Study A: Flora
You've seen the pictures; palm trees, Birds-of-Paradise against the warm colors of the Gulf sunset. Well, it's sort of like that. There's palm trees everywhere--there are load of different types: hairy ones, stout ones, tall, Dr. Suess-looking ones. It's lush, wild, and green here. Unfortunately that green scenery you've just imagined is competing with the overload of vacant, 1960s-reminiscent, pastel-colored buildings here in Clearwater. There's ivy growing everywhere and these huge trees with what looks like moss hanging from them in almost every back yard. But I will say, it is beautiful here. The Hibiscus flowers on every corner just make you smile.
Study B: Fauna
If you love reptiles, this is the place to be. There are lizards everywhere! I have never seen so many of them in my whole life. Much like the flora here, there is a very dense population of animals that live here with us. That includes the laundry list of insects that make my skin crawl incessantly. Despite the insect population, the animals here are so interesting. When we went swimming in the Gulf yesterday, there were majestic Brown Pelicans floating and flying near us. They were so cool! Just the other day, we were driving around and we saw parrots perched on a telephone pole chatting away. I would definitely take that over Kill-Deer any day.
Study C: Climate & Its Effects
Looking for a quick way to lose weight? Try sweating 23 hours a day in 93 degree heat. That really melts the extra pounds off from all that horrible eating you did while making your way down 1400 miles of American highway. Yep, I can safely say that I have lost five pounds since moving here (although that may also be due to unemployment-stress too but I am sort of an emotional eater, so the cause is unknown). James and I have never taken this many showers either. You know it's hot when you set your air conditioning to 84 degrees and that feels cool. As far as weather goes, it's been really nice. We've had some rain but only at night. That same storm produced some crazy lightning! James really wants to experience a hurricane, but I can wait until we have some renter's insurance.
Study D: Environment
Okay, Uncle Mark. I'll admit it. Florida is one big strip mall. It seems like since the 1960s, when this land was really being developed, the city "planners" said "to heck with zoning and planning--let's make this a business party." Well, I think the party ended in the 1980s and what's left is mess of vacant buildings, too many of the same business on every street corner, and no local identity. Imagine, living in wonderful place like Ann Arbor, a city with a unique urban identity, with lots of progressive ideas being put in place, and urban planning. Now imagine moving from this liberal, crunchy, hippie-loving mecca to a city where everything is a pastel color, 85% of the population is over the age of 60 and you have to knock on your neighbor's door to make sure they are not beating their kid (yes, that really happened). It's been quite a change. But despite Clearwater's misgivings, the downtown has some character and I bet the more we get to know the city and the landscape, the less we'll compare it to lovely Ann Arbor.
Other Observations
James and I have come to the conclusion that parts of Clearwater are food deserts. We have Publix, but they are only in certain areas of town. Today we were trying to find other grocery stores around town and ended up in a slightly frightening part of town in place where we stuck out like sore thumbs. We bought some Faygo and left for Publix after that.
The job search has been a strenuous one. If I had a nursing degree, I'd be all set. But I chose public health because, well, I liked it and felt I was good at it. I still believe those things, but I'm coming to the realization that there aren't a lot of jobs out there that allow me to utilize my newly obtained degree and that is challenging. The skills that have served me well so far are my graphic design skills which I obtained in high school and working at a screen printing shop (skills I didn't have to pay for). Nonetheless, I am trying to find positions where I can utilize either or both degrees and even my minor in family studies. I might be given some freelance graphic design work from a print shop here in Clearwater so that's good news. I also just applied to a WIC clinic in Largo, a women's health clinic in St. Pete, and a brain trauma center here in Clearwater where I would be helping brain trauma patients regain life skills. I'm hopeful that something will pan out. Plan B involves me just starting my own freelance business and finding random work that way. I'm trying to keep my options open.
I know that this blog post has been a little cynical and, at times, negative about my experience so far but my visit to the beach yesterday trumped all of that. Talk about a prescription for SANITY. Feeling that soft, white sand between my toes and the warm waters of the Gulf made all my piss and vinegar dissolve. James and I floated, jumped with the waves, and just enjoyed being alive in those waters. That feeling of calm, beauty, and natural connectedness is what makes people flock to live here. The beach is my happy place. Along with our beautiful, little apartment. It's cute isn't it?
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