Journal 1

Some people find it extremely important to be connected to the environment. Not that I am excluded from this group of people, but reflecting on my past experiences I have never really LOVED being outdoors unless the weather is comfortable, or I had a desire to be there. Not being a Florida native I had to adjust to the differences in the landscapes and also the types of wild life that I was surrounded by. Moving 1200 miles south, from Maine, there was a huge difference. The grass wasn't soft on my feet, the mosquito's were even worse that I could have imagined and on top of that the humidity and 30 degree increase in temperature was hard to get used to. Basically I hated being outside. It was a constant comparison, and never an appreciation. 6 years later my blood has thinned and I am able to stand the humidity with more ease, but it still isn't the same. When living in Maine I was constantly outside. With the change of seasons it gave me variety and also different types of activities to do outside. I would build forts in the snow, shovel(not my favorite), run around, eat it....Then when spring came around, and it was raining more than usual, there was MUD! Playing in the mud, riding my bike in the mud, anything to get dirty. Summer cam next, and it was time to swim in the lakes, ride out bikes down dirt roads, run through the woods, and believe it or not....I would find snakes to play with. Of course I never really had to worry about poisonous ones when I was in my moms Garden. I did most of these things until I was 16, and then we packed and moved to Florida. I was beyond excited to be living in a different place and to have the beach only 30 mins away....or further depending on WHICH beach  wanted to go to. Then I began to think to myself how lucky I was to be surrounded by beaches. How many people can choose to go to 15 different beaches all within 3 hours of each other? Since moving I definitely don't go camping as much as I did when I lived in Maine, and I am most certainly more paranoid of the different species running around. I thought that there were some huge bugs in Maine, but there are some outrageous creatures crawling all around us down here. It amazes me how a different type of environment and climate can create and house such weird and unique creatures. I still am not completely connected with my Florida environment, but as I grow older I am beginning to appreciate it in a new way. Instead of complaining about how hot it is, I go outside and sweat and swim in the pool! It still amazes me that I can wake up most mornings and the sun is shining...no rain, and barely any clouds in site. Due to the little rain fall, when I can hear a storm rolling in, I love to watch it roll in and see how dark the cloud is. Ill curl up on the couch and listen to the storm. I may not spend as much time outside as I would like due to working full time, and being in school, but that doesn't mean that my appreciatetion and connection isnt growing as time passes!