FROM NEW YORK TO FLORIDA’S CONTAINERS

How apropos is it that, on our country’s birth weekend, I compare 2 states (Florida and New York) within the United States of America?  I’m a native New Yorker and, like most New Yorkers, believe that my home state is the best.  Most Americans, of course, choose to live in the state they prefer; but, some plan on eventually leaving their state for another once they retire.  Over the years, a large amount of New Yorkers have chosen Florida as their new destination and, while that trend has lessened, there are still many that make that same choice.  Here in New York, I get to witness the preplanning from my friends and acquaintances.  I’ve also kept in contact with many that have already relocated to Florida.

Here is a breakdown of key opinions that I’ve heard over the years from current and former New Yorkers that I’ve separated into four groups including my own “Container” opinion:

New Yorkers who have enjoyed their relocation to Florida - The retirees will strongly support how much they love Florida’s more tranquil way of living (not missing New York’s hustle and bustle on the streets and roads).  They will also talk about how much they enjoy their community’s recreational activities such as their clubhouse or pool.  Many former New Yorkers, in general, will promote Florida as having better weather and a more affordable cost of living.  (For the latter, before the mortgage crisis there’s no doubt that most NY homeowners who relocated did in fact benefit from the profit of their NY sale, enabling them to apply for lower-costing mortgages in Florida; but, presently that is debatable.)

New Yorkers currently considering to retire in Florida - These New Yorkers clearly feel Florida’s grass is greener (it is sure crunchier).  They, too, will talk about the better weather and improved cost of living compared to NY.  They will tend to complain about how tired they are of having to deal with New York’s winters.  While New York’s winters are indeed worse than Florida’s, its summers have less hurricanes and are usually less sweltering.  Those issues are proven and demonstrated by current Florida retirees who are known as “Winter Birds” because, even though they “live” in Florida, they still choose to fly back-and-forth between Florida and New York, making sure to “live” in New York during the summers to escape Florida’s overbearing summer heat.

New Yorkers who regretted moving to Florida - Most will begin their complaints telling you how much they miss New York’s pizza and bagels.  Regretful families that I know who have moved to Florida can’t afford to move back after they’ve already cashed in on their NY sale.  Some of those families have scrounged for alternatives to leave Florida and relocated themselves to a completely new state altogether, such as Georgia or New Jersey.  Additionally, they’ve voiced their opinions in regards to Florida’s weak schools and inept hospitals (for major ailments).

New Yorkers who say they would never consider moving to Florida - Well, I’m one of them, so I might as well be the one who provides this opinion: 

Personally, I have visited Florida many times, including their very popular and fun Disney World, their lovely beaches, and various areas of their popular cities besides Orlando such as Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Clearwater, Bradenton, etc. Florida also has the impressive Kennedy Space Center, the beautiful Florida Keys, and a few other key visiting points of interest. 

For me, I’ve liked portions of the state during each of my visits, but any objective person that has been to both states should realize that New York has so much more to offer (besides its delicious pizza and bagels).  We have beach-goers in the summers, foliage in the falls, skiing in the snowy winters (where Christmas seems more real), and a magnificent array of flowers in the springs.  New York also has many more landmarks and places to visit such as Manhattan’s historic Statue of Liberty, towering and magnificent Empire State Building, symbolic Freedom Tower, popular Rockefeller Center, entertaining Radio City Music Hall, gigantic Central Park, cultural Broadway, mesmerizing Times Square, and Manhattan’s wide array of top-rated restaurants.  Furthermore, New York has Brooklyn which offers its historic and gorgeous bridge and delicious pizzerias and bakeries.  Then, there’s Long Island which offers some of the country’s best vineyards, along with its scenic Hampton Beaches.  The Bronx offers their beautiful Botanical Gardens, its lovable Bronx Zoo, and the world’s winningest team (the Yankees) in their magnificent Yankee Stadium.  Upstate New York offers the powerful Niagara Falls.  I could go on and on, but I’m sure you get the idea, if you didn’t already realize it.

Of course, many native Floridians would support their preference for their own state of Florida over New York with their own good reasons.  After all, every state (and country) has their advantages and disadvantages and all people have different preferences.  I fully understand and respect that.

Having said that, here’s my key peeve (from former or current New Yorkers) that annoys me to no end:  the weather!  Some current New York residents and many former New York residents now living in Florida always bring that one subject up as their main “love” for Florida.  I feel that they really need to think again.  I’ve already mentioned that Florida has many more hurricanes and an abundance of winter birds who seasonally prove that Florida’s summers are too hot for them.  Now, I will finally tell you why I consider Florida as the “Container” state…

We know Florida produces great orange juice and supplies them throughout the country in containers, but that’s not what I’m alluding to in this case!  Many Floridians live their lives inside “Containers”.  Their main “Container” is their air-conditioned homes.  When they leave their homes, they tend to rush through the heated outdoors to their cars (another “Container”) and quickly turn on their engines, where the cars’ air-conditioners are left on for immediate cooling relief (from the heat they dislike so much).  From their cars, they typically drive to any one of their next “Containers” - a mall, grocery store, school, etc.  On and on it goes throughout their days as they rush through the uncomfortable heat from one “Container” to another.

Have you ever noticed how few people in Florida actually walk or do anything outdoors?  Most of them don’t even show up at their own state’s major baseball stadiums because it’s too damn hot for them to enjoy their supposed great weather - unless they’re in an air-conditioned “Container”.  Some of the younger groups, especially young parents might be less affected, but most will eventually follow the same patterns.  While New Yorkers obviously have their own “Containers”, I know many that are involved in outdoor activities such as gardening, going to the parks, strolling Times Square or other parts of Manhattan, pumpkin-picking, outdoor Christmas tree shopping, jogging or marathon running, seeing concerts at Jones Beach, and even reluctantly shoveling snow or raking leaves.

So, to the New Yorkers who prefer Florida, I say, “Enjoy it by going to see Mickey Mouse, dolphins, beautiful beaches, etc.  Perhaps you can still reduce some of your cost-of-living expenses by living there; but, just don’t tell me that Florida’s weather is so much better than New York’s if you don’t really intend to live some of your remaining life in the actual outdoor weather’s air.  You should think outside the box (or at least outside the “Container”) before you brag about the awesome weather of Florida, especially to me!!!