CT, but will in a car, on the highway.

[shari91]

Shari don't you live in Western Australia? I'm told around Perth it is like San Diego with no Mexican food

At this time of the year I wish I did, but sadly no. Further south than that

Doug, you cannot handicap Jai Alai...those fvkkers cheat

More fixed than a Chinese soccer match and the Jai Alai'ers don't like sharing money with us Caucasians.

[Flying Dutchman]

Yeah, but in LV it is drier heat, in FLA it is wet heat: you do not cool off by sweating because the sweat does not evaporate in 95% humidity!!!

Out in Henderson some folks still use swamp coolers vice A/C.

[Doug]

I just saw in your other thread you vetoed Orlando. If I remember correctly it was only a 40 minute max drive from Daytona Beach (which to me is an absolute dump but has the ocean nonetheless).

Orlando is about an hour to Daytona according to Mapquest ( I thought it was more).

Directions from A to B:
1. Start out going WEST on W SOUTH ST toward BOONE AVE. 0.2 mi Map | Avoid
2. Merge onto I-4 E. 49.0 mi Map | Avoid
3. Merge onto I-95 N via the exit on the LEFT toward JACKSONVILLE. 1.3 mi Map | Avoid
4. Merge onto W INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY BLVD/US-92 E via EXIT 261 toward DAYTONA BEACH/AIRPORT. 5.1 mi Map | Avoid
5. Welcome to DAYTONA BEACH, FL. Map | Avoid
Daytona Beach, FL United States Edit
Cancel
Online Offers:

* Motels in Daytona Beach
* Daytona Beach Restaurants
* Florida Auto Insurance

Total Travel Estimate: 59 minutes / 55.53 miles Fuel Cost: Calculate

[shari91]

Orlando is about an hour to Daytona according to Mapquest ( I thought it was more). Directions from A to B: 1. Start out going WEST on W SOUTH ST toward BOONE AVE. 0.2 mi Map | Avoid 2. Merge onto I-4 E. 49.0 mi Map | Avoid 3. Merge onto I-95 N via the exit on the LEFT toward JACKSONVILLE. 1.3 mi Map | Avoid 4. Merge onto W INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY BLVD/US-92 E via EXIT 261 toward DAYTONA BEACH/AIRPORT. 5.1 mi Map | Avoid 5. Welcome to DAYTONA BEACH, FL. Map | Avoid Daytona Beach, FL United States Edit Cancel Online Offers: * Motels in Daytona Beach * Daytona Beach Restaurants * Florida Auto Insurance Total Travel Estimate: 59 minutes / 55.53 miles Fuel Cost: Calculate

That would be about right as it's giving you directions from the center of the city. You also have Vero , West Palm and Clearwater Beaches all about 3 hours or less from there which is a bit of a hike but definitely worth the extra drive in my opinion.

[Doug]

Doug, you cannot handicap Jai Alai...those fvkkers cheat

I'd be more interested in the game for different reasons than winning money, as any pari-mutual is -EV with a 20% hold.

I appreciate the game from the 70's in CT when it was huge ( and packed). I used to play as an amateur. I could possibly gain access to pro courts living there, not sure if I could still play very well, though.

The games are not fixed now, some were in the 70's ( Milford, ct). There is no way to fix a game with next to nothing bet on it....which is where it is at now. Not possible. The players may not try too hard now, as they make like 30k a year playing to a crowd of 100 people.

[HauntingTheHoly]

I live just North of Tampa. I wouldn't disagree with much I've read here. The heat/humidity is insane, if your body isn't used to having to sweat much due to the climate where you live, be very careful when you first get here or you will overheat easily. Stay hydrated, replace electrolytes, and don't stay in the heat for extended periods of time until your body learns how to sweat.

There is some soft poker here, but a $100 cap for table buy ins. Fishead had a thread about how they are changing this, maybe someone can find and bump it. I don't know much about it.

[Flying Dutchman]

I'd be more interested in the game for different reasons than winning money, as any pari-mutual is -EV with a 20% hold.

I appreciate the game from the 70's in CT when it was huge ( and packed). I used to play as an amateur. I could possibly gain access to pro courts living there, not sure if I could still play very well, though.

The games are not fixed now, some were in the 70's ( Milford, ct). There is no way to fix a game with next to nothing bet on it....which is where it is at now. Not possible. The players may not try too hard now, as they make like 30k a year playing to a crowd of 100 people.

