No Place Like Home

I returned to Florida for a visit last week. It was an interesting trip to say the least (personal crisis withstanding). When people asked where I was going, I said visiting family and friends back home. But I had a startling realization on my trip, for the first time in 30 something years, Florida is not my home. It was quite a shock.

As soon as we landed in Florida, it began. We arrived to 80 degree weather. Everything was loud and congested. Customer service personnel were rude everywhere we went. It was an immediate reminder of why I ran from Florida. I hate the heat, the mass of people, and the perpetual rudeness in the tourist state. I was ready to get back on the plane and leave. Most of the week was spent seeing tourist attractions, family, and friends. Completing the drive from one end of town to the other, sitting on the highway, and taking an hour to drive less than 20 miles; was enough to make me scream. The whole week my hubby kept saying he wanted to go home.

It made me realize that my home was in the fall/ wintery North with its small town feel and surroundings. Trying to explain to friends that yes, there are corn fields the next street over. Explaining that no, there are no places for my husband and I to live between our places of employment confused people. They think it's like Florida where there are numerous towns and rental places between Tampa and Orlando (same distance as my hubby's work and mine). Trying to explain there really isn't anything in between and with winter coming, the drive will be quite different; made me realize my perception had changed. I knew I had always craved a change from typical Florida, but it didn't fully sink in until this trip, how much of a change I wanted.

So when my hubby and I stepped off our plane in 35 degree weather, we were quite pleased to be home. My hubby even mentioned he thought the air smelled differently here and how glad he was to be home. So I guess I've discovered I have a new home.