Mark, unfortunately you are absolutely correct, we live in different worlds. Our local TV channels feature Orlando, FL, Daytona, FL, Disney World area and environs for all of central and part of N Florida.
EVERY day there is a new murder, or more, a new home invasion, shooting, stabbing, armed robbery, etc. When I lived in Orlando, a long time ago, there was a delightful section of town on the west side called Pine Hills. This was an area of middle class homes full of working people who were proud of their homes, their children and their community. Now it's called Crime Hills and is the scene of murder, gang violence , drugs and worse.
Fortunately the town I live in hasn't suffered a lot of that but we, for a county wide population of 80,000, have enough. We have murders every year, a bank robbery or three, drug store robbery's and road rage just for a start.
Daytona, 30 miles away, has problems galore that stem from prostitution, drugs, murder and more. But, it's still a nice place to visit, we go there for dinner and shopping and enjoy ourselves but we're careful where we go, where we park and we look around and are aware of our environment. I no longer have my boat serviced there as "rumors" of problems at the marine yards are discouraging.
The gates are mostly illusions and most of us know that. I lock my doors, have a very good security system, a exterior camera system that monitors my front door, motor court and dock. Except for the bicycle theft I cannot remember any serious problems for me but a break in down the street a couple of years ago netted the thieves more than 25K in property and cash. About 400 yards south of me a world famous bird artist and his family live. A bronze dolphin that weighed a couple of hundred pounds and was bolted down onto a concrete pad was stolen. This summer.
My daughter, who lives in town and not in a gated community, had her car broken into and her purse containing her money and ID were stolen, during the daytime and she lives in a nice neighborhood. She of course still doesn't clean out her garage enough to get her car into so it will probably happen again.
I could go on but by now you get the picture. I would love to live in a community where folks didn't lock their doors or cars but I've lived all my adult life in Georgia and Florida and haven't found such a place yet although I'm confident there are pockets of safety. That will only last as long as the drugs stay out and I don't think there is any place left that they haven't struck.
So, if we ever leave here we already have a place halfway picked out in yet another gated community, on another island, in South Carolina.
Mike
