NEW FLORIDA RESIDENT BLOG

Welcome to Paradise. I'll admit it, things are different in Florida than they are elsewhere in the United States.  This morning our four year old was telling some new residents about his latest Fire Ant Attack.  The mom didn't know ants could bite and Rocky was trying to explain the difference between Fire, Ghost and Tickle Ants.  (Side note: I think Tickle Ants are Rocky's own inventions but, it is really important to be able to spot and avoid Fire Ants in Florida - the bites hurt and often happen once a bunch of them are on you so, you have no warning about the impending attack.) At any rate, let's tackle Rip Current. (Rip Tide) I never really understood them until I moved to Florida.  Essentially, a rip current is when water flows quickly from waves (or from tides) from onshore to offshore.  If you get caught in one, it will push you out to sea and can be very dangerous.  However, if you are aware of it happening, you just swim parallel to shore un...

 I had a long drive to an appointment on North Longboat Key this week and was listening to a podcast on my drive. The author was talking about his home in Montana, I think, and his beautiful view of a glacier from near his home. Apparently, he and his whole family enjoy watching the glacier  slowly melt into a lake and they expect to be able to do this for the next 25 years or so. BORING!!! Seriously, I cannot imagine my four-year-old staring at a melting ball of ice for more than about six seconds, probably a lot less.  I mean, the first time our son swam in the ocean he was less than one-year-old and did it a mile out in the bay off the back of our outboard at a sandbar known only as blue. So I guess that would be the test, I would apply, if you and your family would like to sit for several decades and watch icemelt stay where you are. If you like something a little more active come on down. There are a couple of things that are fun to do here…

Welcome to Paradise. For my first couple of years in the state, I had to really think about what time of year it was.  When it's 75 degrees and sunny, day after day, my brain keeps making me think it's early fall; not the dead of winter.  In the terrible area I grew up in, we would have to wear our strongest winter jackets to go trick-or-treating, in fact, planning for temperatures below freezing always played a part in our Halloween plans.  At one point, I remember thinking that vampires looked cool when it was snowing, but a soggy (about to be frozen) cape is a real discouragement to kid fun. That's certainly not the case here.  Our son has been asking to be an '18 Wheeler' for Halloween for over a year and the costume construction here needs only to be well ventilated.  Halloween was in the mid 70s and Rocky got to be an '18 Wheeler' and wear short sleeves. So I guess the simple answer to what Halloween is like in Florida is: "BETTER"     ...

Welcome to paradise I admit it.  I moved out of New England and came to Florida because of the weather.  I didn't do any long term planning - I just couldn't deal with the snow anymore, however; there are many reasons that people move to Paradise from various parts of the country: Weather.  This will always be number one in my estimation. Economy.  Strong growth right now and bolstered by international visitors year round. Beaches.  We have the best. Ocean temperature.  Did you know that in some parts of California they wear wetsuits year round at the beach.  Seriously, the gold temp here hits high 80s in the summer. Taxes.  No state income tax and low real estate taxes.   Nightlife.  It's pretty hard to have fun Saturday night if it's below freezing, more fun to take your car and friends out in good weather...