Florida, the Sunshine State, is more than just beaches, theme parks, and a vacation like atmosphere all year long. Those things do exist in the state, but there are also some things you might not know about this state that make living here unique and sometimes surprising.
One of the first things residents and newcomers have to deal with is the weather. Sure, we know it’s sunny in Florida, but the weather here is fairly unpredictable. There is definitely abundant sunshine, but residents also deal with sudden and intense rainstorms. Floridians know that if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. The weather can change throughout the day or even in minutes. Another unpredictable aspect of Florida living are the hurricanes. Some years hurricane season is busy and other years it isn’t.
Florida’s diverse wildlife is another part of life that can catch newcomers off guard. Alligators are common in many bodies of water, from lakes to golf course ponds. In fact, if there is water, there is probably an alligator. According to the Florida Wildlife Commission, there are 1.3 million alligators in Florida. So if you’re living in Florida, you have to learn to coexist with alligators, exercising caution around bodies of water. Most of the time there’s nothing to worry about, but you do have to exercise caution.