I think your children will suffer from not being with some "minority" children, and if you want a segregation, better move back to the 50's! Geez!

A few thoughts from one who speaks from experience--First, you are contemplating moving the kids when they are about middle school age, the most difficult time to adapt socially. Second, isn't "the obvious," ie taking them away from their extended family, reason enough for pause? I suggest either moving them sooner than "a few years" or not at all. Too, most parents evaluate individual school districts anytime they move kids. I would not suggest you use the presence of "minority children" as a criteria to perform such evaluation.

You mentioned early retirment and that concerns me==with children so young. What would you and/or spouse be doing or do you have enouth to live on. Medical??? Insurance??
As to adapting, there are many places in MI to relocate to without the bitter cold. Yes there will many children/people of other nationalities, but this to me is an excellant growing experience. Like learning a second language. Yes you would be alone, and can you deal with it. Why is you spouse wanting the the FL area? Does he really want to get away from family--without telling you?
And if you come back for the summer--who will take care of the place--lots of questions that need talking about.

We just did the exact opposite of what you are thinking of doing. The last 9 years we were in Miami FL. We are originally from upstate NY. We spent a few years in Ft lauderdale area and then Miami. Lots of pros and cons. In our situation, moving back home was and is wayyyyy better. Family was key. My girls went to public school for a year. Way over crowded, too many students for 1 teacher to handle. Went to private school, loved the school, wasnt the best private school, got 13k per kid just for elementary and goes up with each grade. How do you feel about high taxes and insane hurricane insurance prices that you must have (unless your buying with pure cash). Like getting on a airplane once a year with all your kids stuff and all the work it takes just for the trip, it takes a lot of time and energy to make new friends and set up your new circle of people you can depend on like family...guess how transit FL is. Lots of people change their mind and move, lots of working men climb the corporate ladder and get transfered. Seems like people in a big city are a little more colder because your just a number and most likely your not gonna run into the person that was just mean to you again. Again, each to their own. We had a great experience living in FL, but its no walk in the park. Since moving back my kids have come alive, they love being with their cousins and grandparents. The more time I spend with old friends actually feels as though Im investing in a long term relationship, I dont feel as though Im wasting my time making friends with people I may never see again if they move from my neighborhood (which happened often). Family has been key for me. Fl like anywhere else has its good and bad. Just explore all your options and whats important to you and your family) Good luck!

It's an interesting question, and really, nearly impossible to answer because some families are flexible and go with the flow and embrace new experiences, and some families find change very stressful and upsetting.

For some kinds of families, happiness depends upon their location. Some families-location is incidental to their happiness.

I have kids right around your age, and I think we could move and they'be be ok with it. They wouldn't love it, but they'd be ok because they're gregarious and outgoing and make friends easily. Are your kids this way? If you send them to a private school, you will have more control over their socio-economic environment, which is what you are concerned about. It's okay, in my opinion, to have these concerns. If you have bright kids and the school is using all of its resources to get ESOL kids up to speed in English, then your kids will not reap maximum benefits. You can find out a huge amount about schools you are considering on greatschools.net. Visit the schools you are considering before you enroll your kids. In every city in america there are high performing affluent schools, you just have to find them.

Easier to try it now than when they're teenagers-from what my friends have told me that's not a good time to try and adapt to a new culture. And florida is a different culture than michigan. As is Atlanta (where we live now). Many people from the north have a hard time socially acclimating.

We moved form NJ to FL when one son started middle school and other Kindergarten. No problems. What we did lookout for, was that school systems in FL are by county and some are much better than others. We first moved to Orlando area and choose to live in Seminole Country, as they are superior system to Orange county. Then we moved to SW FL where we choose to live in Sarasota County for the same reason.
Good luck :)

My grandparents wintered in the Fort Myers/Tampa/Punta Gorda area for many years. They lived in Iowa, so they missed the harsh winter weather that occurs here between Nov.-March. They always came back from Florida around April to avoid the hot, muggy, and buggy summers.

My DH and his ex-wife lived in Orlando right after college graduation. They lived there for three years and then came back to the Midwest to be closer to family and to experience four seasons. They also disliked the hot, buggy summers.

Because of my grandparents, I've been to Florida MANY times. I've also traveled there in past jobs. I like the state, but I'd never move there because of the buggy summers. Already have that 3-4 months out of the year in the Midwest. I, personally, would not want that kind of climate year-round. But maybe your family would like it.

If you move to FL, your home insurance premiums will skyrocket because of hurricanes.

I hope you worded your statement about school scores, minorities and segregation poorly. It sounds like you are concerned about living in an area with visible minorities and how it would affect your children's scores. Moreover, it sounds like those of visible minorities have lower test scores. If you're moving to FL, you will be hard pressed not to find a large population of those of Hispanic descent as other nationalities.

I would love to know what do you consider "If you move to FL, your home insurance premiums will skyrocket because of hurricanes." sparksals?

My SS just bought a starter 3/2 house in North Port and their insurance bill is $ 750 a year. We pay about $ 3000 a year but it is no means a starter house ;)

From experience, I am a Forty year ols General Contractor who lives in North Port Fl. Fort Myers and Cape Coral areas are not a area that I personally would want to reside in. I have lived in Sarasota County since I was Nine years old. Crime is ever were. But, we have a son that is Five. He attends a school in Venice that has a Five star rating and ranks well. You can choose the schools you would like your children to attend. Compared to up north I would rather spend a little more on Ins. and property taxes than to freeze my tails off. While people are shoveling snow I am reeling in grouper about five miles out!LOL Seriously the property values are very reasonable now.

Here is a link that might be useful: KB Remodeling And Construction LLC

Start research now. Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and Bonita Springs are nice, as are many other areas. You can research schools, crime stats and demographics online. Subscribe (mail) to local newspapers.

I live in SW FL. It is paradise-I can easily move anywhere I want bit choose to live here. This coast is much less busy than Miami area. Summer is usually around 92 degrees high and not much hotter, thugh very humid. It has never reached 100 since they have kept temp records.

My insurance is only approx 1000/yr. Each property can have diff insurance and you need to shop carriers. Also get quote for each diff property you are interested in. Older homes below flood elevation have high premiums. These are rare.

I don't have summer bug issues at all and live on water. I don't even have a screened porch and don't need it.

It really is just a matter of making a list of pros and cons and doing your research. I really loved being in Miami, but as time went by we just really missed being home. FL varies all over the state on crime, schools, etc. Our hurricane ins and taxes just skyrocketed and just continuously losing friends time and time again just got to us. Nothing felt stable. Loved all the different cultures and people we met. But thats Miami.