Life in Florida

When most people think of Florida, they imagine Miami, the Florida Keys, or Disney World.  The reality, however, is quite different.  Let me explain…

When my aunt and uncle moved here 24 years ago, Boca Raton and Delray Beach were covered in farmland.  Mexican immigrants worked on the farms for a pittance and, says my aunt, lived in shacks by the side of the one lane road.  Now, gated communities and shopping centers fill both cities and Boca is “the” place to live. 

Many of the complexes here are situated on private golf courses and are filled almost entirely populated by part time residences.  The phenomenon is that retirees from colder climates buy condos and live in Florida during the colder part of the year.  These people are major assets to the economy, but full time residences tend to look at the “snowbirds” with disdain. 

Here is a parody I wrote two years ago for school about life in Southern Florida. 

Flighty white birds that travel in flocks  

Appear each year, with timing like clocks. 

In fact, these birds are obscenely pristine,

They always and always and always are clean.

Swathed in feathers glistening with health:

These birds love preening, showing off wealth,

And flaunting their feathers—flawless and fair—

These birds, it's said, have had facial repairs.

Because these birds, they’re not what they seem.

They live for pleasure with very few themes:

Fashion, gossip, and golf courses too, 

Pursuing their passions in only one hue.

Their lifestyle is rich, they feed off the land,

Acting in ways which should really be banned. 

These birds are common for birders to see.

Snowbirds are invasive, they’ll make others flee,

These birds shop at malls and fast food bars:

These birds, they're not birds! but some kin of ours. 

Today, as Estelle (my aunt) and I drove along a 4-lane highway in Boca, we saw people begging at each intersection.  I was told that the government discourages drivers from giving the beggars money because then they won’t go to a shelter to receive food or financial support.  I can’t imagine what they were going through, sitting outside experiencing the intensity of the tropical sun and heat. 

In Florida there is a mix of the very rich, the very poor and everyone in between.  This state has the fourth largest population, the 22^nd largest area and about 2/3 of the population was born in another state.  I, however, like Vancouver.  Even though we don’t get spectacular lightning storms like I was privy to tonight.