Are you from S. FL? Can you answer a few questions?

[Pamela H in Texas]

I guess my biggest question is whether we will be blown away (hurricane) if we move to Naples. Well, and with so much water are there mosquitos that carry people off there? I realize people have lived there a long time, but.... Also, anyone in Naples itself? I have a few questions more location specific.

 

Okay, and then there is FL in regards to homeschooling. My son is 15. What would homeschooling like for us? Any intrusive laws? Do we have any neat options?

[Dawn in OH]

I guess my biggest question is whether we will be blown away (hurricane) if we move to Naples.

 

This made me chuckle. I was moving to Ft. Myers, Florida with my husband in 1999 and asked him the same question. His response was "Florida hasn't had a hurricane in 40 years". Well, there were 3 in our last 2 years living there.

 

I can't really answer your question though.

 

We also moved out of Florida before our children became old enough for compulsory attendance.

[TKDmom]

Okay, and then there is FL in regards to homeschooling. My son is 15. What would homeschooling like for us? Any intrusive laws? Do we have any neat options?

 

I'm not in S. Florida, so I can't give you specifics there. But I can tell you about HS laws. :001_smile:

 

Basically, you have 2 options. 1) Register with your county as a homeschooler, or 2)register with an umbrella school as a private school student.

 

1) I think most people use the first option. Once you register, you have to provide the county with an annual evaluation showing that ds is making progress. You can have any certified teacher conduct the evaluation. There are several options for how to conduct evaluations. I'll find you a link somewhere.

 

2)If you go with an umbrella school, you'll probably have to pay a yearly fee. They keep track of your attendance and grades for you. You would be "invisible" to the county--they would consider a private school student, rather than a homeschooler.

 

Here's a link for you on hs'ing in FL: http://www.fpea.com/starting/index/css/starting_point.html

[truebluexf]

Hahahaha. FL is home to me, I love it!!! Hurricanes happen, but unlike blizzards, etc...you have warning! You close up the house and head to Orlando for a couple days. ;) We just lived in Key West last, so we left a few times, but it's not really that big of a deal, IMO. Just make sure you have insurance in case you have a bad storm.

 

Homeschooling is really easy. You can have evaluation (soooo easy, in fact I had two neighbors who were teachers who just signed off on mine. It's literally a p/f evaluation form.), you can take the FCAT or other standardized test, or use the umbrella school option. The umbrella's have fees but they are often very small. We used the first option. I find the laws there to be very unobtrusive (especially compared to VA, where we are now). You only need to file your Notice of Intent (which is just a statement you are homeschooling, no curriculum plan or submission of any credentials on your part needed) and the eval or test at the end of the year.

[Pamela H in Texas]

We have been using Google to "drive" around town and LOVE what we've seen! Then using various websites about things in and near Naples. WOW!

 

Now we're checking email and keeping phones close so we can respond immediately if this job contacts us.

[gaillardia]

I have family in Naples area since 1975 with no hurricanes hitting that area until the last 3-4 years. Even so, they prepared their homes, stocked up on water and food and didn't have anything to report other than what a pain it was to miss work, cleaning up branches.

It is an expensive area to live in. Check the crime rate, look on the local newspaper's website.

Family member's home was on the market for a year and no one even looked at it. A very nice 3/2 on an acre in Golden Gate.

I think someone has asked about living in se FL on wtm.

They once owned land out away from the city and the mosquitoes did try to carry us away when we went out to take a look, I counted over 100 bites on dh. That was back when we just didn't use bug spray.

Airplanes bomb for mosquitoes early in the morning, I thought we were under attack.:lol:

It is beautiful there, not too far from the Keys.

I would live there if we could.

[rookie]

Naples is a beautiful part of South Florida. You will not be carried off by mosquitoes in Naples proper, but maybe in the Everglades.:D

 

Hurricanes are not a big deal unless: you live below sea-level, live in water-front property, live in a flood zone, live in a poorly built house. If you live in a sturdy house and use shutters, you're fine. And, you always know ahead of time so that you can scram to Central Florida if you are worried.

