Living in Florida

Mike

Audioshark
Staff member
Joined
Apr 2, 2013
Messages
30,575
Location
Sarasota, FL
When giving directions in Florida, you must always start with the words, "take I-75," "take I-4" or "take I-95."

When crossing the border into Florida forget all driving rules you ever knew.

If you're a snowbird or a non-working retiree, you absolutely cannot drive between the hours of 6 A.M. to 10 A.M. and 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. This is considered to be RUSH HOUR and you are not in any rush. NO EXCEPTIONS. But you will drive anyway.

Freeways can only go north and south ... Not east and west except Alligator Alley.

Tolls are a fact of life, the state has to make money, so deal with it!

I-275 (Tampa area) will always be under construction...that's the law and there is nothing anyone can do about it, period!

'A1A' and 'Alt. A1A' are the same road.

Traffic lights are not timed and never will be.

We measure the distance we travel in time - not miles.

If you travel more than 5-10 miles on any road in any part of Florida without seeing an orange barricade, you're lost!

If you miss your exit on I-75, I-4 or I-275, its perfectly acceptable to BACK UP!

Every street in Florida has both a name and a number (i.e. Adamo = Rt 60) just for the heck of it -- and also for the pleasure we get from reaction of visitors when we give them directions.

Once the light turns green, only 3 cars can go through the intersection eight more go through on yellow, and 4 more on red.

Know the difference between SunPass, SunFest, Sun-Sentinel and SunTrust.

Flip flops, tank tops and baggy shorts are also known as business casual. Plaids and stripes of different colors at the same time are the norm.

Your car's signal blinker means nothing. It should be left on at all times.

English is our first and second language.

It is perfectly acceptable to brag about the size of your emergency generator.

We have alligators here in Florida and they WILL bite you. Don't be stupid and try to feed or pet one.

When a hurricane is headed our way, even though you have advance warning and you are told to be prepared, you're not a true Floridian unless you wait until the absolute last minute to go to Home Depot to pick up plywood or to Publix to stock up water, ice, and potato chips.

You know how to spell Okeechobee. There is an Okeechobee Lake, Town, County, Blvd, Street, and Avenue.

A true Floridian does NOT own a boat. They make friends with someone who already owns one. That way you don't have to deal with any of the headaches.

You weren't born here. If you were, you're angry that anyone else has moved here.

There's always a Walgreens across the street from a CVS on nearly every corner - with more being built every day.

When picking up a woman on South Beach, always check for an Adams apple.

It's normal to sweat when you are putting up your holiday decorations.

In south Florida the four seasons are summer.

There is a city called 'The Villages' where over 100,000 old people live that all drive golf carts and dance in the streets. 65% of these people are swingers; the rest just got too old to care about it. (They have the highest number of cases of VD/STD in the state!)

Jupiter is a city, not a planet.

Seniors have to do their errands during the weekdays... not weeknights or weekends... that's for the working folks.

There are three types of dolphins: Mahi-mahi, Flipper, and also a football team.

You can't say; 'this is how we did it up north'.
If you think that way, then go back up north and do it that way. Just remember, I-95 and I-75 run both ways.

No matter what they decide in Tallahassee you will never, ever be able to figure out your property taxes.

Learn how to dress in layers. It will be 95 degrees outside. But inside any restaurant or business it's 65 degrees.

With the slightest hint of a hurricane your house insurance will be canceled.

The biggest Asian pythons are in the Everglades.

You want to live on a lake? Dig a hole.

Early bird dinner starts at 4p. but be there at 3p. Always have plastic bags in your purse or pocket for the packets of sugar, Splenda, additional servings from the buffet, etc.

True Floridians rarely go to the local beach except Miami. These are recognized by the tobacco-colored leather skin.

Don't think of going to Boca unless you are wearing at least one piece of gold lame'.

Always be observant of cars backing through store windows or into canals and swimming pools.

Note that most cars are driven by headless drivers. When seen the head always has white hair and over-sized, black wrap-around sunglasses.

This would be even funnier if it weren't so true!
 
. . . . There is a city called 'The Villages' where over 100,000 old people live that all drive golf carts and dance in the streets. 65% of these people are swingers; the rest just got too old to care about it. (They have the highest number of cases of VD/STD in the state!)

. . . .

I have heard that it is highest in the COUNTRY.
 
Mike.......Good stuff. As a Florida native let me add a few more.

That subdivision known as Mystic Meadows by the new home owners was known as mosquito marsh by the locals.

