Missing Florida

I miss Florida. It’s been just over a year now since we moved and it’s really starting to wear on me. I think maybe because over the last year it seemed like we were visiting and that we’d be going back and now that we’re heading into a second year the realization that we aren’t is hitting a bit. 

Sure the weather was nice in the winter but that has nothing to do with it. I miss so many things about living there and would move back in a heartbeat if family lived there. I would pack up tomorrow and be on my way. I miss our church there (a lot!). The people at our church willing to do anything to help you out (watch your kid or pet, bring you a meal...) I miss the culture and the atmosphere (it feels so much more judgemental here, “You are still breastfeeding?! You AREN’T going to circumcise??”. Everyone wasn’t in everyone else’s business and everyone didn’t know everyone else like they do here. It was a fun rare thing if you realized there was a connection with someone... here someone asks where you live and they know exactly who used to live there and where the old owners are living now - oh, and their dog’s name. Everyone is from here and so many people never leave, they know nothing outside of a 50 mile radius (this is a huge general stereotype but it’s true for many people). They live here their whole lives.

That’s fine for some people and it’s great that some enjoy that, I just don’t. Some people find comfort in it - I don’t. I miss asking people where they are from and getting answers such as, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Minnesota.... versus here if you ask that they want to tell you what street they live on. 

I miss having two Ikea’s within 40 miles from me. Currently the closest one is something like 2 1/2 hours away in Ohio. In fact it takes me longer now to get to Target than it did to pretty much any store I wanted (it’s about an hour and 15 minutes actually). Forget about a Starbucks. I miss living 30 minutes from Disney World and having annual passes. I miss being an hour from the beach - I want to have Norah walk on the beach with us looking for dolphins at Clearwater Beach. 

I miss my OB office there. I knew the receptionists by name and they were so much more friendly there. 

Then the more silly things....

Sonny’s

Going to TB lightening games with friends

Walking around Lake Hollingsworth

Year-round farmers markets

Seeing gators

Seeing lizards

Going to sand sculpture competitions

Publix

Palm trees

Finding sand in random places in your car

Outdoor malls year round

Daily afternoon thunderstorms in late summer

Year round farmers markets

Tijuana Flats (yay Taco Tuesday!)

Town names such as Ocoee, Apopka, Clearwater and St. Augustine instead of everything ending in -ville.... Perrysville, Crawfordsville, Rockville...

Not scanning the roads looking for a deer to jump out at you any minute

Sand Sculpture

In all honesty I’m so much more anxious here, like I’m searching for something and can’t find contentment, I’m sure that is partially my own fault. I’m so thankful to have my family here and that is the sole reason we moved back but if I could pick up that part of my life and move it, I would immediately. I felt more “at home” in Florida than I do here. Once a week or so while visiting family I feel at home, but the other 6 days a week I feel like I’m visiting, which leaves me in a constant anxious unsettled state.

Don’t get me wrong, there are things I like here such as being able to go up to Chicago without flying (though it takes over 3 hours), Fall and cold white Christmases - but other than family there isn’t really anything I wouldn’t be fine giving up for where we were.

So basically one day when I come into large sums of cash I’ll be either moving my family down or paying to fly up/them down twice a month or so. If you happen to see any piles of cash laying around let me know :)

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