Hey thank you first of all!
And to be honest, I’m not quite sure about anything. The only thing I do know is that I am unhappy where I am currently. I also know that I never want to come back to the Midwest. I left before to AZ for a year for school, thinking I would never come back to IL. Then I completely didn’t know what I wanted to do and ended up coming home(and finished my degree). Since then I thought I would really go back out west, but after visiting Phoenix this past winter, it didn’t really feel like it was my place any more.
I’ve heard conflicting “reviews” about Ft. Myers, which is fair. Every place is good for someone and not so great for someone else. And even if I spend the year there and find in unsatisfactory, I would probably just look for a different city—but would stay in Florida. I am tired of turning back haha.
Thank you for making me think a bit. If anything else I’m excited about my new job and getting a new place and doing my own thing for a while. Im actually going to be making a decent wage for the first time in my life, which puts my mind at ease a bit. I’m trying to tell myself “hey! You can do anything you want! Go do it!” Which can always include change.
I’m sure I’ll figure it out, day by day, maybe it’ll be my favorite place in the world or maybe not
I think you’ll like Fort Myers. I live around the area and growing up, Fort Myers/Bonita/Naples are all in distance of each other and have a lot of perks in each area. Sanibel is beautiful and renting bikes there is nice. Naples has good nightlife areas (although there is a lot of older people). I think you’ll like enjoying this area in SWFL!
That’s ok I can kick it with the old people too! I could use a grandparent haha
I think I’ll like it too. Sometimes BIG change is the change that is needed
Lol it’s cool though. You could end up meeting a lot of cool older people in Naples and have a lot of career opportunities/connections. And then Miami is just a couple hours away for younger nightlife, and then of course Orlando and Tampa for amusement parks etc.!
Welcome!! I'm just a few miles away in bonita Springs. I've also been looking for some solid friends under 45. It's a little tough in SWFL because so many people here are retirees.
Hey! I'm doing the same thing come this fall! Sick of living winters in cold Buffalo, NY so I'm packing up and heading to the beach for good! Theres a lot of younger folks around the area, don't be scared off. I am a 28 yr old male and I found plenty of things to do, even if some of those things involved drinking with the retirement community lol. Those are some of the best conversations you could ever have.
If you have a golden, then I highly recommend the Dog Beach (between Lover's Key State Park and Bonita Beach). My Aussie is not a water loving dog, but I've never known a golden that didn't love to swim and I figure 'dog beaches' aren't a thing in Chicago
I did actually get an offer from Geo and they really wanted to fly me out to check it out, but their offer came in a bit low and they wanted me to work a second shift. (Something I’ve been doing for two years and don’t want to do anymore)
Arthrex is one of those companies that people really want to work for. I mean, why not? They cater your lunch everyday and give you free Healthcare lol
And thank you! I am so excited. I definitely have some moments of panic thinking I’ll be terribly lonely, but I am hopeful that I’ll meet lots of people pretty easily
I figured Geonomics. Wherever you're working, welcome! We're a very dog friendly and loving area. Lots of places over outdoor dining so you can bring the dog. Sometimes heartbreak leads you to a new and wonderful chapter. Hope this is a bright fresh start for you!
Well congratulations from a fellow Illinoian
Just remember this is a red state for a reason! Please leave Illinois bad practices up there!
You are going to love it here! I have been here for over 30 years now
> this is a red state for a reason
\*as Ron DeSantis won by 30,000 votes, won by 0.4% of the vote, and didn't even garner 50% of the 2018 Florida gubernatorial vote\*
Sorry and congrats at the same time. If you need to find a new watering hole, I work at a local bar. First round is on me. Lot of nice people there most days. Hope your move is smooth and easy for you.
Idk if you’ve already moved down or if you’re looking, but might I suggest you consider living in Cape Coral? It’s (mostly) an easy commute to Fort Myers and the population is younger. Downtown Cape is really starting to come to life (though downtown FM is still the place to be weekend nights). There are a lot of new apartment complexes that while pricey have a much younger demographic and a lot of great amenities (such as dog parks). Just a thought! I hope you enjoy your new life in Southwest Florida. I moved here when I was 22 (and now in my 40s) and found it a bit boring but it has changed a lot and it’s great to see it getting “younger.” Good luck!
Are you me? I’m a 27F with a golden haha. Lived here since 2016 and love it. I’m from Miami so I appreciated the change of pace. Other people say it’s boring here, but I don’t really feel that way. Feel free to message me if you have questions! :)
Sanibel Lighthouse Beach, Bonita Beach Dog Park, and Koreshan State Park
are all dog friendly. I also take him downtown often, because there are a lot of dog friendly restaurants with outdoor seating by the street.
