I started this blog because Orlando and the rest of Central Florida is something different to me than what I typically find on the Internet. For most people in the world, Orlando is nothing more than Disney World and other attractions. For me, it’s the place where I was born and raised. I’m a Florida native, not part of a tourist attraction. There’s more to this community than taking the kids to see Mickey, Shamu and Harry Potter. I was here before all of them.
That’s not to say that the attractions aren’t a part of life here. They are, but it’s a very small part of life. Most of the time, day in and out, I don’t go anywhere near those places. It’s not worth the traffic hassle, the prices, or the time necessary to get around the tourists.
Since this is my home, I occasionally go on a rant when I see something that I think is wrong, or perhaps just plain stupid. Sometimes I cheer the local businesses, other times I can’t believe they survive. Overall, I still know that this place is my home. I love the warm climate (except when it gets hot enough to hate it), I love the greenery (except when some developer plows over it to build more ugly houses), and my family is here.
Of course, Central Florida certainly isn’t perfect. Our local politicians are just as stupid as yours. Our business leaders will gladly pave every empty lot, put up ugly telephone wires on the skyline and try to straighten the beautifully curved roads that used to meander around the lakes. They call this progress. I call them morons.
As cities go, Orlando is big enough to be noticed and small enough to be ignored. I know, because most of the concerts I want to see are in Tampa on a Wednesday night. That’s a bitch of a two-hour drive down there and then back home when I have to wake up early the next day.
If you’re a tourist looking for deals on hotels, theme parks or similar information, I have good news for you. There are plenty of other web sites that will tell you what to do and where to go. This isn’t one of them. This site isn’t about Central Florida or Orlando, really. It’s about me, the native guy who lives here.