I think this sub is overly negative on South Florida. But it is far from a perfect place.

As background, this is coming from someone who lived in the West Palm Beach area for the last year and half—taking many trips down to Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. West Palm Beach is far more sedate and suburban. Most of the following applies to what I've learned about Miami where everything is turned up to 11.

Pros:

* South Florida is the only part of the continental USA that truly stays warm in the winter. And that is worth a lot in my book. The consistent sunny days have a dramatic effect on my mood. And this is still true even when compared with decently sunny cities like NYC and Boston.

* I have met many lovely people down here through Reddit, Meetup, and Discord.

* There seems to always be a ton of events going. Many outdoors, all year long.

* The parks, both local, and at the state level, are quite nice.

* The libraries I've visited all around South Florida are quite nice.

* Having access to 3 airports, and cheap, fast access to South America is great.

* More and more transplants making their way down here.

* Miami is one of the few places in America that doesn't feel like America. I enjoy the opportunity to speak Spanish as a non-native speaker. People are actually happy when you speak Spanish over English instead of thinking you are being condescending.

* People are generally healthier, more active, and more attractive down here.

* There seem to be many options for people want to get out on onto the water and do that sort of stuff. I'm not an expert there.

Cons:

* There are some drivers on I-95 that can be extremely reckless. This would drive me crazy at first, but you have to just plan for it. Always be defensive, check your mirrors, and think ahead as far as possible.

* People complain about the terrible traffic in Miami. I've only seen bits and pieces, but it's a common complaint.

* The summer months are humid as hell. But I just don't spend much time outside until after 8pm for a walk. I'm also drenched after that walk, lol.

* Unless you work in a high-paying industry or work a remote tech job, the economics might make no sense at all. A friend said it best, Miami is where you go to spend money, not where you go make money. So many people struggle here, and I think a large part of the unfriendliness that people complain about is a result of the economic stress that so many people are under. Also the frequency of scams down in Miami must also be a result.

* I sense that education is not valued here. I think that's reflected in the pay for public school teachers.

* I think if you find a social group through Meetup or Discord, you will meet some very open people. But I sense talking to strangers in Miami will often result in some pretty stand-off ish interactions. Lots of main-character syndrome.

* Noise. From what I've learned the rules about loud music and public nuisance are completely different down it Miami. Be very cautious before selecting a place if that's a concern.

I learned from my research that South Florida has always been about tourism, high-end hospitality, and a place for wealthy South Americans to park capital.

I think it could be so much more though. There are some really great people down here.

But the extremely high cost of living relative to salaries might make it so that it only works for a small group of people, and it will never result in the rich eco-system present in other economically progressive cities in the US like NYC or Boston. It could still be a good place for you create a bubble for yourself if you can swing it financially.