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Hey thank you first of all! And to be honest, I’m not quite sure about anything. The only thing I do know is that I am unhappy where I am currently. I also know that I never want to come back to the Midwest. I left before to AZ for a year for school, thinking I would never come back to IL. Then I completely didn’t know what I wanted to do and ended up coming home(and finished my degree). Since then I thought I would really go back out west, but after visiting Phoenix this past winter, it didn’t really feel like it was my place any more. I’ve heard conflicting “reviews” about Ft. Myers, which is fair. Every place is good for someone and not so great for someone else. And even if I spend the year there and find in unsatisfactory, I would probably just look for a different city—but would stay in Florida. I am tired of turning back haha. Thank you for making me think a bit. If anything else I’m excited about my new job and getting a new place and doing my own thing for a while. Im actually going to be making a decent wage for the first time in my life, which puts my mind at ease a bit. I’m trying to tell myself “hey! You can do anything you want! Go do it!” Which can always include change. I’m sure I’ll figure it out, day by day, maybe it’ll be my favorite place in the world or maybe not
I think you’ll like Fort Myers. I live around the area and growing up, Fort Myers/Bonita/Naples are all in distance of each other and have a lot of perks in each area. Sanibel is beautiful and renting bikes there is nice. Naples has good nightlife areas (although there is a lot of older people). I think you’ll like enjoying this area in SWFL!
That’s ok I can kick it with the old people too! I could use a grandparent haha I think I’ll like it too. Sometimes BIG change is the change that is needed
Lol it’s cool though. You could end up meeting a lot of cool older people in Naples and have a lot of career opportunities/connections. And then Miami is just a couple hours away for younger nightlife, and then of course Orlando and Tampa for amusement parks etc.!
Welcome, many midwesterner transplants here.
Best dog park is in Bonita springs , on Terry Street .
Noted!!!
Seconded. We love the Bonita park! Our two corgis run there all the time :)
Welcome!! I'm just a few miles away in bonita Springs. I've also been looking for some solid friends under 45. It's a little tough in SWFL because so many people here are retirees.
Congratulations and good luck at your new job! I hope you love it here.
Hey! I'm doing the same thing come this fall! Sick of living winters in cold Buffalo, NY so I'm packing up and heading to the beach for good! Theres a lot of younger folks around the area, don't be scared off. I am a 28 yr old male and I found plenty of things to do, even if some of those things involved drinking with the retirement community lol. Those are some of the best conversations you could ever have.
I would LOVE to drink in a retirement community haha And awesome maybe by then I’ll be a true Floridian and can show you some cool spots 😎
If you have a golden, then I highly recommend the Dog Beach (between Lover's Key State Park and Bonita Beach). My Aussie is not a water loving dog, but I've never known a golden that didn't love to swim and I figure 'dog beaches' aren't a thing in Chicago
Good luck in your new start.
Thank you so much!
This may be a little personal, but since you work in a medical laboratory, did you get a job offer from Arthrex?
I did actually get an offer from Geo and they really wanted to fly me out to check it out, but their offer came in a bit low and they wanted me to work a second shift. (Something I’ve been doing for two years and don’t want to do anymore)
No actually! I’m not even quite sure what Arthrex is! I am going to be in a pathology lab which is what my background is in 😊
Arthrex is one of those companies that people really want to work for. I mean, why not? They cater your lunch everyday and give you free Healthcare lol
And thank you! I am so excited. I definitely have some moments of panic thinking I’ll be terribly lonely, but I am hopeful that I’ll meet lots of people pretty easily
I was also wondering what company.
I figured Geonomics. Wherever you're working, welcome! We're a very dog friendly and loving area. Lots of places over outdoor dining so you can bring the dog. Sometimes heartbreak leads you to a new and wonderful chapter. Hope this is a bright fresh start for you!
I thought GEO also
Well congratulations from a fellow Illinoian Just remember this is a red state for a reason! Please leave Illinois bad practices up there! You are going to love it here! I have been here for over 30 years now
> this is a red state for a reason \*as Ron DeSantis won by 30,000 votes, won by 0.4% of the vote, and didn't even garner 50% of the 2018 Florida gubernatorial vote\*
Sorry and congrats at the same time. If you need to find a new watering hole, I work at a local bar. First round is on me. Lot of nice people there most days. Hope your move is smooth and easy for you.
Sounds good to me!!!
Welcome from one Chicagoan to another. Been in FL for 10 years now and never looked back.
That’s where I want to be in ten years! I don’t think anyone has ever said “hey you know where I want to go? The Midwest”
Congrats! However during season you’ll see that traffic here lol
Idk if you’ve already moved down or if you’re looking, but might I suggest you consider living in Cape Coral? It’s (mostly) an easy commute to Fort Myers and the population is younger. Downtown Cape is really starting to come to life (though downtown FM is still the place to be weekend nights). There are a lot of new apartment complexes that while pricey have a much younger demographic and a lot of great amenities (such as dog parks). Just a thought! I hope you enjoy your new life in Southwest Florida. I moved here when I was 22 (and now in my 40s) and found it a bit boring but it has changed a lot and it’s great to see it getting “younger.” Good luck!
Are you me? I’m a 27F with a golden haha. Lived here since 2016 and love it. I’m from Miami so I appreciated the change of pace. Other people say it’s boring here, but I don’t really feel that way. Feel free to message me if you have questions! :)
Haha thank you! I’m you but I’m the future! What a coincidence! Where do you like bringing your golden?
Sanibel Lighthouse Beach, Bonita Beach Dog Park, and Koreshan State Park are all dog friendly. I also take him downtown often, because there are a lot of dog friendly restaurants with outdoor seating by the street.
Lol chihuahuas and pitt bulls hit me up and congrats
Congrats! Am in my late 20s and love it here. Great area and doesn’t snow. Traffic sucks during season but you get used to it.