Teach me about living in Miami

I am a not-married twenty-something guy soon interviewing for a position down in Miami. I'm reading up everything I can so that I can make an informed decision about the possible relocation. I know that there are a few GRMers down in the area.

First, I will cover a few obvious topics:

Spanish: I don't know it yet, but I am taking a class this summer to start learning.

Job location: the position is located in Opa Locka. I have heard that this isn't exactly a neighborhood I should live in. How about Miami Lakes? I have been recommended Coral Gables, Brickell, and a few other areas more towards south Miami. These would be quite long commutes.

Accomodations: I would like to keep rent under $750/mo for studio or a 1/1. Is this possible without living in a slum (cue "well all of Miami is a slum".

Why the heck would I want to move there, you ask? Because I like the food and the culture; I find sleepy suburbias to be... Not what I am looking for. At least in this stage of my life.

This is all I know about Miami:

Would you like living in Cuba?

Is English your second language?

If the answer to both of these questions is "Yes," then Miami is the place for you! If the answer to either of these questions is "No," there are a hundred other cities with good looking women and nightlife that don't require feeling like you're living in a third-world-country...and if you're living in a $750/month apartment in Miami, good luck with the good-looking women part...oh, be sure and check for an adam's apple and big feet. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

OK, Opa Locka is about the worst pit in Dade county, and that is saying a lot. You will NOT live there. Miami Lakes is not bad. Coral Gables and Brickell are very pricy, but pretty. Gables has such restrictive zoning laws I would never consider living there. You have to have approval for colors INSIDE your house if they can be seen through a window. Farther south you go, the better deals you will find, but the commute will be deadly. If you can take Metrorail, much easier to deal with. Public transit is not very good, but much better than driving. I would like to live in Homestead, but that is way too far for you. You have to decide how much of a commute you can deal with. Your projected rent $$ should work out, but it will depend on area. Forget about Miami Beach and South Beach. If the commute doesn't get you, parking will, and it becomes a total zoo on weekends. I live in central Ft. Lauderdale and have to go into Dade a couple of times a month to take shipments to forwarders, about as far as Opa Locka, and it's about a 45 minute drive in off-peak driving. Rush hour will be 1-1 1/2 hours. You could consider south Broward, like Miramar. Much more American. Possibly consider the Doral area, in Dade, just west of MIA. Not too far from OL, and a lot of housing, but 90+% Latin. Largest Venezuelan community outside that country, but generally nice people. You will not learn Spanish in a typical classroom. BTDT. Seriously, get a Colombian girlfriend. They speak the best Spanish. Watch a lot of Spanish TV. You will be in for an adventure, for sure. Keep in mind that we have some of the best armed drivers in the US.

Moved my son back from there almost 2 years ago. What you'll be living in would be considered a substandard slum most anywhere else in the country - that is unless you spend a fortune on housing.

Lots of good food.

And beautiful women.

A lot of the south Florida girls go to school at UF, but like the ones I run into here, most are out of my price range.

Mitchell wrote: A lot of the south Florida girls go to school at UF, but like the ones I run into here, most are out of my price range.

....and miami will make all the prices worse.

Mitchell wrote: A lot of the south Florida girls go to school at UF, but like the ones I run into here, most are out of my price range.

The HOOOOOT UF chicks are a dime a dozen...when they live in Gainesville. And that was on a Pizza Delivery Guy's salary.

A single guy with his own place in Gville is a berkeleying Bob Costas slayer...regardless of the rent.

A single guy with a $750 a month apt. in Miami is better off paying by the hour. Like I said, check for the adam's apple.

Seriously dude, that place is a berkeleying E36 M3 hole. There are plenty of other big cities with hot chicks and jobs.

you need to get your nose used to lots of blow

Well, the interview is tomorrow afternoon; we will see how it goes.

wishing you good luck tomorrow