The two Q-Tips you see in the vehicle ahead of you are 90 year old Edna and Fred on their way to bingo.

Sign in Florida bar: Advice - Free, To hear how much better it is in New York - $50.00.

The difference between a Yankee and a damn Yankee, the Yankee goes home when vacation is over.

The official Florida bird - a mosquito.

Never ever get behind a Buick in Florida if you want to get home before dark.

Under 70 degrees is chilly. Under 60 degrees is freezing.

The love bug only loves your automobile grill and windshield.

A Florida mountain is 100' above sea level.

When we refer to "down south" we're talking about Key West.

Where are my manners? This is Florida!
 
The Caribbean is where Floridians go to catch a break from the stifling Summer heat!
 
I'm 62 and have lived in Florida the better part of my life (2010 moved to S.C. and then back 2013). Mike what you noted, so true. But some interesting FYI:

“Florida” means “flowery” in the Spanish language. According to records of the time, sixteenth-century Spanish explorer Ponce de León referred to the newly discovered peninsula as “La Florida” because he was celebrating the Easter season, and the spring flowers were in bloom.

Florida is not the southernmost US state.

Clearwater has the most lightning strikes per capita among US cities

Florida is a state of extremes. It has the most bugs the highest identity theft rate in the nation, the flattest roads and the worst elderly drivers. Two of its cities, Pensacola and Jacksonville, rank in the top-10 nationally for most toxic drinking water. More cities are among the nation’s top-10 with stickiest weather: Apalachicola and Gainesville. It has the fourth most volatile economy with one quarter of its 19.3 million residents losing one-fourth of their income in 2008 economic crash.
 
I will forward this to my sister the next time she asks why I try so hard to avoid visiting or taking my vacations in Florida.
 
Dan & Mike
I would gladly put up with everything you just said for the chance to live in Florida.
 
Dan & Mike
I would gladly put up with everything you just said for the chance to live in Florida.


Bob.......I hear you. Florida is a wonderful state with a lot to offer. Having lived in the larger metropolitan cities, Miami, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Daytona Beach, Tampa, and Jacksonville, my preference is rural north central Florida. The beaches are fine but the congestion in the major areas wears you out. I think the Gulf coast side of the state is far more beautiful than the Atlantic coast line, more like old Florida before the developers destroyed the eastern side of the state, but for me the country lifestyle offered in Florida's rural north central areas is the most appealing to me.

There's not doubt about the large population of older people who moved here to live out their days in the warmth but Florida has plenty of activities for the younger generations. If you like boating, Florida is a boater's paradise. All joking aside, Florida is a great place to live. I also lived in San Francisco, California and Portland, Oregon for many years as well. I do miss the culture, art, music, and food those cities offer. Still, rural north central Florida suits me just fine.
 
Does every business in Florida have a pair of defib paddles handy? :)
 
Does every business in Florida have a pair of defib paddles handy? :)

It's required by law. They don't call us the emphysema capital of the world for nothing.

All kidding aside, I absolutely love living in Florida....the only thing that pisses me off are the crappy drivers from up North that we have to endure and avoid during the snow bird season.
 
It's required by law. They don't call us the emphysema capital of the world for nothing.

All kidding aside, I absolutely love living in Florida....the only thing that pisses me off are the crappy drivers from up North that we have to endure and avoid during the snow bird season.

We have a solution for those bad drivers around here. Someone shoots them.
 
It's required by law. They don't call us the emphysema capital of the world for nothing.

All kidding aside, I absolutely love living in Florida....the only thing that pisses me off are the crappy drivers from up North that we have to endure and avoid during the snow bird season.

Hey Mike didn't you come from "UP North" :D
 
It's required by law. They don't call us the emphysema capital of the world for nothing.

All kidding aside, I absolutely love living in Florida....the only thing that pisses me off are the crappy drivers from up North that we have to endure and avoid during the snow bird season.

Hey Mike, didn't you come from "UP North" :D, its either the crappy northern drivers or the 80+ crowd tooling around (15 mph under the speed limit) in their fancy high end cars.

I used to own a Harley until a 85 year old woman from New Jersey clipped me back in the early 70's in Gainesville , she told the police," I didn't see him. Was he a Hells Angle ". I haven't been on a bike since, not in this state.
 
Hey Mike, didn't you come from "UP North" :D, its either the crappy northern drivers or the 80+ crowd tooling around (15 mph under the speed limit) in their fancy high end cars.

They tool around in gigantic Lincolns.
 
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