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Why I moved to Miami

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Re: Why I moved to Miami

#191

Post by crystaln »

grogenaut wrote: post #156
crystaln wrote: post #56

I made the decision a long time ago that people come first. Comparing the people of San Francisco to those of Miami, well, in this case you get what you pay for. I feel like a rock star wild man anywhere else. In San Francisco I feel like I'm surrounded by people smarter, more creative, and better at life than me. That's worth every penny. I'll take a hovel in SF over a mansion in Miami any day. Besides, the defense…

you haven't shown me that you aren't just consuming in SF.

I didn't realize I owed you a defense of my life.

Re: Why I moved to Miami

#192

Post by wpietri »

goatslacker wrote: post #119

I was born and raised in Miami and my family still lives there so I visit quite often. I moved to the Bay Area not too long ago (3 years) for work and IMO it's no comparison. Miami is a great place to live if your priorities are partying. There are excellent night clubs and beautiful men and women everywhere. The Bay Area holds an advantage over almost every point the OP made. Rent is ~$2k for a 2 bedroom 2 bath if y…

Since you're a native, maybe you can address something subtle: the extent to which the business community favors positive-sum vs zero-sum thinking, and innovation over marketing.

One of the things I like about Silicon Valley is that people are generally focused on creating value rather than making money. (The difference being that I can make money in ways that transfer money from your pocket to mine, without a net increase in value.) But my impression of Florida is that there's a different orientation there.

For example, South Florida is currently the identity theft capital of the US. [1] At least a few years back, a few Florida counties had more spammers than any other country. [2] It seems like the dubious business culture goes back to the scam-heavy Florida land boom in the 1920s. [3] That had an echo in Florida swampland scams in the 60s and 70s. [4] And Miami was one of the worst cities in the recent US property bubble. [5]

Do you notice that difference in business orientation and business ethics?

[1] http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-02-26/business/fl-iden...

[2] http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2005-05-08/news/0505070596_...

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_land_boom_of_the_1920s

[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swampland_in_Florida

[5] http://us.spindices.com/indices/real-estate/sp-case-shiller-...

Re: Why I moved to Miami

#193

Post by drivingmissm »

elchief wrote: post #172

I worked for a VoIP startup an hour north of Miami. They got bought for $300M. I got to live in one of the owner's mansions, by myself. It had nine bathrooms. Oddly enough, you hear a lot of French there. From the Haitian taxi drivers to the Snow Birds from Quebec. You can buy good Quebecois beer at some stores. Miami itself is pretty nice. Reminds me of Vancouver and San Diego. Not a big fan of Cuban food, but the n…

West Palm Beach used to be a lovely working and middle class area (I lived there a half century ago), but it is now the destination for many of the region's Haitian immigrants. They've unfortunately brought many of the same problems that plague Haiti, including poverty and serious gang violence.

Re: Why I moved to Miami

#194

Post by edw519 »

I love/hate Miami.

Pros:

  No state income tax. (A HUGE advantage)
  Lots of business.
  Some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.
  Stunning winter weather.
  Gorgeous beaches/parks/neighborhoods.
  International culture.
  Walkable neighborhoods near downtown.
  Some of the best restaurants I've ever been to.
  Emerging startup scene.
  Vibrant arts/design/culture scene.
  Year round biking/jogging/swimming/etc.
  Lots of money (including international).
  Can fly non-stop anywhere.
  Decent mass transit.
  Lots of wonderful highrise communities in town.
Cons:

  Horrendous traffic.
  The worst drivers I've ever seen.
  Everything generally overpriced.
  Some of the rudest people you'll ever meet.
  Generally horrible service.
  Lots of blight.
  Hot summers (but oddly, no worse than most of the northeast).
  Lots of competition for living/shopping/going out/etc.
  Too much crime/not enough enforcement.
  Party scene is played out (Too loud, not as pretty as you think you are)

Re: Why I moved to Miami

#195

Post by wpietri »

paul9290 wrote: post #60

Taxes here in the states are overall disgusting, though you don't realize it until your salary inches upwards. When your making 40K to 55K here in the states the amount of taxes taken seems like a fair share. Though when you almost double that you wonder what's the point of making more money on paper as in your pocket you only make 60 to 65 percent of of your earnings - WTH?

The point would be making more money. Also, perhaps, being more productive, accomplishing more, having great responsibility, and contributing more to society.

