Fellow Floridian here, and I GET IT! Beautifully said, Ayana! I explored moving out of state when I graduated from UF (Go Gators!), but it just didn't work out. Then my nieces were born, I met my fiance, and I live less than 20 minutes from my immediate family. I'm here for the long haul as crazy as it might be.
Oh I love this. Reminds me of how I cried when I heard the Kacey Musgraves lines about our own messy state, “My home state of Texas / the sky there, the horses and dogs, but none of their laws.” 💔 I know all too well how a place can make and break you all at once!
This genuinely made me cry. I haven’t lived in Florida for over a decade but it’ll always be my home. My yearly visits keep me grounded. They nourish my spirit. When people ask me why I’d give up Florida for Belgium, I usually say for the sense of security and safety our home state can’t provide. And it sucks that this is the reality. Because I’d love to be less than a 30 minute drive from my nana, my cousins, my elementary school, my favorite sandwich.
My family migrated to this place. My family was enslaved in this place. It is us. It is our home. I can’t put into words how infuriating it is to watch people who don’t have deep roots and ties to the state actively work to destroy it while others are pushed out and scared away. Or watching people in other states abandon it like a red headed step child instead of wanting to do everything possible to stop things from progressing. Because Florida only got to this stage by being disregarded by the rest of the country as nothing more than a joke.
Anywho I could go on and on but that wasn’t the point of my comment. I wanted to say I get you. I see you. I hear you. In another lifetime I am you. Thank you for not giving up on our home.
No comments yet? I guess you said it all in your piece. My wife and I live just outside the Buffalo city line. In our small village we have two longtime friends who retired to Florida, got wiped out by hurricanes and moved back within less than two years. A third friend is seriously considering moving back here. The weather is abominably cold but we’re not snowed in and we could get out if we needed to go to Urgent Care or the emergency room. It’s just not worth going out for something mundane or non-essential. Thank you for your thoughtful piece. During my Navy service I spent time in San Diego, Norfolk, Newport and Guantanamo Bay. We were happy everywhere except Gitmo, because I was only there two months and we couldn’t be together. I’m sure you’ll make the most of things wherever you are. Wishing all the best for you and your family!
I relate to this so much. I’m in university in Brooklyn and I catch myself wishing my mom stayed in Brooklyn, Boston, Quebec, or wherever else she lived instead of settling down in Florida.
When I actually asked her, she said she immigrated to North America for better opportunities. But Florida was to closest she could get to the home she can’t return to (Haiti). I loved living in South FL despite how “bad” Florida is (broward is still a blue county!!). But my opportunities were so limited I had to leave.
Brooklyn feels like my new home but I don’t intend on abandoning Florida. One day, I know things will get better and we’ll be able to enjoy it again :)
This is so lovely. I grew up in a small town, went to college here then moved around a bit. But i came back and now raise my kids here. Some of my family is like why..and this is why.
We moved to FL to be closer to my husband’s family while we raise our kiddo. I love physical Florida, I hate political Florida, and I’m not leaving. It’s worth fighting for imo
I felt this post so much! I always said I would never leave Florida. I was born and raised there, most of my family still lives there. However, my husband and I jumped at the opportunity to relocate to South Carolina (I know, not much better politically and historically :/) which we did in 2017. It was oddly strange leaving Florida after spending 28 years there. Since my parents are still there, Florida will always be home. And I will always have a soft spot for it-flaws and all.
Love this. I live in London but sometimes contemplate moving back to Jacksonville, where I lived during my teens. My family is there. My parents are aging. But in London there is welcome diversity. It's definitely complicated. Thanks for sharing.
Leaving family is so hard. We lived a day's drive away for over a decade and recently moved back. It was a good move at the time and I don't regret it. But I love being closer to family now. It's never something I take for granted.
Love everything you’ve been writing lately and especially love the journal-y structure to this!
Ah, what a compliment! Thank you for reading.
Fellow Floridian here, and I GET IT! Beautifully said, Ayana! I explored moving out of state when I graduated from UF (Go Gators!), but it just didn't work out. Then my nieces were born, I met my fiance, and I live less than 20 minutes from my immediate family. I'm here for the long haul as crazy as it might be.
Go Gators! And I'm glad I'm not the only one in it for the long haul.
You definitely aren't! ❤️
Oh I love this. Reminds me of how I cried when I heard the Kacey Musgraves lines about our own messy state, “My home state of Texas / the sky there, the horses and dogs, but none of their laws.” 💔 I know all too well how a place can make and break you all at once!
