February Update: Surviving the Winter

Moving to South Florida has been one of the best choices my husband and I have made for ourselves.

We were living up north for a long time- four years, to be exact, and if I’m being honest, I disliked it pretty quickly. After just one month, I already knew it wasn’t for me. But my husband reminded me that this was part of adulting. We made the decision to live there, and we couldn’t just leave right away.

So I made the most of it. I pushed through, tried to adapt, and learned what I could from that season of life.

But now that we’re living down here, nothing compares to the happiness and overall vibe I feel. It’s hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it, but I feel lighter here — mentally, emotionally, and physically.

I also want to be real about something. The cost of living up north was a big factor in our decision to move. The cost of living down south is different from what we were paying before, but the trade-off has been worth it for us.

We live minutes from the beach, there is always something to do, and the energy feels alive. While Gainesville was not a bad place to live, the lifestyle and overall vibe were not for us. We are Caribbean to the core, and South Florida truly feels like home.

I think when you decide to move somewhere, you have to take everything into consideration. For us, this move checked the boxes that mattered most.

We’re closer to family. We’re able to work, play, and enjoy the weather. Life feels more balanced.

Most importantly, I’m mentally happier here. I’ve been building a community, and that was something we didn’t have up north. Looking back, it makes sense, because this is where we truly belong.

The moral of this update:

We were nervous about making such a big change, but it ended up being the best decision for us. Sometimes the things that feel uncertain at first are the very things that bring the most peace.