Is anybody making any money around here?

[scooterbug44]

Really?

Not saying the cost of living and the job market on 30-a is perfect, but it sure beats other places in the US where unemployment is over 20%.

 

[Here4Good]

I think the unemployment rate is misleading for this area. It doesn't include the self-employed, or the people who left the area to find work, or the self-employed who are now just barely hanging on.

This is not a "real" place, frankly. The ups and downs here are different. I am always startled when I go other places to visit family and every third house isn't for sale.

 

[Lynnie]

I think the unemployment rate is misleading for this area. It doesn't include the self-employed, or the people who left the area to find work, or the self-employed who are now just barely hanging on.

This is not a "real" place, frankly. The ups and downs here are different. I am always startled when I go other places to visit family and every third house isn't for sale.

I concur - I wonder what the population is in Walton County today? Not having accurate data will skew the percentages.

 

[NightAngel]

I concur - I wonder what the population is in Walton County today? Not having accurate data will skew the percentages.

The powers that be in Walton County do not want any accurate data, that would break the facade of South Walton and what others from the outside looking in might perceive it to be. Some in South Walton are very happy living in their bubble and refuse to let anyone pop it.

 

[jodiFL]

I think the unemployment rate is misleading for this area. It doesn't include the self-employed, or the people who left the area to find work, or the self-employed who are now just barely hanging on.

I dont think it includes those that didnt work the required 180 days some where and were denied unemployment benefits or the ones that just dont bother to go try to get them. Its kinda hard to work continuously for 180 days when there is only a 100 day "season".

 

[Here4Good]

I dont think it includes those that didnt work the required 180 days some where and were denied unemployment benefits or the ones that just dont bother to go try to get them. Its kinda hard to work continuously for 180 days when there is only a 100 day "season".

Very good point. Those are the folks that often just move on to another area.

 

[beachmouse]

I concur - I wonder what the population is in Walton County today? Not having accurate data will skew the percentages.

There tends to be a pretty significant lag time for official census estimates. The July 1, 2008 head count they've got is 53,837 up from around 40K in 2000.

The July 1, 2009 estimate gets released in March, 2010.

 

[NightAngel]

I moved and I really didn't want to. It was depressing and caused me to have a slight nervous breakdown. I've been trying to live in this area most of my life. It is my home. I visited destin as a child and it was our "homebase" since we moved around so much. I've spent most of my life in this area. It is my home. But I just couldn't make it anymore. I have to say..... deeply exhales. Life is much easier where I've moved. I'm in a college town in GA-known for its music scene, so I've still got some pretty neat culture. Rent is a breeze! Jobs are a breeze. And I don't see any foreclosure or for sale signs. The constant negativity down there was killing me.... it is a disaster down there and you all are like the Katrina holdouts. I miss miss miss my water. I cry over it. But I'm starting to get used to "the real world." I'll be back.

One of my sons tried and tried to find work around here and just couldn't seem to get anything going so he went to Canada to visit with a friend and wound up staying. He has plenty of work there and the economy is good and he is thriving. I hate it that he is so far away but I don't have the heart to ask him to come back here right now. It is such a shame that he had to go so far away from this place just to find work and be able to have and do the things a young man should be able to do here. I have another son that is graduating in 2011 and hopefully the real estate market will be such that I can sell my house for some sort of decent price and move elsewhere. This is my home, my mom was even born in Walton county, but it is just no longer viable for my family to be here and this time, I will not be returning. It is a sad thing for me, my Dad is buried in the cemetery across from Crosspoint Church and he loved this place, he would hate to see what is has become. My brother could not do it anymore here either and now lives in Costa Rica.

 

[rlesgal]

I came to FL in 1980 to the Winter Park area, it got too touristy and stuffed full of people so moved to Ocala. Then that bloomed into grey golfers and subdivisions. Still wanting to stay in FL I moved up here when life was still enjoyable. Struggling with dwindling pay and stacking part time jobs to make ends meet! Now just give me a shot at moving further north and out of the tourist state. I'll be here until I'm no longer "upside down" and the county flowers (For Sale Signs) aren't so prevalent.

 

[operationivy]

The airport will probably change things but it'll be a different place. Interesting to wait and see. I miss the sunshine..... total Seasonal Affective Disorder going on here... maybe I need to get one of those lamps. HARD adjusting to GA.... very grey. I've tried this moving thing away before and it just doesn't work... Landlocked. Maybe I can find a new paradise somewhere.