From AC Addict to Burrito Lover: 8 Ways California Rewired This Floridian’s Life
When Cali seduces you with burritos and a breeze, resistance is futile.
Ah, California.
The land of movie stars, avocado toast, and burritos.
As a native Floridian, I thought I was well-prepared for the Golden State — after all, we have palm trees too, right?
Well, after living in California for over two years, I’ve been hit with more surprises than a Floridian in an unplanned thunderstorm.
When I first landed in the Bay Area in 2022, my brain was practically hardwired to expect an endless lineup of palm trees.
I mean, that’s what they sell us down South!
But no, the palm tree-to-human ratio here is shockingly low north of Santa Barbara.
That was just the first surprise of many.
Now that I’m officially a Californian taxpayer (does that make me fancy?), I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that this state is a national treasure that gets way more hate than it deserves.
I get it, California has everything — beaches, mountains, deserts, and yes, overpriced everything. It’s like living in the greatest hits album of life, and honestly?
Seems like FOMO doesn’t exist here. But only the long-time locals know that.
Let’s dive into the eight surprising ways California has fundamentally reprogrammed my sunny Floridian soul.
Buckle up.
1. I’ve Broken Up with Air Conditioning.
Yes, you read that right.
A Floridian ditching AC is like a fish giving up water, but here we are.
In Florida, AC is a necessity. In California?
Oh no, baby.
The California breeze does things to me that AC could never.
I’ve developed a love-hate relationship with air conditioning.
It’s still my go-to during the hotter summer days or when I’m closer to the desert, but honestly, it feels too cold, too fake, and too controlling compared to this natural breeze.
Forget artificial air — this breeze is Mother Nature’s French kiss, and I’m absolutely smitten. I swear, it’s like a spiritual experience every time it touches me.
The Florida heat prepared me for many things, but nothing could prepare me for the California breeze that’s now my everyday bae.
AC, we’re done. I need my breezy love affair to breathe.
2. The Real Sunshine State
Alright, this one hurts my Floridian pride, but I’ve got to speak my truth: California should be the real Sunshine State.
There. I said it.
I know we’ve been riding that title for 50+ years, but California outshines us. The sun here?
It feels better.
Maybe it’s the whole West Coast vibe, or maybe it’s because living closer to the Equator is like getting roasted in a solar oven daily, but the sunshine in California hits differently.
Let’s just say, it’s enough to make me rethink everything I thought I knew about my own home state.
It’s like a soft, golden glow, while Florida’s sun sometimes feels like a sweaty sauna bossing you around.
Here, I get clear blue skies, endless days without dodging rain clouds that pop up like uninvited guests at a BBQ, and a sun that feels more like a flirtatious wink than a smothering hug.
It’s like the weather gods are giving us a full-time display of sun worship.
Florida, I love you, but California wins this one by a sunbeam.
3. Mosquitos? Hardly Know ‘Em.
Now, let’s talk about bugs — specifically, the lack of them compared to Florida’s jungle-like humidity.
In Florida, mosquitoes practically roll out the welcome mat. It was like living in an insect battleground — every outdoor adventure was a gamble.
Here in California? I’ve been bitten maybe twice.
Twice!
It’s a revelation.
I still have insect repellent spray (from Florida, naturally), but I’ve only used it to tackle fruit flies after losing a banana under my car seat.
I know, not the ideal solution — it was collecting dust, I had it on hand, and I was curious.
Bite me.
Mosquitoes? They don’t even RSVP to the party here, and when they do, it’s a shock to my system.
The icing on the cake? I rarely see cockroaches, and when I do, it’s like spotting a rare species.
I’m still not sure how to process this nearly nip-free bliss — clearly, the mosquitoes here didn’t get the memo about being a nuisance.
4. Beach Day = Free Parking (mostly).
The beaches in California are a thing of beauty, but here’s the real kicker: most have free parking.
And there’s plenty of it.
As a Floridian, this feels like I’ve stumbled into some kind of utopia.
Back home, finding parking at the beach is like winning the lottery, and you might as well take out a second mortgage to pay for it.
Here in SoCal, I can casually roll up to the beach without a care in the world, park my car, and still have money left over for a burrito (at least in San Diego).
It’s pure luxury, people. Which brings me to my next point…
5. I Eat More Burritos Than I Ever Thought Possible.
As a Floridian, burritos were never part of my culinary repertoire.
Sure, I’d occasionally flirt with them at Chipotle (don’t judge me), but in Florida, it’s all about Latin food, not Mexican.
“Let’s get a burrito” wasn’t a phrase that crossed my lips until California seduced me with its burrito culture.
And oh, it’s a real cult out here, I mean cute.
I’ve even heard whispers of something called a California burrito, but I’m still building up to that level of commitment.
Burritos are their own food group out here, and honestly, I’m not mad about it.
Let’s just say, burritos have worked their way into my heart — and my once-a-month diet.
Burritos > empanadas. I said what I said.
6. I Drive with the Windows Down (Even When It’s Hot).
Here’s a behavior that would shock my fellow Floridians: I drive with the windows down.
In the heat.
In Florida, this is basically a crime against humanity.
You keep those windows up and that AC blasting unless you’re begging for a heatstroke and want to swim in your own sweat.
But in California? But in California?
There’s a sweet spot of warm-but-not-too-humid perfection that allows me to cruise around, windows down, hair in the wind, feeling like a low-key model in a car commercial.
It’s a luxury I never knew I needed, but now I can’t live without it.
I’ve saved money on gas, and my spirit feels lighter. Who knew driving could be this liberating?
7. I Don’t Miss Publix… That Much.
Oh, Floridians. I know this one stings.
Publix, with its iconic specialties, is hard to forget — it’s practically our shared religion.
But here’s the thing — California has so many health-conscious options that I’ve barely looked back.
The organic options here are next-level, and even though Publix has a deli section that could bring a tear to your eye, I’ve embraced the Californian way.
It’s a bit unsettling to admit, but Publix is starting to feel like a distant memory, even for someone who once treated it like a holy pilgrimage.
Please don’t revoke my membership to the Floridian Club. Pretty please.
8. Quiet Driving, Who Dis?
In Florida, you know what music your neighbor is bumping from three houses down.
You can jam to someone’s playlist while lounging in your own living room. Loud music is practically a state sport.
In California, it’s eerily quiet(er).
It’s like nobody but that one guy is blasting their playlists at full volume, and at first, I thought I had stumbled into a statewide podcast marathon.
But nope, Californians just enjoy their peaceful drives.
The roads are oddly serene here, like everyone’s collectively agreed to keep their mixtapes on the down-low.
As for me? I’ve toned down my own volume, too. Unless I’m on the highway, in which case, all bets are off.
It’s like I’ve been California-conditioned to enjoy the serenity.
Bonus: Floridian Slang, MIA (And Not The Airport)
Who am I anymore? I’m losing my Floridian slang, y’all.
“Green,” “vibin,” “slap” — they’re all slipping away from my vocabulary like my last Publix sub.
California slang just doesn’t stick the same.
I’ve said “rad” in public once, and it feels like cultural appropriation.
So now, I’m in this strange linguistic limbo — too chill for Florida, but not quite “right on” enough for California.
Identity crisis, anyone?
For now, my slang is on vacation — probably sipping mojitos somewhere back in Florida.
So there it is — California has taken my Floridian essence, mixed it with avocado toast and burritos, and turned me into a hybrid creature of sun, breeze, and laid-back vibes.
Florida, I’ll always love you, you had my heart first. But California has changed me in ways I never expected, and honestly?
She’s the one who’s keeping me up at night.
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