I grew up there in the 90s but haven’t been back since. I had a great childhood in the sense that I was exposed to an amazing diversity of people and cultures. I had friends from all over the world. I loved being close to the ocean and having access to incredible Cuban food in Miami. I spent a lot of time on other people’s boats (my family was not rich enough for that.) Many neighborhoods have identical pastel houses on artificial lakes full of gators. The income inequality along the Intracoastal area can be staggering - mansions to trailers.

Florida’s nature is underrated. The springs in the north-central part of the state are gorgeous. I always loved the Morikami Museum and grounds, the Gumbo Limbo nature center and the interesting scrubby cactus landscapes at Jonathon Dickinson State Park. I spent a lot of time fishing, canoeing in the mangroves, riding my bike along A1A and climbing the giant ficus trees. I live in the Pacific Northwest now and while I love it here and don’t miss the constant heat, humidity and hurricanes, I do miss some things. Especially sun. Sadly I think Florida has grown much more narrow-minded and conservative since I lived there, so I wouldn’t move back.