What we'll miss about Florida

Before we moved here, people told us that Florida was all about hurricanes, bugs, gators and snakes.

After 3 years, we will miss:

Gorgeous sunsets (we'd drag chairs out into the alley. Neighbors thought we were weird. They have never lived in the Seattle area)

Being close to Linda and Don.

The terrific people we've met and become friends with. They are hard to leave.

Wildlife, especially birds, but also lizards & gators. Gators keep you alert when you walk around water, and you see more because you are looking

Pelicans, special mention. I'd love to be reincarnated as a pelican. They fly so gracefully 

Bicycling on the flat

Live Oak trees (I still don't know why they call them that) with Spanish Moss (neither Spanish nor moss, but there you have it)

Kayaking on streams under a canopy of trees

Snorkeling in warm fresh and saltwater

Marina bars everywhere, but especially Crabby Bill's

Having a pool

Sunshine almost every day

Driving the convertible top down all winter long

Being able to walk into 80-degree air conditioning and immediately feel cool

The Keys

St. Augustine

Beaches East and West coast

Living in a magnet location for visitors

An almost perfect Florida day is snorkeling somewhere, then lying on the beach, swimming, and hanging out at a marina bar sipping beer and watching the pelicans.

What I won't miss:

Biting insects

Oppressive heat that makes it miserable outdoors

All in all, I'd rate Florida as a terrific place to live. If kids and grandkids were here, I don't think we'd mind staying.

Tomorrow looks like our last day here. We'll undoubtedly take some sand with us.