Things I Will Miss About Florida

There is a lot to love in this misfit state

With all the chaos of buying a house, I haven't had much time to think about how much I'll miss all my friends and the places and things I love in St. Pete. I'm sure as my move gets closer, I'll start thinking more about that. And when I'm moved up there, I'm sure it will hit me hard. There are so many emotions wrapped up in this move. It's already been a huge rollercoaster.

Here are some of the things I will miss about living in St. Petersburg:

My friends. I know some incredible people here. They are kind and thoughtful and generous. They are smart and funny and interesting. I love supporting my friends in following their dreams, and so many of them have been on incredible journeys. I will especially miss my across-the-hall neighbor who also happens to be one of my best friends: Sparks. We’ve been living across the hall from each other for nine years. We have full access to each other's apartment and can check on anything at the spur of the moment if one of us is away. She watches Libby. I water her plants. She borrows my vacuum and shares my internet. I borrow her iron and taste test the food and drink concoctions she often makes. We listen and cry together. Literally, I can text her and tell her I need a hug, and she'll come over. We often just hang out and catch up or go to events together. We are like family, and it’s so reassuring to have someone right in my building that I am so close to. I hope to find a nearby neighbor in Watervliet who can be my Sparks (even though the original Sparks can never be replaced). I see more phone calls and Zooms on my life to keep up with my closest friends from afar.

The birds. The birds are truly one of my favorite things about Florida. Especially the big birds… egrets, herons, ibises, Sandhill cranes, roseate spoonbills, pelicans, storks… they are all so wonderful and majestic.

There are not many big birds in the northeast other than birds of prey. I remember we used to ooh and ahh when we'd catch a rare glimpse of a great blue heron in Vermont. What I will mostly see in the northeast are cardinals, blue jays, finches, sparrows, crows, grackles, and wrens. I love all birds, but I will miss when a flock of white ibises lands on one of my neighborhood streets and wanders around. Or when I'm driving over a bridge and a huge pelican is flying along next to me. Or when a lone Great Egret or a gnarly wood stork is standing alone in a grassy city lot.

Kayaking. Yes, I can kayak up north, but I won't be kayaking with manatees. I won't be kayaking on a river that has a rare colony of monkeys. The kayaking here is in crystal clear water with a decidedly tropical feel.

There are TONS of places here to rent a kayak or go on a kayak tour. I deeply regret that I stopped going regularly because it often seems like an otherworldly experience that you can't believe you can just do any time you want. The beauty is unmatched. For instance, I took this photo one January when I did a sunrise kayak tour about 5 miles from my apartment.

I will definitely be looking for the most beautiful places to kayak near me in Watervliet. If I'm lucky, I'll make some friends with extra kayaks or find a great rental company.

Lightning. Florida is the lightning capital of the country, and while it can be dangerous to be out in it, it can be spectacular to watch from inside your home. I will say that the lightning has become more terrifying over the years. A friend in Sarasota had her house hit by lightning a few years ago. She's an artist and was lucky to get some big pieces out while her house was burning. I remember once I was driving in Sarasota and lightning struck an electric pole right before I passed under the wires. Another time, lightning fried my home internet router.

Additionally, the rumble of the strikes actually shakes my building. In a state filled with sinkholes, I'm not crazy about that! But I still love a good lightning storm that I can watch from my couch in the (relative) safety of my home.

Sunshine. This is a biggie. It was one of my primary motivators for staying in Florida this long. I do believe I am a person who is highly impacted by natural light levels. Fortunately, my house in Watervliet has a lot of windows. My office will have a huge bay window. Plus, one of the first things I do in a new place is ensure all the light bulbs are full-spectrum daylight bulbs. Also, I'll probably drink more coffee there!

My apartment. This peaceful, beautiful space has been my haven for ten years.

Small, beautiful apartment

I've never felt so safe, comfortable, and still in a place. If it weren't for Florida’s heat, hurricanes, and half-assed government, I could theoretically have lived in this apartment forever. My landlords did an incredible job on this building and this apartment. I'm grateful that I ended up here… in this apartment, in this building, and in this neighborhood.

The intense walkability. I know I will be saying goodbye to driving only 1700 miles in one year. (That will forever be a point of pride for me.) But my closest sister lives around 75 miles away, so the miles will add up. However, there is still a lot I can walk to where I'm moving (a requirement, of course). Plus, I can bike, take the bus, and take a train. I'm looking forward to seeing how little I can use my car around town.

Off-street parking. I’m nervous about this one. Technically, I currently have street parking, but there are two parking spaces hidden behind my building, and I’m usually in one of them… especially since my car will sit for a week without moving. I hope the parking at my new house won’t be too competitive, especially since most people there work outside their homes. So, during the day, it should be easier.

The randomness. St. Petersburg being a city of 250,000 people, there is a lot of randomness. Street art, new businesses, events, alleys, weird people. I think Troy and Albany will have more random stuff than Watervliet. (I might end up being the weirdest, most random thing about Watervliet!) With Troy just across the river, I'll probably spend a bunch of time there.

I wish all of these things could make up for the oppressive heat (that gives me migraines), the hurricanes (that make summertime stressful), and the awful political situation that produces a lot of distractions instead of good policies.

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⏰️ Currently

📦 Collecting boxes and paper to use for packing

🗃 Packing in a more organized way than I ever have!

🏡 Wrapping my head around this major life change