Of course, the people still making your old salary surely feel terrible that your now-doubled salary is filling you with discussed. If you ask nicely, I bet they'll trade paychecks with you so you feel better.

Re: Why I moved to Miami

#196

Post by wpietri »

dxhdr wrote: post #114
mp3tricord wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But the additional property tax is already built into your rent price and increases?

The point is that as a non-homeowner, you don't pay property tax so you don't benefit from low property tax rates. Instead you're paying rent that's among the highest in the nation. And your salary, which better be large to deal with the outrageous rent, is being taxed at one one of the highest rates in the country. It's the absolute worst tax situation to be in.

Generally inputs are priced into market price. So as a renter, I suspect I benefit from low property taxes.

Re: Why I moved to Miami

#197

Post by wpietri »

philwelch wrote: post #108
mekoka wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could you elaborate a bit more on this? Genuinely interested.

Search for "Florida man" on Google News.

Or read one of the aggregators:

https://twitter.com/_FloridaMan

http://filmdrunk.uproxx.com/tag/florida-friday

Re: Why I moved to Miami

#198

Post by wpietri »

jmduke wrote: post #82
crystaln wrote: post #56

I made the decision a long time ago that people come first. Comparing the people of San Francisco to those of Miami, well, in this case you get what you pay for. I feel like a rock star wild man anywhere else. In San Francisco I feel like I'm surrounded by people smarter, more creative, and better at life than me. That's worth every penny. I'll take a hovel in SF over a mansion in Miami any day. Besides, the defense…

The implication of this post is that people in Miami are dumber, less creative, and "worse at life" than those in San Francisco. The population of Miami is around 410,000. When someone tries to "comparing the people of X", where X is a population of 410,000, I think the bigger insight is to be gleaned from the writer's preconceptions than their conclusions.

If only there were some way we could compare large groups of people. Maybe we could have a federal agency that does that. It sounds pretty useful; maybe we should put that in the constitution.

Snark aside, 26% of Miami has Bachelor's degrees. San Francisco county is 51%. Marin, 54%. San Mateo county, 46%.

Source: US Census, by way of http://chronicle.com/article/Attainment-Interactive/125995/

Re: Why I moved to Miami

#199

Post by wpietri »

fchollet wrote: post #93
leif wrote: post #63

It often happens that someone outside new york talks about the amaaaazing food in their city. I used to laugh, or correct them. Nowadays I just feel pity. Nothing compares to the food of new york city. Absolutely nothing. Don't even fucking try. "I live within walking distance of two zagat top 10 rated restaurants." There are sixty restaurants within walking distance of my apartment and they're all better than anythi…

I lived in NYC for a year, working right next to Hell's Kitchen. While the food is great, it's certainly not "incomparable". Paris has better restaurants. Tokyo has better restaurants (cheaper too in that case). Even San Francisco has comparable food standards. You end up sounding just like so many New-Yorkers --annoying and conceited. But no, living there doesn't make you special. It's just a big city, and not the o…

I heard Anthony Bourdain being interviewed in SF (on City Arts and Lectures, I think.) Somebody asked him what he thought of the food in SF, and I thought his answer was really interesting. He thought that at the very top end, New York won without question. But that the average restaurant in SF was substantially better.

Re: Why I moved to Miami

#200

Post by wpietri »

leif wrote: post #97
grogenaut wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

wow, you've been to the US AND THE EU... impressed. I'm impressed that only SF and LA have burritos. YOU ARE A WORLD TRAVELLER. Whee, immediate -4 karma. But seriously nyc has some good food but it doesn't have a stranglehold on great ingredients. The west coast in fact has better access and makes better use of it because it's natural to just assume that those things exists. Some of the best food I've had is actually…

LA has a lot of good food, SF only has good burritos.

I presume this is just trolling, but in case you actually think that, for New York, Michelin lists 7 three-star restaurants, 9 two-star, and 46 one-star. San Francisco's numbers are 2, 6, and 39. [1] So not as high, but given that the SF Metro area has a third the population of New York, we do ok.

(For those unfamiliar, Michelin stars are sort of like the Academy Awards of food. Even a 1-star restaurant is an extraordinary meal, and you should expect to pay $100-200 a person. 3-star places are reputedly the best of the best; a meal there runs $300-600 per person.)

[1] http://sf.eater.com/archives/2012/10/23/michelin_guide_2013_...

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