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Home > Why Staying In A Florida Villa Is So Much Better Than A Motel
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Florida - The Mouse That Roars by Susan Scharfman
Red-blooded Floridians, those hardy souls that have lived here for generations like the Seminole Indian Tribe or the "Conchs" of Key West for example, know how to survive a hurricane. Everyone else had better learn fast because from this year forward, we're told we're in for a bumpy ride.
Hurricane FeverAround this time last year I wrote about south Florida residents, mostly northern transplants, facing the challenge of hurricane season without a clue. Despite warnings from local authorities and media to be prepared, have a plan for the entire family, some people still adhered to the notion that government would take care of them. What government? After Katrina, was there anyone deluded enough to count on FEMA? Well, yes.
Veteran hurricane survivors bought generators, batteries and other vitals like gin and vermouth, and hunkered down. Many other residents, without a serious plan for survival, were disasters waiting to happen. But fortune smiled on the east coast in 2006. According to meteorologists, the arrival of El Nino in the Pacific caused decreased hurricane activity in the Atlantic; instead of hurricanes, a roar of relief sounded across the orange blossom state, from Mickey to the Pan Handle to the Keys.
When Get Ready Means Stay PutThis year we are supposed to be prepared for the worst. We are told this every time we switch on an electronic communications device or pick up a newspaper. We actually still read them down here. Adding to the anxiety, Florida's National Guard is serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, which makes for a warm and fuzzy feeling of security. "If evacuation orders are given," we're told, "have a pre-scheduled orderly plan for the entire family." For those unfamiliar with this peninsular and its dense coastal population, there are two main evacuation routes out of southeast Florida, on normal days both heavily traveled. In an emergency, the Florida Public Safety Department tells us, "Getting out of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties will be impossible."
It's the Tropics, StupidSo why are a thousand people a day still migrating into the southern tropical area of a state that is suffering the worst drought and water shortage in its history-a state that is at its southern most point crossed by the invisible parallel latitude of the Tropic of Cancer? Climate-wise, with global warming a touchy-feely reality here, southern Florida now mirrors its tropical Central American neighbors. Depending on the vagaries of El Nino and La Nina, we can expect multiple active hurricane years, with interminable heat and humidity at least 8-9 months of every year. Are northerners remembering only their brief winter visits to this tropical paradise? It's the tropics!
Florida's Glorious Past, Affordable HousingDespite the national housing meltdown new housing prices are high, higher and highest. This does not affect the millionaires that are buying these properties. And that's fine. They have every right to their lifestyle. Existing home prices have come down slightly, but not noticeably when they are in desirable locations. Here's where it gets sticky. Insurance rates and adjustable rate mortgages have caused many homeowners to default on their properties. The closer your house is to the ocean, the higher the insurance, if you can get it at all. Scores of people-I don't say middle class anymore because I no longer know what that means-are moving out of state due to lack of affordable housing. Even many retirees want to move but they are having a tough time selling their homes.
Builders Stuck in the Old (Moldy) MoldDo out-of-towners realize how rapidly Florida's tropical climate can age a home; how much additional money must go toward hurricane protection in building a new home or in upgrading an existing home? Florida homes are not built like those airy bungalows in the islands, but they should be. Moisture and the inevitable mildew are constant enemies, especially under that wall-to-wall carpeting, as is the sun. Think wood floors and tile, tile, tile. No longer a choice, garaging a car is a necessity. Some condos and rental apartments do not have garages. Some homes only have a one-car garage. Leaving a car in this sun all day can cause the rubber hoses under the car's hood to dry up and rot, not to mention the tires and overall deterioration.
The Good, The Bad and The UnpredictableI have been in and out of southern Florida often in my lifetime. It has changed drastically in just a few years. Aside from hotter longer, it is now cheaper to rent than to buy. For you who love the heat, it is still paradise for vacationers, the wealthy and those who live for and on their boats. There are more people, more cars and less fresh air. The fury of hurricanes is frightening and their paths are unpredictable. Southwestern Florida is beautiful but impossibly hot and overrun with insects during the far too long summer months. Why? The Gulf of Mexico does not get the trade winds like the Atlantic Ocean.
A world apart, the Keys and Key West in particular, are the exception. Though old town Key West's Duval Street has been trashed by tourism, the tiny island's remoteness and easy unpretentious life remains true. Ernest Hemingway did much of his writing there. For all of his literature, "To Have and Have Not" is the only story he placed inside the United States (Key West). If I didn't have to live in Florida right now, I would not. So this is what southeast Florida has become to me: An overdeveloped overpopulated commercial venture for the haves and the have-nots, while the Mouse still roars over the land.
About the Author
As freelance writer/editor I think it's important to establish good working relationships with my clients. Both time and cost effective, I focus on one manuscript or one news release or the text of one book jacket, until the project is completed. Beginner or seasoned writer, the process is the same. You will find my portfolio on my website, plus other examples of how I can help you with your work. SIGNED copies of my novel "The Sword & The Chrysanthemum, Journey of the Heart" are available in paperback at reduced rates directly from me. Or, you can get unsigned copies at standard rates from Amazon.com and bn.com. An ebook is also available. http://www.susanscharfman.com
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