Florida Beauty

I absolutely love living in Florida.  When I told my colleagues in San Diego that I was moving back to Florida, no one could understand why.  There is a tranquility here that is not easy to put into words.

Fort Matanzas

It is not uncommon to drive along A1A and see dolphins swimming parallel to the highway.  I've canoed creeks that were so isolated, the only sounds you can hear are birds and the inhalation and exhalation of your own breath.  You can always find a place that is quiet and without people.  It is easy to spend hours and hours swimming in the ocean during the summer.  You sort of lose yourself in the salt water, sand and sun.

I also love that you can walk from the beach to a laid-back bar and order a beer.  Maybe some fried okra and steamed oysters, too.  You can live most of your life in flip flops.  I love the southern charm and local eateries where employees know the names of their customers.  I am grateful that I can look out every window and see palm trees and also hear the ocean from every room of my condo. 

It is quiet here - quiet in the sense that people still enjoy living, relaxing and savoring their surroundings.  People who live quiet lives and appreciate the simple things.  People who are just as excited to walk on the beach or ride a rollar coaster at Universal Studios or hike through a national forest.  I'm so thankful for my travels and for living in other areas of the country and it is because of those experiences that I discovered I am a true Florida Girl.  I belong here and this is my home.

*I'm participating in the 2013 A to Z Challenge. Every day in April (except for Sundays) I will be posting according to a letter of the Alphabet. To read more about my theme, click here.