 

Hsing in Florida is EASY. Just notify intent and get a yearly evaluation or test.

 

No Biggie on any of your three concerns.

 

Now, ask me about the humidity, crazy drivers, homeowners insurance, and ................:tongue_smilie:

[Hockey Mom]

I'm about 30-45 minutes north of Naples. :D I've been in this area for over 20 years now.

 

The hurricanes really aren't that big of a deal. 2004 was a tough year for this area, but that isn't the norm for our area. Miami usually takes the brunt of the storms coming from the east, and the panhandle usually gets the storms coming from the south. While we do get a lot of 'brushes' with hurricanes, direct hits are few and far between.

 

We have two seasons in south Florida: rainy season, and dry season. Rainy season is April - September. Every day, 3pm, for about an hour you will experience thunderstorms. I'm exaggerating a bit. It doesn't always start at 3pm, and sometimes it's longer (or shorter) than an hour. ;) But we do get a lot of afternoon storms with a LOT of lightning during the summer months. Winters are generally mild, but this year our winter was longer than usual. We usually only get a day or two below 32 degrees, and we had several this year. This was an off year though. We were hotter than normal in the fall too.

 

We've just finished our first year of homeschooling, and I was surprised at how incredibly easy everything was. I just had to notify the district with my letter of intent, then provided a portfolio to the evaluator at the end of the year. That's it.

 

I love living here. Where else can you live year round and see manatees and dolphins playing in their natural habitat? :D The only time I dread being a Floridian is when I see palmetto bugs *shudder*, and when it's terribly hot and humid (like has been lately). But apparently the entire east coast is suffering this heat, so I won't complain too much. ;)

[Pamela H in Texas]

Oh goodness. I forgot about palmetto bugs. Now I'm about at panic attack level! EEK...

[Brenda in FL]

Florida Virtual School may also be an option for your son. You should look into that as well. You don't have to enroll full-time but can pick and choose classes.

[RobinF]

We lived in S. Florida for 5 years (other coast and Orlando) and we would move back in a heartbeat! We actually interviewed at a church in Naples several years ago. We loved the area. Like everyone said you have lots of warning for hurricanes and homeschooling isn't hard either.

[rookie]

I'm about 30-45 minutes north of Naples. :D I've been in this area for over 20 years now.

 

The hurricanes really aren't that big of a deal. 2004 was a tough year for this area, but that isn't the norm for our area. Miami usually takes the brunt of the storms coming from the east, and the panhandle usually gets the storms coming from the south. While we do get a lot of 'brushes' with hurricanes, direct hits are few and far between.

 

We have two seasons in south Florida: rainy season, and dry season. Rainy season is April - September. Every day, 3pm, for about an hour you will experience thunderstorms. I'm exaggerating a bit. It doesn't always start at 3pm, and sometimes it's longer (or shorter) than an hour. ;) But we do get a lot of afternoon storms with a LOT of lightning during the summer months. Winters are generally mild, but this year our winter was longer than usual. We usually only get a day or two below 32 degrees, and we had several this year. This was an off year though. We were hotter than normal in the fall too.

 

We've just finished our first year of homeschooling, and I was surprised at how incredibly easy everything was. I just had to notify the district with my letter of intent, then provided a portfolio to the evaluator at the end of the year. That's it.

 

I love living here. Where else can you live year round and see manatees and dolphins playing in their natural habitat? :D The only time I dread being a Floridian is when I see palmetto bugs *shudder*, and when it's terribly hot and humid (like has been lately). But apparently the entire east coast is suffering this heat, so I won't complain too much. ;)

 

 

The palmetto bugs are way scarier than the hurricanes!

[Pamela H in Texas]

I had TWO bad dreams about those stupid bugs last night. First thing and last thing. Dumb bugs.

 

EEEK!