Martin, you and I are the same generation. I first went to Florida when I was 18, the late 1970s the spring of my senior year in high school. I stayed with friends of my parents' in St. Pete, then took a bus to Ft Myers and stayed with another friend of my mom's, who had a party with a bunch of her cousins.
They were all (about 10 or 12 of them ranging in age from 17 to 21) high school dropouts and amazed that I was actually graduating. The bus ride from St Pete to Ft Myers was nothing but gas stations and fast food restaurants.
I knew after that first visit many years ago, Florida was no place to live. Nothing I've seen since has changed my mind.
Martin, you and I are the same generation. I first went to Florida when I was 18, the late 1970s the spring of my senior year in high school. I stayed with friends of my parents' in St. Pete, then took a bus to Ft Myers and stayed with another friend of my mom's, who had a party with a bunch of her cousins.
They were all (about 10 or 12 of them ranging in age from 17 to 21) high school dropouts and amazed that I was actually graduating. The bus ride from St Pete to Ft Myers was nothing but gas stations and fast food restaurants.
I knew after that first visit many years ago, Florida was no place to live. Nothing I've seen since has changed my mind.
You're right, normal is great!
Never been to Florida, never will. But Ill take a bus anywhere to read your writing. Outstanding piece.