Thank you for reading, and I'm looking up that song right now!
This genuinely made me cry. I haven’t lived in Florida for over a decade but it’ll always be my home. My yearly visits keep me grounded. They nourish my spirit. When people ask me why I’d give up Florida for Belgium, I usually say for the sense of security and safety our home state can’t provide. And it sucks that this is the reality. Because I’d love to be less than a 30 minute drive from my nana, my cousins, my elementary school, my favorite sandwich.
My family migrated to this place. My family was enslaved in this place. It is us. It is our home. I can’t put into words how infuriating it is to watch people who don’t have deep roots and ties to the state actively work to destroy it while others are pushed out and scared away. Or watching people in other states abandon it like a red headed step child instead of wanting to do everything possible to stop things from progressing. Because Florida only got to this stage by being disregarded by the rest of the country as nothing more than a joke.
Anywho I could go on and on but that wasn’t the point of my comment. I wanted to say I get you. I see you. I hear you. In another lifetime I am you. Thank you for not giving up on our home.
The funny thing is that I am *so* jealous that you live in Belgium and yet, I stay. Thank you for getting it.
Don’t be jealous. Brussels got 10 hours of sunlight in December. That’s another breed of chaos 🙃
No comments yet? I guess you said it all in your piece. My wife and I live just outside the Buffalo city line. In our small village we have two longtime friends who retired to Florida, got wiped out by hurricanes and moved back within less than two years. A third friend is seriously considering moving back here. The weather is abominably cold but we’re not snowed in and we could get out if we needed to go to Urgent Care or the emergency room. It’s just not worth going out for something mundane or non-essential. Thank you for your thoughtful piece. During my Navy service I spent time in San Diego, Norfolk, Newport and Guantanamo Bay. We were happy everywhere except Gitmo, because I was only there two months and we couldn’t be together. I’m sure you’ll make the most of things wherever you are. Wishing all the best for you and your family!
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! This is all too relatable, and I appreciate the kind words.
I relate to this so much. I’m in university in Brooklyn and I catch myself wishing my mom stayed in Brooklyn, Boston, Quebec, or wherever else she lived instead of settling down in Florida.
When I actually asked her, she said she immigrated to North America for better opportunities. But Florida was to closest she could get to the home she can’t return to (Haiti). I loved living in South FL despite how “bad” Florida is (broward is still a blue county!!). But my opportunities were so limited I had to leave.
Brooklyn feels like my new home but I don’t intend on abandoning Florida. One day, I know things will get better and we’ll be able to enjoy it again :)
I hope you're loving Brooklyn — how fun! Love that you're not abandoning FL. Thank you for reading!
I was like, beer cities for parents makes total sense. Who doesn’t want to live somewhere with great micro breweries?! 😂
For families, no less!
This is so lovely. I grew up in a small town, went to college here then moved around a bit. But i came back and now raise my kids here. Some of my family is like why..and this is why.
Thank you for your comment — and for getting it!
Ohhh, how I wish I could send this to everyone I meet who looks at me with fear/confusion every time I tell them that I grew up in Florida.
The fear and confusion is SO REAL
We moved to FL to be closer to my husband’s family while we raise our kiddo. I love physical Florida, I hate political Florida, and I’m not leaving. It’s worth fighting for imo
We feel the same way, but at some point, we probably have to go for safety. ;(
I felt this post so much! I always said I would never leave Florida. I was born and raised there, most of my family still lives there. However, my husband and I jumped at the opportunity to relocate to South Carolina (I know, not much better politically and historically :/) which we did in 2017. It was oddly strange leaving Florida after spending 28 years there. Since my parents are still there, Florida will always be home. And I will always have a soft spot for it-flaws and all.
Love this. I live in London but sometimes contemplate moving back to Jacksonville, where I lived during my teens. My family is there. My parents are aging. But in London there is welcome diversity. It's definitely complicated. Thanks for sharing.
Progressive girlie unwilling to leave Tennessee, here 🙋🏻♀️ thank you for sharing your perspective - parts were very relatable to me!
You put words to how I feel about living here in Florida perfectly!!!
Leaving family is so hard. We lived a day's drive away for over a decade and recently moved back. It was a good move at the time and I don't regret it. But I love being closer to family now. It's never something I take for granted.