When you are married to the military you often hear the following two questions.
Where have you been?
and
Where are you from?
Most military spouses can recite with ease the names of their last 5, 10 or 15 duty stations. For me it’s: Panama, Virginia, Florida, Virginia, Cuba, West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. I can rattle off the names almost as quickly as I can my ABC’s. It has become who I am.
Then they ask where I am from. I slow down, pause, start to smile and say Orlando. For 20 years Orlando was my hometown. The place I grew up, started school, finished college, had a few babies, and home to most of my family. I am not a Florida transplant, I was born there, grew up there and consider it my home. For the past 17 years we have visited, vacationed, and spent almost all of our free time going home.
When I think of Orlando I think of…
The fresh oranges picked right from your backyard.
The sunshine and swimming.
The Mouse.
The beautiful lakes.
Boating (even on land).
The wildlife.
The relax factor.
But the single BEST thing about my hometown is definitely FAMILY!
What is the single best thing about your hometown? From now until February 28th you can enter your town in the Single Best Town Contest sponsored by Kraft and Disney. What makes your town special, or even the best hometown in America? Even though I haven’t lived in Orlando for over ten years I still think it is one of the best places in America to live. How does your hometown stack up against sunny Orlando?
Hi, I currently live in Northern VA and my husband would like us to move to WV since it would be closer to his job in MD. How did you like WV??? I haven’t heard any good things so far, besides the home prices being really good.
I LOVED West Virginia. It was probably my favorite place we were stationed. It is just beautiful and the people are really friendly. The cost of living is definitely lower than MD or NOVA…
Toni
Eeep. I don’t even know if my hometown rates as a “town.”
Regardless, what a beautiful post. You have a gorgeous family!
We lived alot of places when I was growing up, always mistaken for “military brat” but no. My dad worked for a mining company. We moved around every 3-6 months. I attended 12 different elementary schools. Finally, my mom said enough is enough and we moved to Georgia. I’m so glad, because I love it here. But, Virginia will always hold a special place in my heart (where most of my family is currently and my birthplace). Beautiful post, love your pictures! And Florida does have the BEST oranges. Do they still offer free juice at the welcome centers?
Funny how when you’re in the military “home” become so much more meaningful! My hometown is Hickory, NC- foothills of the mountians in western North Carolina! It’s my favorite place in the world. My favorite times are are Spring and Fall. I have great childhood memories picking fresh strawberries (and eating them as their picked!) in the Spring, watermelon in the Summer, and apples in the Fall. Watching the leaves change colors in the Fall is my all time favorite though- absolutely beautiful! I look forward to the time when hubby reitres and we make our way home!
Just had to say Hi.~! I am from Plant City Fl…so we were neighbors . I am also a Military wife living in Md. I have read your blog well over a year now. I must say I have loved reading all of your post.
Blessing’s
Ann
We are looking at Charles town, WV. There is really nothing there besides a walmart, panera, and a food lion
DH keeps telling me that it’s a grown town but I just don’t believe that.
I moved to Winter Park, FL when I was 15 so I have been here most of my life, but I spent most of my childhood in Augusta, GA. Home of the Masters Golf Tournament (yes, I’ve gone to the practice rounds 2x), delicious LARGE peaches, pecans which spent many evenings shelling and freezing, and beautiful azaleas and camellias. The heavy Southern accents, cheek squeezing and hugs there warm your heart and make you feel welcome. I experienced lots of Southern hospitality, home cooking and fresh air throughout my childhood. We lived close to many of our relatives and saw them often when I was young.
Is is something else to be able to rattle it all off, isn’t it? My 14yo is still working on his list… I do wonder what he will say someday when someone asks him, “Where are you from?” Kansas is where we always go to visit family, to my hometown. It’s where all my family is and LOTS (all boys) my oldest son’s age. Sometimes I wonder if he’ll settle down there — or anywhere — or if he’ll decide the grass really isn’t greener!
Just an aside… Your daughter is beautiful, sincerely. Her pose with the oranges? Is a little… unfortunate. I am SO sorry I had to go there.
Oh my that last picture is a blast from the past! Who is that girl with the long blonde hair!! I remember that day. It was so much fun. I miss having you guys here!
I am also from Sunny Florida I’m in Jacksonville. I love the being with my family at the beach (otherwise I wouldn’t be there) , oranges and the occasional shorts at Christmas time. Our children have never been to Disney I always said that when they were potty trained we would go then given the option they chose to go to TN. We currently own a cabin in Sevierville, Tennessee where I dearly love to be I love the seasons there. My baby brother and his wife lived in Orlando and made there way to Weaverville, North Carolina. Our baby (will be 11 on the 23rd) went up for a visit in Oct. they took us to a pumpkin patch and then we went to Sky Top Apple Orchard we picked some apples and we loved it so now we have a new family ritual apple picking. We also love to ski so being in Florida there is no snow so forgive me for coveting all the snow you have right now.
Happy Day
I also am a Florida native…which is rare these days. I was born in Daytona Beach and have lived in this sunshine state for all my life…raising 7 other Florida natives. =) We, too, have an orange tree right in our back yard from which we have enjoyed years of sweet juicy fruit and fresh squeezed OJ…it doesn’t get better than that.
The next best thing to actually living here, is to be able to return ‘home’ to visit and enjoy all this state has to offer ~ beaches, lakes, diverse wildlife, amusement parks, so many historic sites and state parks, agriculture, museums, NASCAR, great homeschool laws and annual homeschool conventions, etc., etc.
My home away from home would have to be the mountains of North Carolina ~ another great state with a diverse range of settings, friendly people, history, etc.
Enjoyed your post and the sharing of your Florida perspective.
Blessings ~
the older i get, the closer i get to changing my hometown from fort worth, tx to houston. i think fort worth is tons better as far as a city goes, but houston is definitely where i call home now. (scary!)
one more thing.
“where have you been” and “where are you from” is much better than being asked “what are you?” i get asked that a lot even though what they really want to know is my ethnicity. all kinds of snarky replies could be made but i am a pretty good girl about it (most of the time).
Ah What a lovely family photo, even traveliing so far to be home with Grandparents is lovely. Something I miss is having our Family and friends spread over the world. Keep them safe always … Rina
Even though I really grew up in Leesburg my parents have lived in Orlando for about 28 years so I consider Orlando kind of my home town too as that is where I come home to from SC. AND when I was a teenager it is where we went to the mall.
I was born in Miami but grew up in Lakeland. I followed my heart to Oregon 18 years ago, so I’ve been here almost as long as I lived there. I still miss the sun, the beaches, Publix cake, thunder storms, and the Mouse. I don’t miss the humidity or the bugs! I’ve learned to love the changing of the seasons which you don’t really see in Florida. Although, I do spend most of the fall, winter, and spring longing for summer to arrive so I can be HOT. Our trips to Florida have gotten fewer and farther between as our family has grown. Your post has left me a bit “home” sick.
Publix cake! My favorite! I started baking my own after moving away….