In the 70s, Jai Alai almost went big time. They had frontons(?) in Vegas and folks rapidly figured out that cheating was going on and the crowds melted away. So they all went back to The Basque, joined the ETA (Bietan jarrai!), and killed off Spaniards.

[shari91]

I'd be more interested in the game for different reasons than winning money, as any pari-mutual is -EV with a 20% hold. I appreciate the game from the 70's in CT when it was huge ( and packed). I used to play as an amateur. I could possibly gain access to pro courts living there, not sure if I could still play very well, though. The games are not fixed now, some were in the 70's ( Milford, ct). There is no way to fix a game with next to nothing bet on it....which is where it is at now. Not possible. The players may not try too hard now, as they make like 30k a year playing to a crowd of 100 people.

I'm not sure about any more, but it sure as hell was fixed when I went in Ocala. If it wasn't for my Costa Rican friend, we wouldn't have had a shot at making a cent. He'd leave us for awhile, chat to a few people and come back with winners.

[magic8ball]

2 questions, one answer. It's not governed by (George) Bush.

[Doug]

In the 70s, Jai Alai almost went big time. They had frontons(?) in Vegas and folks rapidly figured out that cheating was going on and the crowds melted away. So they all went back to The Basque, joined the ETA (Bietan jarrai!), and killed off Spaniards.

Fronton is correct but generally is considered to be a free standing building. The ( old) MGM in LV had a court ( cancha) within its casino. I've played on that court ( as an amateur) around 1984. Jai alai failed in LV because there was too much other stuff in Vegas to do. Folks from Florida and Ct didn't go there to see low level pros, they had the best in the world already at Bridgeport and Miami. These players couldn't be paid from a tiny house hold. You can't pay 40 or so players like 30k a year if nobody is betting on the games. Other people wouldn't know what it was.

[Doug]

I'm not sure about any more, but it sure as hell was fixed when I went in Ocala. If it wasn't for my Costa Rican friend, we wouldn't have had a shot at making a cent. He'd leave us for awhile, chat to a few people and come back with winners.

believe what you will but you'd have to fix the game for a difficult trifecta combination like a 5-8-7 or something and have like the only ticket on the game. No money on W/P/S, little on Exacta/ Perfecta, Quinella pool is 2nd largest but lots of tickets on the 28 possibilities, You'd need to steal the trifecta money, and have everybody in on it....just not enough there, esp. now.

[Doug]

I'm not sure about any more, but it sure as hell was fixed when I went in Ocala. If it wasn't for my Costa Rican friend, we wouldn't have had a shot at making a cent. He'd leave us for awhile, chat to a few people and come back with winners.

Here are some random results from a recent Miami performance. 129 people attented, and 53k was bet over 12 games ( includes OTB from like Ct casinos). If this was 1979 and Bridgeport you'd have 5,000 people and 500k+ handle.

Miami Jai-Alai Results
Evening Performance - Friday April 9, 2010

Game 1 Singles/7 pts Game 2 Doubles/7 pts
5 Guisasola 32.40 24.80NO/TIX 3 Tevin-Girard 8.40 3.00 2.20
1 Arriza 5.20 4.20 2 Jon-Manuel 4.80 3.80
2 Jon 2.60 6 Enrique-Zuri 3.80
Quiniela 1-5 $74.00 Quiniela 2-3 $25.20
Perfecta 5-1 $191.10 Perfecta 3-2 $84.90
Trifecta 5-1-2 $580.20 Trifecta 3-2-6 $326.60

Game 3 Doubles/7 pts Game 4 Doubles/9 pts
1 Tevin-Zuri 22.20 6.80 2.40 7 Benat-Arriza 14.60 6.20 6.80
4 Aizarna-Santiso 6.80 3.20 4 Tico-Guisasola 5.40 3.20
7 Bereikua-Chauderon 2.10 3 Bereikua-Zuri 4.40
Quiniela 1-4 $21.60 1 Jon-Girard
Perfecta 1-4 $76.50 Quiniela 4-7 $97.00
Trifecta 1-4-7 $373.20 Perfecta 7-4 $206.40
Trifecta 7-4-3 $730.60
Superfecta 7-4-3-ALL $392.90
Daily Double (1)+(7) Paid $88.80

