Thoughts on moving from England to Florida

[Decisions2023]

Other half wants us to move from England to his home town in Florida. He has family and friends there etc and he can keep the same job. We have a 9 months of baby and the move is making me nervous. The thought of making my child American is making me nervous as it would become his home and all he knows. I'm not sure if I'm thinking rational. We are not well off and the thought of making this big decision on my childs behalf makes me anxious/nervous.

Do you think I would be putting my child at an advantage or disadvantage?

Thanks in advance.

Yes food is very expensive as is rent right now.
Wages are usually higher (not always) so that helps a bit but if you're comfortable now then i'd reconsider.

I'd just like to say, as an expat, that many who leave their home country really regret it and it could be quite a costly mistake! Not trying to scare you but it's so common.

The chocolate is awful (lots of things have peanuts in). I love the place and people but couldn't live there. I missed the UK so much when I was there. I went for a meal in a restaurant (portion sizes were huge) that overlooked some beach and there was a bloody great big crocodile there, as if it was waiting for one of us for it's supper. One of the girls told me to be careful checking my laundry for scorpions. I also saw the devastation aftermath of a cyclone. Scary.
I'd be more worried about not being able to get back home with DC in the event of relationship troubles, as others have said. The fact that people carry guns worries me.

We’re also an English-American family and recently spent time with family in Florida. I think there are advantages and disadvantages.

1. Healthcare is expensive there but I think paediatric care is more thorough.
2. The state school system is even more poorly funded and standards are lower
3. The weather is such a pro: the opportunity for sunshine, to be outside more, to be near the beach is so nice
4. Gun violence really worries me. I worry about kids doing active shooter drills etc

And, small point but the right wing/freedom/entitlement attitude spills over into how some people drive out there and it’s terrifying. Massive trucks with people having full on video calls at the wheel!

I wouldn’t want to raise a child in America

If you're married and your H is American, then getting a green card and eventual citizenship will be straightforward.

You will have hoops to jump through to prove you're married, etc. The process takes a lot of time. You would probably initially enter the US with a spouse visa and proceed to the green card application once you get there.

Has your child been registered as an American citizen with foreign birth (dual citizenship with UK)?

There are pros and cons to Florida. From a distance the US can seem very foreign, very scary, very alien. Yet 350+ million people call it home and live ordinary lives there, some comfortable, some less so, just as you would find everywhere else. It's not the UK. It has a different culture. It has a lot to offer all the same, particularly in terms of opportunities for children. Sports are huge in Florida and you can play outdoor sports year round.

If you and your H can do a cost benefit analysis, with a realistic idea of housing costs, taxes, educational opportunities all the way to university (University of Florida is very affordable for residents), extra curricular opportunities, food, utilities, insurance, cars, healthcare/ insurance, etc, you can get an idea of the quality of life you can expect.

Be sure you can get back to the UK every year as much as you want to. That's a cost you need to factor in too.

Definitely not, I spent a big part of my childhood in the states and went to uni there and whilst there are parts I loved it really isnt a place I would want to raise or educate children (especially Florida!!)

although there may be lots of nice pleases to live there I wouldn’t.
the access to guns and school shootings terrify me, the politics are so right wing especially in regards to abortion and the health care system is only beneficial for high earners. Those reasons alone would make it a no form me unfortunately. Maybe nice for some extended holidays tho!

Same. Been many times, but no way in hell I’d live there with my children. Just the thought of it’s normal to have a gun in your bag when you go food shopping at Walmart.. There are many countries I could, and have, live in. No way I’d want my kids to be American.

@Outingmyselfyetagain You can get British/Euro chocolate here if you know where to look. I get my Tony's Chocoloney from Whole Foods and the local deli stocks imported Cadbury's. I agree that cheap American chocolate is vile, but it's not the only option.

@Justalittlebitduckling A big bonus of living in Manhattan - No driving! I've visited Florida though and some of the Uber rides I took were a bit hair raising. Mind you, we're having a cold snap in NYC right now and some Florida weather might be nice...

It's not normal to have a gun in your bag when you go to Walmart.

What strange ideas people have about America.

Eh?
As of Jan 24th 2023 there had already been 39 mass shootings in the US.
How many terrorist bombings by Islamist Extremists have there been in the UK since the beginning of the year?

amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/24/tragedy-upon-tragedy-why-39-us-mass-shootings-already-this-year-is-just-the-start

I don't think I would chose Florida although the up market areas are lovely
(everyone seems rich in them) - it is quite materialistic. I didn't like alot of the weather in Miami - too hot. People are very friendly and love the British accent (I used to reply ''I don't have an accent - you do!''). Main concern about Florida - it is very low lying and with climate change may be underwater soon!

Sorry 'terrorist attacks by Islamist Extremists'?

It isn't in my experience lots of schools in UK do

Mumsnet really isn't the place to ask this question.

Things to think about: Florida public (state) schools are shocking generally. Health insurance needs to be planned for (this isn't the giant obstacle people think it is), guns (Florida is going to be a constitutional carry state).

Would he consider a different state? There is so much to love about the US but Florida is a fairly tricky state. Where in Florida will make a big difference.

Based on American republican politics in that state I wouldn't. It is incredibly regressive - to put it mildly.

They really don’t. I e been teaching 34 years and the closest I’ve done is a lockdown in a private school which just meant locking the door and closing the blinds. Kids thought it was a joke.

As an American, no way! Maybe if it was a different state, like Massachusetts. Florida? Not a chance.

Just to add to that, I lived in Florida for a while and it's not like the rest of the country. Florida Man is a thing for a reason.

My DS school does them, his Primary school did too

Not at a school we dont

@lobeliasb tell me about Massachusetts

I'd love to live in the USA, more specifically NY. Had the opportunity when I was younger and didn't take it! Absolutely no chance of getting out there without a work sponsored visa now :( Big regret.

@honestlyno when I have a breakdown I plan on living in New York for a month 😂😂