Florida: My Paradise
Is Florida really a paradise island?
Florida is the only state that borders the golf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of Florida is Tallahassee. Florida has over 7, 000 lakes. Florida also has the Everglades National Park where crocodiles and alligators can co-exist. Florida is known for its amusement Parks, including Disney World. It is home to NASA. Florida has no state income come tax, and it is always sunny. Beaches are everywhere. One is never too far from a body of water. There is a lake or a pond everywhere you turn. For many, Florida is a paradise. Is it because it is sunny or because of the beautiful beaches? I think it is both. These are definitely some perks to living in Florida.
Is Florida a Paradise? A lot of people living outside of Florida seem to think so. I often speak to people who thinks living in Florida is a dream come true. Once they get to Florida, they quickly realize it is not a paradise. They quickly discover the wages are very low, and most people are not as friendly as one would think. I am not saying Florida is hell. It is definitely not the paradise some think it is. The laws are very different from other states. I once met a woman in my college days. She moved to Florida from a northern state. She was making $90,000 per per year from her job up north. The same job in Florida only offered her $40,000. I was shock to learn how much money she made doing the same job in the other state. She was very surprise to see how much she was offered for the exact same position. She decided not to take it. Her husband was very well off. She will survive with her fancy red corvette. After living in Florida for just one year, she was going through a horrible divorce.
Her husband was much older than she was. He decided not to share his wealth with her. He said she was a gold digger. She had only been living in Florida for 2 years. She went from driving a corvette to an old mini van. In no time, she was destitute which was very sad to witness. She discovered very quickly that Florida is no paradise. It is like the Phil Collins song, Another day in paradise. “She calls out to the man on the street. Sir, can you help me? He walks on, doesn’t look back. He pretends he can’t hear her.” If one can afford to live in Florida, it is another day in paradise. If one cannot, it is just another day year after year. It is not everyone’s paradise. Wages are very low.
Low Wages:
Florida can easily get a top prize for best beaches or the best place to retire. When it comes to wages, I cannot say the same. A lot of people in Florida make very little money. I am not saying everyone in Florida makes no money, but a lot of people do not. For many people in Florida, it is a struggle every day to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. For example, since the pandemic I have seen a one bedroom condo go from $900 to $2,200 at once. I am not talking about in the rich places. This is where the average working class lives. I must say that is a lot of money for a one bedroom condo, especially in Florida. Keep in mind, I do not live in New York or California.
“Florida’s minimum wage is $10/hour while a livable wage for a family of four, according to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, is $37.25/hour. So, the state lost a significant amount of points in this category.It’s important to note that Florida voters agreed to increase the minimum wage by $1 each year until it reaches $15/hour in 2026.”
The Weather:
There is a raining season. During the raining season, it rains almost every single day. It usually starts as a rain storm that comes out of nowhere. One minute the sun is shining and the next it is raining like cats and dog. Raining season starts from May to the end of July, then the hurricane season begins. Hurricane season is usually from September to November. On September 28, 2022, Florida was hit by Ian as a category 4 hurricane. It wiped out Sanibel Island and Fort Meyers, some individuals had to be air lifted to safety after the fact. “Across Florida, at least 52 people died in the storm, according to information compiled from local officials.” The numbers are still rising.
Can one ever truly be prepared for a hurricane? Yes and No. One can make sure there is water, candles, can food, tape your windows etc. In the end, it all comes down to one thing, what category is the hurricane? Will the hurricane be a category 4 or 5? Will your home still be standing? Some people have to abandon their homes and rebuild somewhere else because of mold. Water usually takes over these homes, and they are not livable after the fact. During a hurricane, it almost feels like the start of the pandemic. It is difficult to tell the difference between night and day, especially if one looses power. During hurricane Irma, I had no power for 7 days. It was unbearably hot. It felt more like hell than paradise.
I have come to the conclusion that there is no perfect place to live at this point and time. Paradise does not exist. Global warming has a strong presence among us. If it is not an earthquake, it is a hurricane, tornado, twister, landslide, fires, gun violence. Some may say they live in paradise, as of now global warming is real. Natural disasters are stronger than ever when they strike. No one is exempt from crisis and tragedies.
What does your paradise look like?
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“We are all different. Don’t judge, understand instead.”
