6 reasons to actually move to Florida

I moved to the Sunshine State when I was nine. I won’t lie, Florida and I have had a complicated relationship and, almost 13 years later, not much about the humidity, flatness and the Florida man have grown on me. Whenever people ask where I want to move when I graduate, my reply is, “Anywhere but Florida.” I don’t want to jinx myself, but if it’s years before my license plate has oranges on it again, I wouldn’t be mad about it. 

That being said, the other day, I ran across an article from Business Insider titled, “6 reasons not to move to Florida, according to a Floridian.” Even I, someone who has NEVER called themselves a Floridian until this article’s subhead, think the state needs a break from the hate. So, if the stars align and I truly move somewhere new next summer, I at least owe Florida this much on the way out. 

 Theme Parks

Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, LegoLand, Gatorland, Busch Gardens…

See? If the Happiest Place on Earth is literally in Florida, then Florida must also radiate some joy! Logic. 

Sports 

Orlando Magic, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Orlando City SC, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Jacksonville Jaguars …

 The list could go on. And, since I’m writing this, I’ll add that the Washington Nationals’ (who won the World Series in 2019, no big deal) spring training camp is in West Palm Beach, so that’s a plus! 

 Even for people who aren’t avid sports fans, attending games is still fun! Seriously, who doesn’t like watching a hockey fight? No one. 

Food

I love to go out to eat. I live in Orlando, so this section might be bias for Central Florida, but the restaurants are top notch. My personal favorites are Kohinoor, a hole-in-the-wall Indian place in Longwood and Chuuy’s, a Tex-Mex spot in Winter Park. If you’re ever in the area, I highly recommend both!

Adventist Mecca 

A faith community is important and being around people who praise God in the same way as you helps round out a life. So, if that’s something you’re looking for, there’s lots of churches and Adventist-associated jobs that make the heat more bearable. 

Beaches 

Daytona, New Smyrna, Cocoa, Destin, Sanibel Island, Palm, Fort Lauderdale…

 It was only a matter of time before I got to this one. I personally don’t love sharks, so that’s obviously a problem, but the odds of encountering one is fairly low. Or so they say. Either way, everyone loves a good beach day once in a while (except my mom). 

No State Income Tax

There are some major economic benefits to moving to Florida and not having to pay state income taxes is one of them. This is especially an upside for college graduates who can only afford so much when starting out. 

So, if you’re one of those people out there yearning for the adrenaline rush that only coming face-to-face with a bear in your garage can give, then Florida is calling your name. As long as you stay away from the panhandle, everything will be fine. 

 In all honesty, my move to Orlando shaped my life in a lot of ways, and I’m thankful for each experience it spurred. Cheers, Florida, I’ll miss you.

 But only a little bit. 

 By Juliet Bromme