Going Home

I used to go home to South Florida once every month, on the dot. I missed my friends and family, but most of all, I didn't feel like I had a comfortable life in Gainesville. It was so much easier for me to run home to my mother and best friends than find new hobbies and forge new friendships in an unfamiliar place.

With a job, new friends, and a sense of adventure, Gainesville has become my new home. That being said, I have found myself going longer and longer between family visits. A couple weeks ago, I realized it had been over two months since my last one. This realization, paired with my mom's constant questioning on how soon I am coming home and the fact that my best friend is moving to Seattle at the end of the month, convinced me that it was time to pay a visit to my first home.

A large part of the reason that I don't visit home as often as I used to is the drive - Florida has little in terms of geographic variety, and one can only see so many anti-abortion signs before the craziness sets in. Rain pelted down only to have the sun blaze 10 miles later. Oh, Florida, what would I do without your inconsistent weather? Live a sane existence, perhaps.

Four and a half hours later, I walked into my mother's house with a big smile on my face, only to hear "what the fuck?" What a homecoming.

I've been enjoying my trip so far, but I've definitely had to step back and have few reality checks:

1. People's lives do not revolve around my own

2. It is easier to adjust than to set rigid plans     

3. I am really bad at managing my money         

But, with these things in mind, I've had a very productive trip. I've gone dancing, ate delicious food, and spent some much-needed time with my mom and friends. In a few days, I can go back to Gainesville with the pleasure of knowing my time was well-spent. Stay tuned for a few "South Florida Spotlight" posts in which I post a few of my old favorites and some new adventures!