Missin' SOMD

[SkinkTyree]

I too am a Southern Marylander now living in the land of sunshine and I share some of your feelings.

I grew up in Calvert County for 18 years, and by the time I was about 12 or 13 or so, I was ready to split. I hated the winter--still do--and I always loved our family vacations down to Florida, so Florida was a natural destination for me. I can remember in 1996 when we had those three huge blizzards, and that being the breaking point. It got to the point where I was downright hostile to my native area.

So I moved down to Florida and a funny thing happened. I began to wax nostalgic about sweet home Calvert County. I live down in Boca Raton right now--I love the weather, the climate and the beaches. However, everything is so congested down here. There is almost absolutely nothing in terms of open, green space in South Florida. All you have is wall to wall development. I have to say I miss taking those countryside drives through Southern Maryland and seeing all the open space. Actually, if I had my druthers of where to live in Florida, I would probably choose North or Central Florida as at least there is some open space there, but my wife's family lives down in Boca Raton, so that is that.

I love living in Florida, and probably the only way to take me out of here is in a pine box. However, I've come to peace with my Southern Maryland roots, and I love coming back to visit there now. There's something about Southern Maryland feeling very down to earth and non-pretentious. It doesn't need to be glamourous--it just is what it is. Sure I'll make jokes about it, but it will always be "home" to me, even when I no longer live there.

[Homesick]

Cissp, glad to see you showed up in this thread. Visited your site, enjoyed it very much, a lot of memories, some of which I forgot, or wasn't sure about.

Originally Posted by cissp

I basically grew up in Marlow Heights, and lived in Northern Virginia from '85-'04

I was born in DC. The appearance, much, much different then today. I also lived for a time in Marlow Heights. Lived in and around Virgina, and Maryland. You're lucky that you can recall so much. I'm not good with dates, times, years. I wish I was, but I know the reason for this. I never was in one place long enough to grow roots as a kid. The adults in my life at the time kept tossing me around. I wish that one of those adults were alive today to answer some questions I have. I have a feeling you and I may have crossed paths, or breathed some of the same air space. When you mentioned Dennis Grove apartments, I lived there too, most sure, that name struck a bell. Also a couple of the schools.

Then the four hurricanes hit us.After the first one we did not have commercial power for 10 days, after the last one, we were without commercial power for five days. Thank God we bought a generator that could power the entire house! But running that thing 24 hours a day, and going to the gas station every two to three days to fill up gas cans (with long waits due to shortages everywhere) was no fun. The damage to our home was bad enough that we needed to get a new roof and new privacy fence. We eventually had those things replaced, but it was a five month ordeal, dealing with the insurance company and the housing contractors.

Sorry to hear about your ordeal. I know the pain. When first moving to South Florida, experienced my first up close and personal hurricane. After a couple years of watching them spin and churn off the coast, looking like giant bowling balls, and I feeling like a sitting duck, sent this chicken packing. Got tired of holding my breath.

Well, this area seems to be an increasingly popular destination, so the roads are getting more congested everyday, lengthening drive times, and making people more aggressive. The other thing is, well, the "laid back" culture here. Good in a way, but frustrating when you're trying to get something done with a business or local/state agency. For example, you have to go one place to get your driver's license (a 3 1/2 hour wait for me, a four hour wait for my mother), and yet another place to register your vehicles. I get the impression that the folks down here don't care if they get your business in the first place, or keep it if you decide to hire them.

So true. Also very expensive to live.

I found myself missing the four seasons.

Me too. This was very tough. When a different season did not occur, my head couldn't handle it. Not sure how to express the feeling.

I don't want to bad mouth this part of Florida. It has a lot going for it, and some people really love it here.

One learns rather quickly not to bad mouth Florida to the people that love it. The words are tatooed in my memory. I was Homesick to the bone, I couldn't help it, I needed to talk about it. I took their advice, I got out. I have now moved to Georgia, St. Mary's. Right over the border. Cheaper here, people nice here, there's seasons....'cept snow, which is one thing I can live without. Small town here. Feeling I have the best of all I could have, really, like being in the middle. There is an ache for Southern Maryland still, but I know deep inside there's nothing there for me now.

Only time will tell if interested this company enough to fly me up for an in person interview. Keep your fingers crossed for me! If that doesn't work out, I'll keep plugging away.

Crossing not only fingers, toes as well. Good for you. Go for it! I wish you all the luck in the world. Hope you'll post back when you make it.

If I do manage to get back to Maryland, particularly SOMD, then my move down to Florida will have been a nice one year vacation in the Sunshine State. And it was a good move, because we made a killing off selling our home in Dale City, and we have no debts. I know I'm going to have to deal with the higher housing prices up there, but believe it or not, the prices down here aren't that much less. It's every bit as much of a seller's market down here as it is up there, so it's very likely I'll do well in selling my home here.

Good and truthful way of looking at it.

[Homesick]

Originally Posted by SkinkTyree

I too am a Southern Marylander now living in the land of sunshine and I share some of your feelings.

Can't express how it feels being able to talk to those that may have felt as I.

I can remember in 1996 when we had those three huge blizzards, and that being the breaking point. It got to the point where I was downright hostile to my native area.

What sent me over the edge, ice storms. Whenever I'm missing home miserably...I force myself to remember that, and the dreaded dreary winters.

