Living Las Vegas--or Florida?
Written: Feb 15 '01 (Updated Sep 08 '01)
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Pros: Vegas-Beautiful city, cheap to live.
Florida-great weather, my family.
Cons: Vegas-Some crime, prostitution.
Florida-humidity, bugs, elderly population.
The Bottom Line: Comparing Vegas to Florida is like comparing two different planets. Where would you want to raise your children?
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| mom2daniel's Full Review: Las Vegas |
**This epinion will be a comparison of Las Vegas, Nevada to where I currently live in Florida**
I have lived in many places all over the country, and none have struck my fancy as Vegas has. I first visited there in January of 1998, and I fell in love with it as the plane was descending and I saw the glitz and glamour of the city.
When people hear I lived in Vegas, they usually say "Oh my God, you lived on the Strip?" No, I did not live on the strip. There is a whole city outside of the strip. A beautiful city surrounded by mountains and desert. When people here that I left Florida to have my child in Las Vegas, they say "OH my GOD! You actually had your BABY out there??" Yes, I did. And if I didn't miss my family back in Florida so much, I would still be living out there, because let me tell you, Vegas is a lot safer than Florida is, and more child-oriented.
I moved to Florida from California (where I had moved to from New Jersey) in 1988. At the time I thought it was a paradise. However, I soon learned that the population was mainly older (retirees, and "snowbirds" that stay 6 months out of the year) and there was really nothing to do for those of my age group. For 10 years I complained to anyone who would listen about my getting out of Florida. Finally, when I got pregnant accidentally, I hightailed it out of there to Las Vegas to stay with a friend of mine until I had the baby (that story is a whole other Epinion).
What people do not realize about Vegas is that there is a whole city outside of the Strip. The Strip sits at the bottom of the Valley, and the city extends upwards into the mountains. It has its outskirts and its suburbs, with houses and apartment complexes being built at an alarming rate. The city planners have done a wonderful job in preparing for the large growth, unlike Florida. Florida has its big cities (Tampa being the nearest to me) and smaller towns around it, but it continually has problems accomodating the hundreds of people that move to the state each day. I lived exactly 13 miles outside of the Strip, which is still close enough to enjoy the nightlife, yet far enough away to be safe. I live an hour outside of Tampa, and there is no nightlife around worth going to.
As far as living expenses are concerned, Vegas has the cheapest utilities in the nation. I hear this is because of all the casinos and gambling. For example, to heat a 2000 square foot house, it cost us only $25 a month. Here in Florida, I have a small two-bedroom apartment, and my average electric bill runs $75 a month.
Eating: in Vegas, you can treat yourself to a buffet for under $5 a person (if you know where to go), or to an expensive dinner. Whatever your price range is, you can find a good meal to get with minimal waiting. The places are equipped to handle large crowds at all hours of the day. In Florida, it is limited to your age. No kidding, if you are over age 55, you get tons of discounts on foods, and if you hit the Early Birds, you get a couple of dollars taken off the price of your meal. The lines, especially during tourist season, are always long.
Raising children: let's face it, raising children is hard enough without all the drugs and crime that they face. I found that Las Vegas has ample activities for the children that live there, and many new parent support groups with fun activities. When I came back to Florida, I assumed I would find the same thing. Well, I haven't found any yet that cater to working moms. Actually I've stopped looking. And in Florida, children are a nuisance in restaurants. In Vegas, they aren't.
I could go on and on about the comparisons of the two places. Florida is not all bad, don't get me wrong. It's just that Las Vegas has a totally different outlook on life than Florida does. Someone once told me, "You move to Florida to die. You move to Vegas to begin living."
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
mom2daniel
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Member: Dawn Coder
Location: Florida
Reviews written: 246
Trusted by: 193 members
About Me:
This child whom we love brings daylight into our soul.
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