I’m not telling you anything new that you probably
already knew. But having recently moved from New York to Central Florida,
I never really appreciated the daily thunderstorms that pop up almost every
mid-afternoon or early evening, until now.
It is amazing how quickly the temperature drops
from 95* to 83* in mere minutes. It becomes cooler, even though it isn’t.
Not really. In New York, we complained about how hot 83* was every day. Trust
me, after living here for just over two weeks, 95* doesn’t bother me in the
least.
It is amazing how quickly I became used to the
differences in the heat index. I actually have to walk out of my constant
72* air-conditioned home to feel comfortable. It is all relative, I know.
The heat, the cool, the change, and even the humidity. Even what used to be oppressive
heat with an 88* temperature and 70% humidity on Long Island is just another
day of summer in Central Florida.
I have been asked by my New York and Long Island friends how
I like being here. I can honestly say I don’t like it here. Nope. Not Like it. Instead,
I LOVE it here. It was a change of life, a better change for living. A
long time coming.
Long ago, in 1986, I took my family to Florida in October,
while scheduling several job interviews, thinking that the weather would be warm
but not oppressive. But as luck would have it, we spent ten of the hottest
October days with temperatures in the 90s that late in the year. And of
course, we didn’t move.
And the biggest benefit? I don’t have to be concerned with
the wind chill factor or the 7* “real feel” in January and
February. I am looking forward to early Springs, late Falls, and one day of Winter.
With months of Summer.
So. Let those thunderstorms come every day. For
fifteen minutes. And let the sunshine in all the rest of the
time.
I look forward to them.
