County wages

[SHELLY]

....then there's the story of this lady in Tampa who thought she "had it all."

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/07/Business/Hire_me__anyone__plea.shtml

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[Teresa]

And they say nobody listens!!! How about another alternative thrown into the mix? Say, better paying jobs? If people have to move from their homes, where they have lived for generations, just to better their lifestyle, this choice leads often times to depression. Quite a dilemma actually, sometimes leading to the popular pastime, sit in the woods and drink BEER!

there are far more job opportunities in sowal and surrounding areas these days than ever before, with all the medical services, hospital, doc offices, etc. real estate, our primary job market, is in a bad way for the first time in many years. I used to know almost no one who was NOT an agent. building, architectural and engineering firms offer many opportunities, PR and marketing, although these services are lagging these days due to the market. the market is effecting us all at this point.
sowal being a new community has also provided many locals an opportunity to be creative and start businesses, many many successful ones.
artists have enjoyed a lot of attention and success as well.

 

[elgordoboy]

I think part of it is that people need to adjust their expectations/how they figure what is affordable. Owning a home is a big achievement and not something everyone can afford, especially on just one salary.

The national average salary for someone 25 years or older who works full time and only has a high school education is $31,500 a year - basically $15 an hour.

IMO we shouldn't be basing our analysis of the affordability of local housing costs on a single income with only a high school diploma.

This is where I was getting my stats:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_income_in_the_United_States

Excellent point.

 

[florida girl]

there are far more job opportunities in sowal and surrounding areas these days than ever before, with all the medical services, hospital, doc offices, etc. real estate, our primary job market, is in a bad way for the first time in many years. I used to know almost no one who was NOT an agent. building, architectural and engineering firms offer many opportunities, PR and marketing, although these services are lagging these days due to the market. the market is effecting us all at this point.
sowal being a new community has also provided many locals an opportunity to be creative and start businesses, many many successful ones.
artists have enjoyed a lot of attention and success as well.

That covers the medical and building profession, or self-employed small business, and artists. Just about it. The majority of that caters to the tourists that come. I think the percentage of work in Walton County should be more diverse, not focusing totaly on tourism. We still need to be concerned about all of our citizens, not just those categories, or those peoples.

 

[florida girl]

I think part of it is that people need to adjust their expectations/how they figure what is affordable. Owning a home is a big achievement and not something everyone can afford, especially on just one salary.

The national average salary for someone 25 years or older who works full time and only has a high school education is $31,500 a year - basically $15 an hour.

IMO we shouldn't be basing our analysis of the affordability of local housing costs on a single income with only a high school diploma.

This is where I was getting my stats:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_income_in_the_United_States

If I remember correctly, someone posted how that several of their restaurant employees had college degrees. Our high school work program is teaching the kids to be hotel and restaurant workers, etc. Not college preparatory work. Many older people I have spoken to say their children live somewhere else, not here. The jobs are not here for them to support their families and do the kind of work they went to college to do. I suspect many folks move here to get away from their children, knowing they can't live here.

 

[30A Skunkape]

That covers the medical and building profession, or self-employed small business, and artists. Just about it. The majority of that caters to the tourists that come. I think the percentage of work in Walton County should be more diverse, not focusing totaly on tourism. We still need to be concerned about all of our citizens, not just those categories, or those peoples.

Do you remember the Sam Kinnison comedy bit back in the 1980s where he would scream at the Ethiopians who were starving "Look around-sand, all thats here is SAND! Its a DESERT! MOVE OUT OF THE DESERT WHERE YOU CAN GROW STUFF TO EAT"! Well, if Sam were alive today, he might be yelling "Look around-sand and sea, thats all there is! SAND AND SEA!!! TOURIST TOWN!!! MOVE AWAY IF LIVING IN A TOURIST TOWN BUMS YOU OUT!!!"

 

[chrisv]

Ahhhhhhh-Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

 

[florida girl]

Do you remember the Sam Kinnison comedy bit back in the 1980s where he would scream at the Ethiopians who were starving "Look around-sand, all thats here is SAND! Its a DESERT! MOVE OUT OF THE DESERT WHERE YOU CAN GROW STUFF TO EAT"! Well, if Sam were alive today, he might be yelling "Look around-sand and sea, thats all there is! SAND AND SEA!!! TOURIST TOWN!!! MOVE AWAY IF LIVING IN A TOURIST TOWN BUMS YOU OUT!!!"

No, I've never heard of this person. Although it seems to me to be ironic that the word MOVE comes up in this discussion, what you may not know is that the same word is used on the other side! I think this is the basic problem, stubborness. Those who are not willing to negotiate, or discuss, to come to a reasonable compromise. As far as the local native person's position, we were here first! Many years of blood, sweat, and hard work have gone into our lives here, not easily forgotten. We've endured many hardships, because we love our land. Moving, should not even be an option. I believe all citizens voices should be heard, not just the transplants.

 

[SHELLY]

I suspect many folks move here to get away from their children, knowing they can't live here.

.....Sounds like a plan!!

The FAR should jump on that for their next "buy now" campaign.


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[Alicia Leonard]

Do you remember the Sam Kinnison comedy bit back in the 1980s where he would scream at the Ethiopians who were starving "Look around-sand, all thats here is SAND! Its a DESERT! MOVE OUT OF THE DESERT WHERE YOU CAN GROW STUFF TO EAT"! Well, if Sam were alive today, he might be yelling "Look around-sand and sea, thats all there is! SAND AND SEA!!! TOURIST TOWN!!! MOVE AWAY IF LIVING IN A TOURIST TOWN BUMS YOU OUT!!!"

Thanks for this blast from the past. I remember him. Loved him. So un-pc but so funny.