10 Things I Miss About New York- Part I

I'm From LoongIsland

I'm a born and bred New Yorker.  It's in my blood.  I grew up on Long Island and left for a short time for school to Connecticut, but even then returned to New York every weekend.  I married a fellow Long Islander, bought our first house and had my first baby, all in New York.

Our first house in Merrick, NY!

The Grass is Always Greener

Some of my friends and family were anxious and curious to see if the grass was greener in some other location, California, New Jersey, Washington.  I never had that bug that made me want to leave.  I was happy in my hometown surrounded by my roots.  But then we moved!

Transplanted family, business and the warmer weather finally called us.  We moved to Florida 10 years ago. With our 9-month old baby girl, two cats and no place to live, we moved.  We packed up our house and moved in a December Nor'easter, a final dramatic New York goodbye.

The Nor'easter that bid us farewell!

Florida- Not a Great First Date

Florida has been good to us for the most part.  Aside from the couple of major hurricanes the first year, the disaster of the housing market and the 100% humidity of the summer heat, it's been great.  Good business, great new friends, beautiful beaches and year round shorts can't be beat, but New York still calls to me.

A New York State of Mind

We visit as often as we can as New York still pumps through my blood.  I have grown to love Florida, but considering myself a Floridian?  I don't know if I am at that point yet (or ever will be).  When I return to my stomping grounds as I did last week, the things I miss about NY jump right out at me.

Flying the friendly skies to New York!


Wouldn't You Miss It?

Every trip back to NY provides me with more to add to my list of the things I truly miss about my hometown.  Here are some of the latest list makers:

1.  Being able to drive out of the state for a day trip.  Over 8 hours to get out of Florida can be a little daunting!

Driving over the Throgs Neck Bridge- the beginning of the trip to anywhere!

2.  The bread- need I say more?  Crunchy on the outside and chewy and soft on the inside.  The bread outside of New York is just missing the character.

3.  The soft silky green grass between my toes, sans red ants.  The kind you can lay down on when you feel the urge.

4.  Having the opportunity to do something different every weekend that you have never experienced before.

5.  Wearing a new sweater on the first cold day in Autumn.

6.  The way people move, talk and respond at a faster pace that doesn't try your patience.  I guess that's why most Northerners who live down South have taken up yoga.

7.  Being able to re-connect with old neighbors because you know they still live there.

8.  Winding, tree-lined roads.


 

The view off 9W just past the Tappan Zee Bridge

9.  Appreciating the sun and warm weather, as you know it is only short-lived.


10.  Being in the heart of it all!

The city that never sleeps!

 

 

No hard feelings Florida, I really have grown to love you.  My 10 things I miss about Florida list starts to grow in my head the minute I step off the plane at LaGuardia Airport, NY, but that will be for another blog post.  Today I am in a New York state of mind as Billy Joel beautifully croones about.  My latest visit has truly fed my body and soul!