Family Moving.....AGAIN. Anyone from NW Florida?

[JLC]

Hey gang!

I've probably hinted at this in the past....it's certainly not a secret, but I haven't made any sort of official announcement about it either. So here's the "official announcement."

We're moving to Florida this summer! Will be in the NW panhandle somewhere near Fort Walton Beach. We've only been here in San Antonio for 18 months...so this is a tough move for us. We've moved a LOT in the last six years. (Five cross-country moves in six years!) But, I've no doubts at all that this is God's plan for our family and we'll have great things ahead for us in Florida!

Next week, I'm flying out there to go house-hunting. That's always an exciting adventure because we have just a couple of days to find, make an accepted offer, and sign a contract on a new home. Scary and fun all wrapped up together!

If anyone is familiar with this area, I'd love to hear of fun (uncrowded!?!) beaches....neat things to do....good restaurants, etc. And I'm very curious about whether or not they have a decent music/band program at the high school level. Band is taken very seriously here in Texas and my daughter is passionate about it. I hope she can continue with it there. Lemme know what you know!

[Jae iLL]

Yay for moving, In the past two years I've PCSd once, and gone TDY once. I'm going to PCS again in another 11 months, so I feel you.

I'm curious tho, every time you PCS how do you transport your collection? Do y'all drive, or do you ship it to yourself?

I only have one BP at the moment, so my last PCS I had somebody ship mine for me, just curious cuz I know I'm going to want to acquire more snakes, and will definitely have future moves.

[JLC]

Well, my collection is pretty small....and will remain small for as long as hubby remains active duty. And we always drive from one new home to another. I've gotten a system worked out of temporary transport tubs for the snakes and lizard. The snakes get boxed up as if they were going to be shipped and can stay in those boxes for a couple of days. They get small shoebox tubs with a little substrate and water if we have to park ourselves in temporary housing for a few days. The lizard gets a shoebox tub for transport, and when we stay in temp housing, he moves into a larger rubbermaid tub that I cut the top off and covered with hardware cloth. While we're driving, the large rubbermaid tub holds the small trasnport tubs/boxes, heat lamp, paper towels, water bowls, etc. It's a nifty little system that I'm quite proud of! LOL

Now...if we should get shipped overseas or anyplace we can't drive to.....well, I'll cross that bridge when we come to it!

[Schlyne]

And I'm very curious about whether or not they have a decent music/band program at the high school level. Band is taken very seriously here in Texas and my daughter is passionate about it. I hope she can continue with it there. Lemme know what you know!

Well, I know that Disney runs a program called Magic Music Days where students learn what it would be like to record music professionally and they also perform at Disneyworld. (I went with the marching band in HS). Granted, this is in Orlando and it's run by Disney, but they've got to have a decent music program someplace in NW florida.

[cassandra]

While I haven't been there in years and I know it's been quite developed since then, Destin FL used to be my family's vacation destination...I loved it...the whitest sand beaches ever!

Again, I don't know if they are still any good, but google confirms they still exist in Destin and the reviews that pop up look like they are still good:

Donut Hole - bestest Dutch Chocolate creme filled donuts EVER and darn good breakfasts
Sexton's Seafood - best fresh fish market I've ever been to
The Back Porch - nice dinner restaurant

[recycling goddess]

all the best with your move judy. (((hugs)))

we have a 'back porch' it's an organic coffee and pottery place LOL

[cassandra]

Hehe...well the Back Porch in Destin is known for the grilled amberjack (amazing I remembered that - says that right on their website! I swear I didn't look, hehe!)...

Personally I'd rather take the same money and buy a buttload of ginormous fresh shrimp from Sextons and go home and have a shrimp feast, but some days you just don't wanna do dishes afterwards, ya know? =)

Dang...looking at the pictures, it sure has expanded since I was there um...20ish years ago...used to literally just be a porch, hehe...

[stangs13]

Well judy, if you mved down here, you would be at the school with the 4th best 4a band in the state.... With our drum line number one, but I know you have to move to flordia! Closer to daytona! Hehe. We will be praying for you!

[joepythons]

Here is to a safe move and settle in for you and yours

[JLC]

Thanks for all the well-wishes, guys! And thank you, Cassandra, for the links!

Where'd all the Florida peeps go??? Isn't there anyone who did or is going to school in Florida or currently lives in the NW Florida area???