Even though I’m a lifelong Floridian with no plans of moving somewhere else, I do occasionally find myself in other places for short periods of time. Whenever that happens, some things always remind me of home and even make me a little homesick. Here are a few of the usual suspects (for me at least). What things always you think of home?
- Gators
Flickr/Chrissy Hunt If I ran into a gator at home, I would definitely keep my distance. When I’m somewhere else, all of a sudden these ferocious creatures become cute and cuddly reminders of home.
- Oranges
Flickr/Mark Bonica Everyone knows you can’t start the day without a glass of tasty, nutritious Florida orange juice, and we’re used to having about 100 varieties in our grocery stores at any given time. It’s so weird to go to the store and only see a couple of different bottles. Orange-blossom-scented perfumes, marmalade and even just whole oranges always make me think of home.
- Flip Flops
Flickr/Capes Treasures This sign wouldn’t make any sense in Florida, because pretty much every day here is a flip flop day. When you leave the state, it’s kind of shocking to realize not everyone everywhere else has the same appreciation for open-toed footwear that we do. Seeing that one person (possibly a fellow Floridian) who still rocks the flip flops always warms my heart.
- Rain
Flickr/Gabriele Diwald Even though it’s called the Sunshine State, we all know it’s the humidity and rainstorms that really remind you of home, where they happen almost every day.
- Key Lime Pie
Flickr/Jordan Fischer Key lime pie used to be more of a Floridian thing, but it seems like its popularity now has reached across the nation. The version sold in other places might not be as authentic as I’d like (and might be neon green), but just the sight of our official state pie will always make me nostalgic.
- Mossy Trees
Flickr/Steven Martin If I’m driving home from a trip out west, I know I’m getting closer when I start to see moss dripping from those ancient trees. It always makes me think about camp counselers warning us not to pick it up (and especially not to use it to make hilarious wigs).
- Jimmy Buffett
Flickr/Sam Howzit I’m sure Jimmy Buffett sings about others places and also has fans around the world, but if I hear a Jimmy Buffett song randomly come on somewhere, I’m definitely going to think about my home state.
- Ocean-Scented Anything
Flickr/Eugene Peretz It doesn’t matter what it is, whether it’s candles, hair products, air fresheners, or soaps, I’m a sucker for anything that reminds me of that glorious ocean air. Of course, there’s nothing like the real thing.
- Manatees
pixabay/ASSY Although you don’t see as many of them when you leave the state, there’s a special place in my heart for these gentle giants. If I’m out of the state and stumble upon a manatee stuffed animal, you can bet he’s going to find a home right next to the gators.
- Mickey
Flickr/Drew Mackie Mickey Mouse is another thing that isn’t exclusive to Florida, but it doesn’t matter. He will always make me think of Disney World and the many memories I have there with my family.
- Palm Trees
pixabay/graziebambino I know they’re not strictly exclusive to Florida, but whether they’re in silhouette on a postcard or lined up to make the perfect shot in a movie, any sight of palm trees always reminds me of my beautiful state.
There you have it, just a few of the things that make me homesick whenever I venture out of the Sunshine State. What things always make you think of Florida?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
- Gators
Flickr/Chrissy Hunt If I ran into a gator at home, I would definitely keep my distance. When I’m somewhere else, all of a sudden these ferocious creatures become cute and cuddly reminders of home.
- Oranges
Flickr/Mark Bonica Everyone knows you can’t start the day without a glass of tasty, nutritious Florida orange juice, and we’re used to having about 100 varieties in our grocery stores at any given time. It’s so weird to go to the store and only see a couple of different bottles. Orange-blossom-scented perfumes, marmalade and even just whole oranges always make me think of home.
- Flip Flops
Flickr/Capes Treasures This sign wouldn’t make any sense in Florida, because pretty much every day here is a flip flop day. When you leave the state, it’s kind of shocking to realize not everyone everywhere else has the same appreciation for open-toed footwear that we do. Seeing that one person (possibly a fellow Floridian) who still rocks the flip flops always warms my heart.
- Rain
Flickr/Gabriele Diwald Even though it’s called the Sunshine State, we all know it’s the humidity and rainstorms that really remind you of home, where they happen almost every day.
