I grew up poor. Small hometown in the midwest. Felt sheltered not knowing there is life out there and so much more than this town I grew up in. My first aha wow moment was when I was 18. After my car wreck I got a little bit of money. I was young and stupid and blew through it. I took 2 trips to the pan handle of Florida. My first trip to the ocean, my first time I have ever seen beautiful white sand and crystal clear blue water.  Back home all you see is cornfield after cornfield.  We have a lake but not the best to swim.  So much nasty green moss it made it not so fun and not the healthiest. Not very pretty def not as pretty as the ocean. The waves crashing on the shore is so very relaxing. Every few seconds you hear the  crash.  This all day/night. This lake I grew up around sure they had waves but only because a fishing boat just came by. There is no sound when these waves hit shore.  You know what you do hear. Kids fighting and parents yelling at there kids. Mumbling under their breaths they hate summer vacation.  The ocean brings out a different nature in people. I believe I was born to live near the ocean. The beauty is breathtaking and getting away was happy time. It opened my eye to a whole new world.  I know that sounds silly but remember I lived a mostly sheltered life.  Before this trip all I knew was hickville, USA. I seen pictures ,watched tv but to actually see other places beside your hometown, it's a whole new experience. I've also been to Disney in Florida. Kinda fun experience,  I say kinda because they put such this big hype and then when I experienced it , I thought wow people spend so much. For the kinda money the ex family paid for...we should of had fast passes. We should have been able to enjoy everything and not just certain parts.  It was a place I had never been, I knew it was popular vacation spot and I can say I've been there never. I think I would have enjoyed it better if I was with the man I am married to now. I got to experience it with my boys and that is what made it fun. They don't remember but mom does.  I didn't get to experience any vacation with my mom so doing this with mine, it made me happy.  I got to see what alot of people don't get to.  Now let's talk about the difference in the weather. I am from a place where we have all 4 seasons. Winter's at times could be brutal. Mpst winter's the sun was hidden behind clouds so grey gloomy days is what we had.  We have had a few bad snows. The year before last the temps dropped to -30 below with windchill factor.  I don't ever recall a winter where there was a day this cold. Summer's the heat indexes could get pretty high.  Humidity in the summer's wowzers. You hungry dont have a stove near by well hell the ground is so hot it will fry an egg. Our Springs were beautiful with everything blooming. The temps not to cold out but chilly enough to let you know winter wants to hang on as long as he can. Our falls I have to say were my favorite time of year. Not to hot but as summer is winding down but cool enough that Friday nights were spent at a bonfire with friends. Florida more less has 2 seasons. The occasional oh shoot it's chilly(65 degree's) and summer. It rained everyday, not for long and as soon as it was done the sun was out like there had not been a cloud or raindrops in sight. I know it gets hot in Florida but it's different kind of hot in my opinion.  The sun in Florida gives me a tan, the burn was different.  Back home I blister like a lobster and the burn hurts like hell.  I know it's the same sun but the further south it just gets better.   My next aha...