Game 5 Singles/7 pts Game 6 Doubles/7 pts
1 Aitzol 12.20 4.60 5.00 2 Tevin-Guisasola 16.40 6.40 6.60
7 Zuri 16.40 14.20 6 Benat-Chauderon 33.60 15.80
4 Aizarna 8.00 1 Aitzol-Zuri 4.20
Quiniela 1-7 $102.60 Quiniela 2-6 $32.20
Perfecta 1-7 $108.90 Perfecta 2-6 $204.30
Trifecta 1-7-4 $440.00 Trifecta 2-6-1 $253.80

Game 7 Doubles/7 pts Game 8 Doubles/9 pts
2 Areitio-Garro 10.20 4.40 2.10 1 Areitio-Cisneros 4.60 3.00 2.10
6 Rekalde-Lopez 4.60 2.10 5 Aritz-Ricky 6.40 4.00
1 Zinkunegi-Ricky 2.10 2 Jabi-Aldazabal 2.80
Quiniela 2-6 $29.60 8 Lejardi-Manuel
Perfecta 2-6 $147.00 Quiniela 1-5 $36.80
Trifecta 2-6-1 $189.20 Perfecta 1-5 $143.70
Scratches: Ladutxe (Santiso) Trifecta 1-5-2 $315.20
Superfecta 1-5-2-ALL $377.80
Scratches: Ladutxe (Manuel)

Game 9 Singles/7 pts Game 10 Doubles/9 pts
2 Lejardi 14.80 6.20 2.10 3 Goikoetxea-Aldazabal 7.00 3.80NO/TIX
7 Aldazabal 10.60 2.10 1 Lejardi-Garro 3.80 7.60
1 Cisneros 2.10 5 Rekalde-Patrick NO/TIX
Quiniela 2-7 $38.00 7 Zinkunegi-Santiso
Perfecta 2-7 $57.30 Quiniela 1-3 $20.80
Trifecta 2-7-1 $330.80 Perfecta 3-1 $77.70
Scratches: Ladutxe (Santiso) Trifecta 3-1-5 $181.40
Superfecta 3-1-5-ALL $287.60
Scratches: Ladutxe (Santiso)

Game 11 Doubles/7 pts Game 12 Singles/7 pts
6 Jabi-Patrick 14.80 7.20 5.40 1 Goikoetxea 8.20 3.60 3.20
1 Jon-Garro 11.00 5.40 3 Rekalde 5.00NO/TIX
4 Lejardi-Ricky 16.00 2 Jabi 3.40
Quiniela 1-6 $61.80 Quiniela 1-3 $15.60
Perfecta 6-1 $188.10 Perfecta 1-3 $44.10
Trifecta 6-1-4 $864.00 Trifecta 1-3-2 $131.00
Scratches: Ladutxe (Manuel) Daily Double (6)+(1) Paid $16.20
ATTENDANCE 129 HANDLE $52,982

[Sawyer]

Plus: Girls
Minus: Weather

[Fishhead]

The weather is 2x better in Vegas than Florida.


Ready to make the move back.


Plus, I prefer comped gourmet meals instead of paying $8.99 for six chicken wings.

[capitalist pig]

You will adjust to the heat and humidity. Ive lived here over 25 years and it doesnt even phase me anymore. JMO.

later

[Fishhead]

You will adjust to the heat and humidity. Ive lived here over 25 years and it doesnt even phase me anymore. JMO.

later

The humidity is an overrated negative in Florida............an underrated negative is the INTENSITY of the SUN.

VEGAS WEATHER IS GREAT

[DolphinSpurs]

Depending on what part of Florida youre talking about. Florida from West Palm beach up is South Georgia (with the exception of Orlando and Tampa cities). Florida from WPB down is Northern Cuba. They have their plus and minuses within general Floridian plus and minuses.

[Fishhead]

This is a nice place to live for a few years.......then move on.

[Doug]

This is a nice place to live for a few years.......then move on.

I kind of feel that way about Vegas.

Why did you leave Vegas for Tampa ? There must have been something you didn't like in LV. I thought you were talking more along the lines of Reno/Tahoe ?

I liked to play BJ when I lived there ( 1989-1995) games were good, now it has gone to SHIT. Sportsbetting for cash would be cool ( I didn't bet sports back then) especially since offshore has gotten difficult to do business with.

You actually quit for a good while, right ? One thing I dislike about Vegas is that there is very little within 200 miles in any direction, at least very few places I'd want to visit.

[Doug]

This is a nice place to live for a few years.......then move on.

You takin' Billsie with ya ?