It's A Florida Thing

I am a Florida native....born and raised.  Frank was raised some of the time in Florida and we both have very different feelings about living in Florida.  I loved the beach as a child, teenager, adult, and even love it today.  There is something about sand on my feet, the sound of surf, and the smell of beach.  Frank did not love the beach as much as I did.  He humors me when we go to the beach and allows me to have my own personal beach experience.  I found this cute commentary on the beach, life near the beach, and my life in general growing up in South Florida.  I have to tell you that it truly is a Florida thing...at least it was for me.   When I was a child:
-Socks were only for bowling.
-You never used an umbrella because the rain would be over in five minutes.
-A good parking place had nothing to do with distance from the store, but everything to do with shade.
-Your winter coat was made of denim...if you even had one.
-You could tell the difference between fire ant bites and mosquito bites.
-You’re younger than thirty but some of your friends were over 65. (This was especially true in my neighborhood with Dobby, Barty, Mama Jones and Daddy Coy).
-Anything under 70 degrees was and still is chilly.
-You’ve driven through Yeehaw Junction.
-You knew that no other grocery store can compare to Publix. (Can I get an Amen here!)
-You knew that anything under a Category 3 just wasn’t worth waking up for.
-You dreaded love bug season.
-You were on a first name basis with the Hurricane list. They weren’t Hurricane Charley or Hurricane Frances. I knew them as Andrew, Charley , Frances , Ivan, Jeanne, Wilma…Irene…Cheryl…Rita, Mary..Alison
-You knew what a snowbird was and when they’d leave.
-You thought a six-foot alligator is actually pretty average.
-‘Down South’ meant Key West .
-Flip-flops were everyday wear. Shoes were for business meetings and church, but you HAD worn flip flops to church before.
-You had a drawer full of bathing suits, and one sweatshirt.
-You got annoyed at the tourists who fed seagulls.
-A mountain was any hill 100 feet above sea level.
-You knew the four seasons really were: Hurricane season, love bug season, tourist season and summer.
-You’d hosted a hurricane party.
-You could pronounce Okeechobee, Kissimmee , Withlacoochee , Thonotosassa and Micanopy....correctly.
-You understood why it was  better to have a friend with a boat, than have a boat yourself.
-You were 25 when you first met someone who couldn’t swim.
You’ve worn shorts and used the A/C on Christmas and New Years...and gone to the beach!
-You recognize Miami-Dade as ‘ Northern Cuba .’
-When it did snow in FL you ran outside with no coat or shoes on and knocked on neighbors doors no matter what time it was screaming for them to come outside.
Yep, that was my life as a child.....and yep I have participated in all of the above activities.  If you were not fortunate enough to grow up near, or on the beach then you missed an experience. I live 5 hours from the closest one and every now and then I feel the need for a beach fix and will make a run to the beach,  I am too old for the one day runs (down and back in the same day) like I used to make with my cousin Amanda and friend, Mary.  I can do short weekends though....and am feeling the need for such a trip.  There is nothing like the beach....no matter where you are.  Have a Happy Monday!  Maybe I will see you at the beach!  I hope so.