Florida in a Nutshell

Two years ago when I told my family my girlfriend and I were moving to Florida, my news was met with controversy. I was bombarded with questions mostly starting with “Why on earth would you do that?” Being Boston natives and having to tolerate harsh winters and extremely hot summers we had good arguments as to why we no longer wished to live there. I spent the first 25 years of my life up in the north east and after landing a job in Tampa I realized it was time for a change. I was warned by friends and family how hot Florida is (granted most people had just been to Orlando and at theme parks during the summer) and how miserable we were going to be. I was also warned about the poor transportation and how hard it was going to be to commute with Katie (Katie is my girlfriend and she happens to be partially paralyzed). Despite all of these warnings we were still quite eager. We looked for Florida Wheelchair Van Rentals and found a company we really liked. Almost instantly we received an answer and in no time embarked on a journey that began our lives in completely new place.

The truth is there is no perfect place to live and wanting to emancipate was as good a reason as any. Every state and city has its positives and negatives and there are other more important factors than weather.  The perfect city is a myth but since day one, Florida has been the utopia described in Huxley’s Island. Here are a few things Katie and I have discovered since moving to the sunshine state:

Don’t let the nickname fool you!

Despite being referred to as the sunshine state, it is not always sunny nor is it always warm! There are many days of rain and not just a few hours of rain, I mean real rain. Like in any tropical destination, we have had whole days of rain in which a good movie and kettle corn is a must! The weather also gets cold, not north east cold (you can keep your north face jacket locked away, you will not be needing it) but sweaters might be required. Katie and I made the mistake of keeping our autumn and winter apparel back in Boston and boy did we regret it. I know you guys up in St. Paul Minnesota might be reading this and saying “cute” but if you come down here with the idea that it’s going to be 100 degrees every day, you’re in for a treat. We have suffered 30 degree nights which doesn’t compare to Boston but this is still worthy of your best fleece.

You won’t be the only ones from out of state

Upon moving, Katie and I thought that due to her condition and our conspicuous Bostonian accent (we’re not too proud of it) we would be easily spotted but that wasn’t the case. Florida is a haven for out of state foreigners looking to start over, just like us. Despite being accessible, Katie has found many activities that we have been able to do on our free time and with couples just like us, there is always something to do. In our two years here we have met very few born and raised Floridians. We thought it was going to be full of retirees and older couples but that is a common misconception, there are many families looking to relocate as well.  

Boredom is not an option

Not into theme parks? Not a problem, Florida has thousands of locations and activities for the whole family. Stray from the beaten path and go on tours that are frequented by locals and not the hackneyed touristy stuff most of us have grown to loathe. Being an accessible couple we can’t do EVERYTHING but Florida has opened its doors to us and there have been very few things we can’t do. From culinary adventures, breweries and recreational parks there are tons of opportunities that we can take part in to really see the state. Florida’s cities aren’t as fast paced as the big cities up north (with the exception of Miami) so you will see the difference almost instantly.

Its been almost two years since we moved here and believe me, we’ve never looked back. Initially, I believed that getting around (before my accessible van arrived) was going to be tough. On the contrary thanks to companies that rent out their vehicles made just for families with a handicapped relative getting around turned out to be one of the easiest things to do. We used Wheelers Accessible Van Rentals. Wheelers is a company that offers wheelchair van rentals, wheelchair and scooter rentals in all 50 states. They provided us with free airport pick-up upon arrival and curbside delivery. Wheelers made our trip so much easier and getting around the first month was a breeze. If you’re looking to move down south or just planning an annual trip, be sure to check them out. They have pretty low rates and know the industry well having been around since 1987. Florida Wheelchair Van Rentals, North Carolina WheelchairVan Rentals are just some of the services they offer. We used them and here we are almost two years hence and trust me, we do not miss the snow or the cold!

Wheelers also offers

Orlando Wheelchair Van Rentals 

Illinois Wheelchair Van Rentals 

Indiana Wheelchair Van Rentals 

South Carolina Wheelchair Van Rentals

Texas Wheelchair Van Rentals