Well, I made it to Fort Lauderdale yesterday. What a whirlwind of emotions. Saying goodbye to Orlando, my home for the last 7.5 years has been no easy feat! Here are some of the things I will miss and not miss from the city I had come to call home.
What I Will Miss:
My Best Friends
The people who have come into my life over the past 7 years. They’ve been with me through the good, the bad, and the ugly. It will be strange to not be around them! But thankfully, we all have iPhones and/or Facebook so technology makes it easier than ever to stay in touch. 🙂 “It’s not goodbye, it’s see ya later.”
My Future Parents 😉
Nick’s parents, Diane & Ray, and their dog that I’ve grown to love, Benji. With them, I’ve had a home away from home for the last 4-5 years.
My Co-Workers
When reading other travel blogs, there seems to be a constant theme. Most bloggers are not shy to admit that they took the traveling leap because they were not happy with their previous job. Maybe they found it miserable, boring, or had just hit a dead-end. I’m here to tell you that I, like so many others, did have an office job, BUT I, UNLIKE so many others, absolutely could not imagine it being a better workplace. My boss and I had, and will always have, a great relationship. My co-workers were, and still are, the best. The atmosphere was extremely positive, supportive, and team-oriented. I will truly miss each and everyone one of them, but they know I am openly accepting visitors in Osaka. 😉
My Apartment
You were my first “big girl” apartment. I worked hard to save up for you so that I could live on my own. You were a perfect 800 square feet, in a beautiful community, smack-dab in the middle of bustling Orlando. It never took me more than 20 minutes to get wherever I needed and I loved that.
What I’m Happy to Leave Behind:
Awful Traffic/Driving
Say whaaaat? I don’t need a car in Osaka? YESSS! YAY! WAHOO! Goodbye nightmarish I-4. Goodbye tolls galore. I will definitely NOT miss you. Instead, I’m looking forward to living in a very walkable city, with arguably the best public transportation in the world.
Year Round Summer
Yes, you heard me right. I have lived in Florida my entire life and I cannot wait to live somewhere with four distinct seasons! Bring on the cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes it is nice to be able to throw on a pair of shorts in the middle of January to run to the grocery store, but I am really craving the four-season experience. Nick says that once I experience it, I will miss Orlando and the year round summer. I guess only time will tell who is right!
To Tip or Not to Tip?
Coming from a restaurant background, I understand why it’s nice to tip your server after a meal. What causes me anxiety is tipping outside of the restaurant… the guy that comes to fix your AC, the Uber driver, the hotel housekeeper… Do you tip, not tip, and how much?! And to make matters worse, what if you realize you should tip, but don’t have any cash on hand? Ahhhhhh. I am looking forward to living somewhere that tipping is not part of the culture. The bill is the bill and there are no extras to worry or wonder about. 🙂
When You Wander 