So I moved down to Florida and a funny thing happened. I began to wax nostalgic about sweet home Calvert County. I live down in Boca Raton right now--I love the weather, the climate and the beaches. However, everything is so congested down here. There is almost absolutely nothing in terms of open, green space in South Florida. All you have is wall to wall development. I have to say I miss taking those countryside drives through Southern Maryland and seeing all the open space. Actually, if I had my druthers of where to live in Florida, I would probably choose North or Central Florida as at least there is some open space there, but my wife's family lives down in Boca Raton, so that is that.

Know where ya are Boca...sure you know Lantana, that's where I was planted. I agree with you on the beaches, sight to behold. Being congested, no open room, no green, wall to wall development, that decribes exactly. What's up with having to have a "Walgreens", (to mention only one), on every corner?

I've come to peace with my Southern Maryland roots, and I love coming back to visit there now.

Happy for you. As long as you're happy, that's all that counts.

[SkinkTyree]

Originally Posted by Homesick

Can't express how it feels being able to talk to those that may have felt as I.



What sent me over the edge, ice storms. Whenever I'm missing home miserably...I force myself to remember that, and the dread and dreary of winters.



Know where ya are Boca...sure you know Lantana, that's where I was planted. I agree with you on the beaches, sight to behold. Being congested, no open room, no green, wall to wall development, that decribes exactly. What is up with having to have a "Walgreens", (to mention only one), on every corner?



Happy for you. As long as you're happy, that's all that counts.

Ahh, yes, the ice storms. I remember the 1994 ice storm. We were out of power for five days. One of the most bizarre experiences I've ever had to live through was trying to walk up a hill caked in four inches of solid ice. Not too easy.

So you were down Lantana? Cool. My wife works in Lake Worth. I too am baffled by the fact that each street corner has either a Walgreens, CVS, Publix, Winn Dixie or some other chain type store of the like. I also find it fascinating that across the street from every Walgreens is a CVS (formerly Eckerds). When I was in Calvert, there was one Giant, one Food Lion, one Safeway and then that was that for 15 miles. Yet somehow, we managed to make do....

Glad to know there are some fellow Southern Marylanders down here. I was at the Cheesecake Factory at the Sawgrass Mills mall not too long ago and it turned out the guy sitting at the table next to us was from St. Mary's County. Small world, eh?

[Homesick]

Originally Posted by SkinkTyree

Ahh, yes, the ice storms. I remember the 1994 ice storm. We were out of power for five days. One of the most bizarre experiences I've ever had to live through was trying to walk up a hill caked in four inches of solid ice. Not too easy.

So you were down Lantana? Cool. My wife works in Lake Worth. I too am baffled by the fact that each street corner has either a Walgreens, CVS, Publix, Winn Dixie or some other chain type store of the like. I also find it fascinating that across the street from every Walgreens is a CVS (formerly Eckerds). When I was in Calvert, there was one Giant, one Food Lion, one Safeway and then that was that for 15 miles. Yet somehow, we managed to make do....

Glad to know there are some fellow Southern Marylanders down here. I was at the Cheesecake Factory at the Sawgrass Mills mall not too long ago and it turned out the guy sitting at the table next to us was from St. Mary's County. Small world, eh?

Picturing trying to walk up a hill in an ice storm..haha. Braver then I. I wouldn't even go out the door. Had a dog at the time, watching him trying to get around was enough to keep me indoors. Also the snapping and cracking of trees. Spooky.

Yes! Walgreens, and across the street CVS > mind boggling. I get so angry at what's being done. Scares me to think what it's going to be one day across this whole country. No room to breathe. One reason I have chosen where I am now, it's small town. Not room for a lot of the same stores across the street from one another. Also it's green here, open spaces, Marshes, roads you can drive on by yourself. Took me awhile to get use to the flatness. Saw a hill once in Florida, got all excited, then someone broke it to me it had once been a dump.

Shopped Sawgrass Mills mall a time or two, huge place. Indeed it can be small world at times. Bet it felt good sitting having conversation with someone back home. Many times wished I could've talked to someone back home. I felt like like an alien down there.

Edit to add: Actually I feel like an alien here too, seems we're all a bunch a transplants.

[cissp]

Homesick,

I'm glad that my Marlow Heights web site brought back some good memories to you. Responses like yours are the main reason I put the site together in the first place. Regardless of how Marlow Heights is now, the purpose of my site is how Marlow Heights was back in the 60s and 70s, and I wish people would remember that. We can't go back to yesterday, and the now is an undesirable place, but we can remember wonderful memories of way back when. By the way, where did you live in Marlow Heights?

I know what you're saying about offering criticism regarding life in Florida. I wrote a post to a local paper here in Central Florida a few months ago, regarding my observations that red light running is much worse here than it is in the DC area (believe me, folks, it is). Man, what sensitive people! At best I was met with denial, and at worst, I was told to get on I-95 and head north. People around here do NOT like to hear any criticism of their communities, way of life, etc., and in absence of any rational, intelligent replies, you will be told, "Hey, you damned Yankee, you kin git on I-95 and drive ur ass north!"

Anyway, thanks for crossing your fingers and toes for me regarding my job search back to Maryland. I haven't heard anything back yet on the potential employer at Pax River, but I'll keep plugging away.

[joeyinlexpark]

I miss a couple things about Maryland, the crab, and the high cost of living :P

[Oz (Premo)]

Originally Posted by joeyinlexpark

I miss a couple things about Maryland, the crab, and the high cost of living :P

Shouldn't you be joeyintexas now?

[kom526]

Sticking to his roots.

[FromTexas (Premo)]

Originally Posted by joeyinlexpark

I miss a couple things about Maryland, the crab, and the high cost of living :P

That custom user title disturbs me. Would you at least buy me dinner first next time?