- Key Lime Pie
Flickr/Jordan Fischer Key lime pie used to be more of a Floridian thing, but it seems like its popularity now has reached across the nation. The version sold in other places might not be as authentic as I’d like (and might be neon green), but just the sight of our official state pie will always make me nostalgic.
- Mossy Trees
Flickr/Steven Martin If I’m driving home from a trip out west, I know I’m getting closer when I start to see moss dripping from those ancient trees. It always makes me think about camp counselers warning us not to pick it up (and especially not to use it to make hilarious wigs).
- Jimmy Buffett
Flickr/Sam Howzit I’m sure Jimmy Buffett sings about others places and also has fans around the world, but if I hear a Jimmy Buffett song randomly come on somewhere, I’m definitely going to think about my home state.
- Ocean-Scented Anything
Flickr/Eugene Peretz It doesn’t matter what it is, whether it’s candles, hair products, air fresheners, or soaps, I’m a sucker for anything that reminds me of that glorious ocean air. Of course, there’s nothing like the real thing.
- Manatees
pixabay/ASSY Although you don’t see as many of them when you leave the state, there’s a special place in my heart for these gentle giants. If I’m out of the state and stumble upon a manatee stuffed animal, you can bet he’s going to find a home right next to the gators.
- Mickey
Flickr/Drew Mackie Mickey Mouse is another thing that isn’t exclusive to Florida, but it doesn’t matter. He will always make me think of Disney World and the many memories I have there with my family.
- Palm Trees
pixabay/graziebambino I know they’re not strictly exclusive to Florida, but whether they’re in silhouette on a postcard or lined up to make the perfect shot in a movie, any sight of palm trees always reminds me of my beautiful state.
There you have it, just a few of the things that make me homesick whenever I venture out of the Sunshine State. What things always make you think of Florida?
Flickr/Chrissy Hunt
If I ran into a gator at home, I would definitely keep my distance. When I’m somewhere else, all of a sudden these ferocious creatures become cute and cuddly reminders of home.
Flickr/Mark Bonica
Everyone knows you can’t start the day without a glass of tasty, nutritious Florida orange juice, and we’re used to having about 100 varieties in our grocery stores at any given time. It’s so weird to go to the store and only see a couple of different bottles. Orange-blossom-scented perfumes, marmalade and even just whole oranges always make me think of home.
Flickr/Capes Treasures
This sign wouldn’t make any sense in Florida, because pretty much every day here is a flip flop day. When you leave the state, it’s kind of shocking to realize not everyone everywhere else has the same appreciation for open-toed footwear that we do. Seeing that one person (possibly a fellow Floridian) who still rocks the flip flops always warms my heart.
Flickr/Gabriele Diwald
Even though it’s called the Sunshine State, we all know it’s the humidity and rainstorms that really remind you of home, where they happen almost every day.
Flickr/Jordan Fischer
Key lime pie used to be more of a Floridian thing, but it seems like its popularity now has reached across the nation. The version sold in other places might not be as authentic as I’d like (and might be neon green), but just the sight of our official state pie will always make me nostalgic.
Flickr/Steven Martin
If I’m driving home from a trip out west, I know I’m getting closer when I start to see moss dripping from those ancient trees. It always makes me think about camp counselers warning us not to pick it up (and especially not to use it to make hilarious wigs).
Flickr/Sam Howzit
I’m sure Jimmy Buffett sings about others places and also has fans around the world, but if I hear a Jimmy Buffett song randomly come on somewhere, I’m definitely going to think about my home state.
Flickr/Eugene Peretz
It doesn’t matter what it is, whether it’s candles, hair products, air fresheners, or soaps, I’m a sucker for anything that reminds me of that glorious ocean air. Of course, there’s nothing like the real thing.
pixabay/ASSY
Although you don’t see as many of them when you leave the state, there’s a special place in my heart for these gentle giants. If I’m out of the state and stumble upon a manatee stuffed animal, you can bet he’s going to find a home right next to the gators.
Flickr/Drew Mackie
Mickey Mouse is another thing that isn’t exclusive to Florida, but it doesn’t matter. He will always make me think of Disney World and the many memories I have there with my family.
pixabay/graziebambino
I know they’re not strictly exclusive to Florida, but whether they’re in silhouette on a postcard or lined up to make the perfect shot in a movie, any sight of palm trees always reminds me of my beautiful state.
