By Cheryl KrouseWe moved from Hebron, Ohio to Wesley Chapel, Florida in December, 2021. Wesley Chapel is in West Central Florida, not far from Tampa. Friends and family often ask me to look back and compare Ohio to Florida. Moving across the country is a huge decision and they wonder whether I would do it again. Here are my thoughts. WEATHER: CON - Summer is HOT in Florida: sweltering, intense, dangerous heat advisory HOT. We avoid going outdoors in July and August. It’s the opposite of Ohio where we stay indoors when it is frigid, icy and snowy in January and February. PRO - The weather is warm and sunny between September and June. We have Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner on the lanai. For Ohioans: a lanai is a combination patio/porch that is under a roof and usually screened. CON - Hurricanes are real. PRO – Hurricanes are a force of nature, just like blizzards in Ohio. The only difference is the kind of preparation. Building codes here address the threats posed by climate. Our first hurricane experience was Hurricane Ian in September 2022. We had heavy wind and rain, but no damage to the house. However, our cousins lived on Sanibel Island, and they had to be evacuated. Their home was heavily damaged and their temporary housing in Fort Myers was without water or electricity. They stayed with us for a month until conditions improved. WILDLIFE: CON - Alligators live in our neighborhood! Alligators live everywhere in Florida, where there is a freshwater pond. PRO - Almost everyone here has learned to stay away from areas where alligators live. I say almost, because somewhere in Florida, some poor soul forgets and walks close to the edge of a pond. Florida natives easily coexist with alligators. I think we should invite Troy Landry, a star of Swamp People, to hunt here. CON - There are SNAKES here. PRO - The big, nasty snakes like pythons are far south of here in the Everglades. But still, snakes are everywhere, and we learned to be more observant after we found one on our lanai. CON - Lizards are common here. They scatter if you walk on a concrete path to the front door. They love to scare you when they cling to screens and watch you. PRO - Geckos are harmless, and so are most of the wildlife here. Invasive iguanas are found in southern Florida, but not as far north as Tampa. An abundance of exotic birds, animals and sea life live in Florida. There are nearby places, maybe even your own backyard, to observe flamingos and osprey, wild pigs and armadillos, manatee and dolphins, and more. We are in a semi-rural area with farms and orchards and cattle ranches. It surprised us that Florida is a big cattle producer. We can hear the cows mooing from the ranch adjacent to our community. VEGETATION: CON - Flowering plants do not easily survive the hot summers, it is our dormant season. PRO - I planted geraniums in September last year, and they bloomed until the following July when the heat was too much for them. Imagine a big pot of geraniums blooming on the patio all winter, spring, and early summer. They were a lovely reminder of Ohio. CON - Our home is in Growth Zone 9b, a big change from Hebron, Ohio at 6a. As a result, I learned quickly that I have severe allergies to the trees and grass in my new Zone. There are no maples, elm, buckeye or lush northern pine trees here. PRO - I take Claritin daily, between January and August. Most trees here stay green all year. There is an abundance of evergreen southern live oaks, the huge, majestic trees dripping with Spanish moss. Also growing here are magnolias, hibiscus, oleander and plumbago. CON – Strawberry production ends in May. PRO – The Strawberry Capital of America is a few miles down the road in Plant City. Fresh picked strawberries are available in December (not a typo). From December through May, we have the luxury of locally grown, red, ripe strawberries. I am less enthused about being as close to the Kumquat Capital of America, in St. Joseph. Kumquats must be an acquired taste. DAILY LIFE: CON - Car drivers fall into two categories: race car drivers, old people who don’t know where they are going. Traffic can be heavy, and gridlock happens often. PRO - We cannot do a thing about the NASCAR wannabes or the geriatric drivers except stay alert and out of their way. Since we are in the second category ourselves, we try to be patient, tolerant and safe. As retirees, we enjoy the luxury of choosing when to leave the house to avoid the heavy traffic. CON - Car and Homeowners Insurance is very expensive. PRO - Yes, it is expensive, which is why safe driving and home maintenance are important. There is no state income tax in Florida, so those two things balance out. CON - There are very few good Italian or Chinese restaurants. PRO - There is a wonderful diversity of cultures in this area, and no shortage of ethnic food, and it is Greek, Cuban, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Florida Cracker, and so many more. CON - The population more than doubles because of snowbirds between December and May. There is no such thing as a restaurant early bird special in Florida. PRO - Florida permanent residents receive a homestead exemption discount on real estate taxes. Snowbirds are not eligible for the discount and make a significant contribution to our local economy. We gladly welcome them to winter here. And we are glad when they head back north, because then we don’t have to wait for a restaurant table. After listing just a few of the pros and cons of Florida living, the question to be answered is: Would I do it again? My answer is: YES, in a New York minute! We love it here. However, I have two pieces of advice. First, if you are thinking about relocating, it is best to do it while you are young and healthy enough to endure the hard work of moving across the country. Second, develop your patience and sense of adventure, because uprooting your life is not for the faint of heart.
Lana Turner
9/1/2023 03:40:12 pm
Cheryl. so happy just now to receive your blog. Recently attended high school reunion down at Cambridge HS and many members are now retired in FL. As always indicated, surprised how quickly these 5 1/2 yrs have passed here @ mill pond since re-location from CO.
Cheryl Krouse
9/1/2023 07:14:46 pm
Hello Lana, it’s so nice to hear from you, Florida is certainly a magnet for retired folks who are tired of winter, Restaurants here do not offer an Early Bird Special - they would go broke. I met a few of my high school classmates who live in Florida. We have not seen each other in 55 years. I thought we would need name signs, like strangers use at the airport. It was amazing, we knew each other right away. The wonderful thing about reunions at this age is that the competition is over, the need to boast about accomplishments is gone. Now, we care about your health and whether your life has been happy. Connecting with people is what counts, and I’m glad we connected.
Sandy Ferrell
9/1/2023 08:13:50 pm
So nice to hear you are well and loving it in Florida, Cheryl. We miss you at writer's club but we'd all probably jump at the chance to move there. Take care.
Joel R. R Linnabary
9/1/2023 08:22:14 pm
Very good way to look at a major change in lifestyle. It is nice to see folks can see the good (and the less than good) and still have a positive attitude. Not sure I will ever decide to move to another state, but it can be a fun adventure.
Mary Hickey
9/1/2023 08:53:25 pm
Good to know you're kickin' it in Florida! A move there isn't for me, but I'm actively downsizing to move to a smaller and simpler place within Ohio. That's weird, yes? I'm going to move from the country to Newark, Akron or some other small-to-midsize city to simplify my life!
Darlene
9/2/2023 09:37:29 am
Really enjoyed reading this post. Great writing!
Kathy Wolfe
9/2/2023 10:38:49 am
Hi Cheryl,
Doris Caceres-Schumick
9/2/2023 07:54:17 pm
Cheryl, reading your blog was such a delight! Thanks for sharing your personal experience from moving from Ohio to Florida and meticulously presenting the pros and cons of Florida living. I liked your creative use of the red font for CONS and the green font for PROS. Having lived in Puerto Rico and Florida for so many years you brought back so many memories. I certainly don’t miss the heat nor the hurricanes! Praying for your safety during this hurricane season and wishing you continued bliss in Florida. 🌴 Comments are closed.
|
Archives
March 2024
Categories |