Lifestyles of the Not-So-Rich and Famous

When you pick up and move to a new part of the country (or a new part of the world, even more so!) a huge piece of the adjustment is the different lifestyle and local culture. Even how people refer to common things is different, and it takes some getting used to in most cases.

I recall moving from Seattle to Maryland. In Seattle, you go to a restaurant and order a ‘coke’. Or maybe a ‘pop.’ In Maryland it’s a soda. Regional dialects are certainly different, but that isn’t the biggest variation, of course. I’ve been all over the country, and lived in several very distinct areas, so just for entertainment purposes I will start with that.

I was born and raised in Seattle, lived just outside of that city for over 40 years. Seattle, and indeed, Washington State, have always been regarded as truly beautiful, with a lot of natural amenities. Mountain ranges, Snoqualmie Falls, ocean beaches, and on the eastern side farms and rural country. A very diverse state in every way. Perhaps because of that, it’s also a very environmentally-oriented area. People are very friendly, very nice. It’s probably more cool in Seattle to wear Birkenstocks than it is to own a Mercedes or a Gucci bag. Being unpretentious is the culture there, where you have companies like Microsoft and Starbucks with young leaders and casual corporate culture, as compared with the more traditional big companies.

Fast forward to Maryland. We lived halfway between DC and Baltimore, in a historic district. Maryland and DC have a very highly educated population, many of whom work for government either directly or indirectly. You definitely flash your credentials professionally, and it’s standard to drive a Mercedes, Lexus, or some other luxury car. Designer shoes, purses, and a recent mani-pedi are the norm, as well. People in this area are also very nice, but with a difference. When we bought our Maryland house, we had to go back to Seattle to close up things there, pack our things, and do a very large-scale move. Our new neighbors, who had never met us, mowed the lawn and collected the mail, even though they knew nothing about us or when we would arrive. We found that the people in this neighborhood were much more like the small towns of old, where everyone knows each other (and each other’s business, lol), and looks out for each other. Contrast with my Seattle neighborhood, where neighbors no longer mingled at all, and it was rare to get an invite to anyone’s house for dinner or even coffee. People on the east coast, in general, are also much more willing to be blunt (I prefer to think of it as honest), whereas in Seattle it is considered ‘rude’ to be too frank.

My home in Laurel, Maryland

After moving to Maryland, several years later, I was recruited to take a contract job in New York, on Long Island. I lived for a year in Long Beach, NY, and worked in Far Rockaway. That was culturally not much different from MD, except people were even more likely to be blunt. I like to know where I stand, so that’s all good. One funny example of NY: I had a fender-bender in a parking lot, in my rental car. The person at the hospital where I worked, who coordinated such things, told me not to report it or call the car rental company, but rather gave me a phone number. “Call Tony. He’ll fix you up.” she said. Sure enough, Tony fixed the car, like new, and nobody was the wiser. No harm, no foul, I guess. As another example, one of the Surgical Chiefs (who bore a striking resemblance to Tony Soprano) at my hospital was pals with various police officers and had them run background checks on executives he didn’t like. If he found any dirt, of course, he could use that to run them out (and did, at least once!). Those are some of the things I recall from NY. Interesting place, and I really did get attached to the area I was living in and the community.

Alaska Sky

Then I spent a year in Alaska. Alaska truly is the wild west, where people are very independent but also tied to the land and the weather, they take care of each other. Very hospitable and helpful, informal, people there. My first week there the executive team was largely absent because it was Moose Season! One of our board members showed up in boots and plaid flannel. Imagine that after Maryland or NY! Wow.

I tell that story to highlight the differences now in Florida. I came here as an independent consultant and writer, who can work from anywhere. But, like many who move here, I was also downsizing and hoping to scale back the stress and expense of life up north. I knew when I chose the house that it was a bit out in the country, and I liked that. I knew it was more laid back in Florida, a different lifestyle. Now, of course, all this is overlaid with the COVID events, so things are not what they could be at this point.

