Hurricanes give you ample time for rumination. Here are my thoughts:
Is Florida habitable anymore? I have lived in Naples almost 10 years. I lived in Denver previously (originally from Michigan). My former husband who is the one whose original idea it was to transplant claims the hurricanes are no different from blizzards. But they are. Here’s why.
With hurricanes you have so much time to prepare. It takes time. It is expensive. In a nonevent which is a good thing it is all for naught. In the other situation of loss or damage it is not sufficient, no matter what. Not sure what the middle ground is.
Hurricanes are extremely disruptive of life. This includes work, school and life in general. We have had two hurricanes within the last month and the kids have missed over a full week of school.
But they are not just disruptive to the regular course and rhythm of life. They are also negative for mental health. Waiting for the hurricane today, rounded by my family, cooking, reminded me of the “pandemic” shutdown, so much uncertainty and anxiety. You feel exhausted with all the preparations and concerns and mixed reports in the media.
Yes, blizzards can also be disruptive, but they are a bit more predictable. The only questions are how many inches over what period of time. With hurricanes there are so many factors, always changing into the moment it hits, where, how strong, wind focused or flood focused. It is challenging to prepare for every eventuality.
One of the main fallouts from a hurricane is the loss of power. During hurricane season it is typically hot and humid. This leads to discomfort and mold.
One positive…at least after a hurricane you can take a shower and not freeze. It is actually refreshing to take a lukewarm shower.
So with the hurricanes becoming stronger and more frequent does it make sense to continue to try to live in Florida? You rebuild every season just to have destruction again. You begin to realize why things are built the way they are in the Caribbean.
Notes From Real Life 