Lesson 4: No Florida Fruit in Florida

The search was on almost as soon as we arrived in Florida.  We had dreams of rows and rows of roadside fruit stands, with fruits and veggies fresh from the farm. We thought this was the land of endless bounty and harvest. 

First, we tried in "normal" grocery stores...the infamous Publix.  All of the fruit there was overpriced and shipped in from other countries and states.  Even the grapefruit was imported from California.

Next we tried a Farm Market...note, this is not a farmer's market.  This place had more potential because they were specialized...again, no.  There was weirder fruits and veggies, but when looking at labels, they were all imported!

Finally we tried an actual farmer's market that again had potential and even the ambiance with the tent and screened in shack.  The only things that were from Florida were oranges and honey.  All other fruits were IMPORTED!

Thus far, I am convinced, finding fruit that is grown in Florida and is sold in Florida is like finding a person that was born in Florida and still reside in Florida...it is rare and should be treasured when you find one. (I get autographs from these rare specimens...they will be worth something some day)

Reading online, it looks like a lot of farmers markets open in October here? So I am wondering if this is because the growing season starts in October down here because it is too hot in the summer, or is it because snowbirds come down here for winter, and therefore there is more demand for farmer's markets?  This question, I will have to leave unanswered until a later date...

Extra Credit: The Scientific Method

Quick thought that hit me while working out...There are a few ways to change things in your life...My mother loves to say "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result..."  She's a smart lady, but when you change something, what method do you choose?

There is the Biggest Loser Method, which says when something isn't working in your life, change everything. Abandon all that you were doing before and change it  NOW.  I guess this is due to a sense of urgency.

There is the sales man method, also known as my dad's method...what will you do differently TODAY.  Change some sales approach that you do to see if the results change...however, as one of my favorite business professors told me, in sales you have to be like a ninja and dodge the rain drops.  Constantly changing direction and approach to maintain the ever changing competitive advantage.  As soon as you stop, the rain will hit you and you are done for.  In other words, change fast and change often.

I am going to try the Scientific method...(it might not be "scientific" at all...so it might be "My method that I am going to try this week until I decide otherwise...") is that I could not have possibly messed up so completely that I have to abandon ALL that I am doing (the Biggest Loser Method).  I also am, as my favorite blues singer in New Orleans sings, "built for comfort and not for speed" so changing fast and continuously is difficult and taxing...(I think the slow pace of Florida is finally getting to me, haha) and some changes take longer to see the effect.  So I am going to change only 1 thing a week and see what the result is.  Then the next week, I will keep that change and add another.  Testing what combination will work.  Moderation is key...or so all of the weight loss programs have told me...

Lesson #3: Rain Happens

The attitude that Florida residents have about rain can be summed up in 2 words: "Rain Happens." 

The biggest example of this attitude is seeing a landscaper (landscaping is a huge business in Florida) cutting the grass in the rain.  It was a down pour and I was picking up my mother from a car repair appointment.  By "down pour" I mean the streets were flooded to the point that the water was over the speed bumps in the apartment parking lot.  On the 10 mile journey, I see a landscaper cutting grass in this down pour and a construction crew busting up the sidewalk.  In Indiana we don't even think about cutting the grass if it has rained in the past 2 days.

Rain in the rainy season (those are the only seasons South Florida has it seems, wet and dry) usually only lasts about a block or two...no really, one block it is dry and sunny, next block a down pour, then dry and sunny again.  So I guess, the old Indiana saying of, "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute and it will change," is similar here...but reversed, "If you like the weather, wait and minute and it will change." According to a co-worker, one of the few people I have met that actually was born and raised in Florida, if you don't do things in the rain during the wet season, it won't get done.  That is why they cut grass soon after rain, but he agrees that cutting grass in the rain is extreme.

We are heading toward the end of the hurricane season and therefore the rainy season, so we shall see what the dry season will be like.

PS: Got my Florida Driver's License today...the process was not as scary or as difficult as many Florida people were telling me...