The biggest change, in terms of my work, is that I am not chained to the desk. I am in a single level home with a pool. So unless I am on a video call I can take my phone and headset outside for conference calls. I can work on a book or a document with my laptop, poolside. That alone makes all the difference. At a time when I would be wrapping a scarf around my neck to stay warm while in my drafty Maryland office, now I slather on sunscreen.

My Office by the Pool!

I always enjoyed the outdoors, everywhere else I’ve lived. Except perhaps in 40-below winter, in Alaska, of course. In my new neighborhood, however, much of the back roads are empty lots, not cleared and not developed. So I can go for long walks on back roads and barely see a soul. Except, of course, for an occasional turtle or armadillo! But it’s quiet here. I don’t have street lights on my road, which is actually sort of a ‘main’ road in southeast Palm Bay. And the back roads behind me certainly don’t have street lights and often need to be re-paved. So I can go out back at night, by the pool, and it’s like camping, with trees, frogs singing, and stars shining visibly in the dark. Going for walks is my morning routine now, especially since the COVID outbreak; I’m not too keen on going to the gym these days, especially since I don’t want to expose my mom to anything.

People here seem very friendly, and not surprisingly are from all over. Although Florida has the reputation for being full of retired people, most of the folks I’ve met are not, although they may be scaling down their work life. Which, since the cost is so much lower, is entirely possible. People here seem much more relaxed. I’ve met many people who have their own businesses and, because this area is growing, there is definitely a need for skilled people, especially anyone who can build a house or do plumbing, electrical, things like that. The local airport is in Melbourne, a half hour away at most, and I read recently they are expanding the airlines that can use it. There is also increasing train service both to Orlando and down to south Florida. We are on Space Coast, so defense and space-related jobs seem to be on the rise. So I expect more growth and opportunities here, and I imagine the cost will go up at some point. Rocket launches are a somewhat regular event, at least since I’ve been here, although I’ve yet to go see one. It’s very near where I am.

For now, however, there is a lot of vacant land, and you can pick up an undeveloped lot for $10,000. Unreal. I was in shock when I learned this, coming from various states where you couldn’t touch a lot for under six figures. So it’s kind of country here, which I like, but I’m sure it won’t last forever. The good news, though, is that it’s possible to buy double lots and many people have done that, so the homes aren’t crammed in together.

My new Chicken Coop!

Speaking of country life… for the first time in many years I can have chickens again! That’s been a fun thing, and kept me busy during quarantine (I actually got them before that, but now I’m glad I did)! I don’t have to worry about bothering anyone, because all the lots adjacent to the chicken coop are undeveloped. I have my small vegetable garden and chickens, my own little Florida farm. Very nice. Growing season here is early spring and fall. Summer, it turns out, is not the time to grow much. So I’m learning a new way of gardening, which is fun.

Two of my Girls, Debating on Nests

Although we are kind of off the beaten path, there are plenty of ways to meet people, particularly through social media. I’ve found so many local Face Book groups… groups for our city, specifically, groups for women in the area, groups for gardening in this region, local groups for ‘chicken people’, political groups. I haven’t yet taken advantage of in-person meetings much, because of the current situation, but I do plan to, as it sounds like there are many friendly people looking to connect based on common interests or backgrounds. So more to come on that!

Lastly, with respect to my own professional endeavors, I decided to get a real estate license. This was a very recent decision, and really came about as I talked to many people on social media who were interested in moving to Florida. I thought how much fun it would be to introduce people to the area I am so happy with. So, as of now, I have passed my exam and soon will be up and running. Still doing my other work, and my latest novel is in the editing process. But that is the fun of being here, it feels less structured, I feel more free to do things that interest me, rather than being chained to a time card or desk for 8 hours a day.

I’m watching with interest as events unfold across the country, and wonder how many people will be moving out of cities where violence is on the rise and, most likely, taxes soon to follow. I am grateful, every day, that I made this move when I did.

Indiatlantic Beach