Today, as a blizzard hammers Chicago, I’m sitting with the windows open and a warm breeze blowing in down here in Jacksonville, Florida. I’m not gloating. I grew up in the Chicago area and have so many wonderful memories of my time there. I went to high school on the North Shore, where much of the John Hughes cannon was created. I met my husband in Chicago. And my daughter was born in the western suburbs. I even have fond memories of the last great snow event, the Blizzard of ’79. Though that phrase doesn’t pack a fraction of the apocalyptic appeal of “Snowmageddon”.

Again, my point isn’t to gloat about our great weather here in Florida. Rather, I’m thinking about how easy it can be to let nostalgia cloud our vision of the here and now. Because right now, here in Ponte Vedra near Jacksonville, things are pretty good.

I’ll always miss Chicago. But let me tell about a few of the places and things I’m finding here in northeast Florida that make living here great. You know, besides no snow and lots of sunny weather… [Read more…]