Very nice read, would definitely visit if I ever made it out of EUrope (not bloody likely though) on some trip or other. Your description of Florida Man and the prevailing attitudes made me feel right at home.
"The conversations one has with near strangers, which can seem mystifyingly involved to Yankees, are to the end of intelligence gathering, fortifying social norms, and furthering feuds, all of which hold Southern society together."
This is identical to the swedish countryside, especially the really far off parts like my literal neck of the woods (up to 70% of Sweden is forested nowadays, the rest is farmland or cities); "att slänga käft", literally "to throw jaw" meaning to be able and interested in having a chat with anyone is virtually a commandment. Feuds, non-violent most of the time, also exist. Some - between villages - have been ongoing since before the advent of king Vasa I five hundred years ago. Nowadays it's jeers and jokes 99.9% of the time but get them drunk and onto the dance-rotunda and you might see punches thrown.
Don't take this the wrong way but 50 people per square mile? That's clustered compared to here: fewer than 1 person per square kilometer (2.5 sq kilometers equals 1 sq mile) There are more moose than people out here in the foothills of the fjells. No 'gators though, but plenty of Northern Pike in the lakes, some growing close to two yards; taste like a plank of pine at that size, usually turned into fish-mush and baked as fishballs served with potatoes, fresh ground horseradish, green peas in butter and a white pepper sauce with a light lager to drink.
Sep 27, 2023·edited Sep 27, 2023Liked by Librarian of Celaeno
I gave this a deeper dive. The gross caricature of Florida Man is most certainly a reaction to non-natives. I love the way you have reclaimed the term and created a sense of pride and identity among our local population. In a city known for tourism, real estate scams, and corruption… we are in need of a real identity that unites us. I was born here and have no intention to stay long-term as a resident due to the slow pace of life and prominent anti-intellectualism, yet when I return to see family (my current situation) I want to feel like I’m part of a genuine local culture. You have set the stage for this very well. Also, I deeply love the Everglades and St. Augustine. There is nowhere else like these places in the rest of America. They are truly Florida. We need a True Florida.
Sep 8, 2023·edited Sep 8, 2023Liked by Librarian of Celaeno
"My classroom features portraits of Robert E. Lee and Andrew Jackson; dip bars, a pull-up frame, and heavy steel clubs sit next to shelves stocked with Evola, Guenon, Gomez-Davila, and an inviting biography of Yukio Mishima. Looming over me as I type is a deer skull, taken from a huge buck that ran off the road and crashed against my mother’s house some years ago. Construction paper paeans to 'believe and achieve' are not part of the aesthetic."
That remark about construction paper paeans is particularly incisive, in my opinion. So many of the schools I have entered, even at the secondary level, are festooned with pointless scraps of paper proclaiming the type of banal, inoffensive and uninspiring platitudes which have never compelled anyone to meaningful change.
Administrations are so afraid of taking risks with their messaging, it ends up achieving no point whatsoever. Thankfully for us, the artwork of the political "minds" (I use that term reticently) behind those bureaucratic hierarchies is similarly devoid of higher ideals.
A classroom bookshelf occupied by Evola and Mishima would be a sight for sore eyes, indeed in such a cultural wasteland.
I'm not sure why this just appeared on my Notes feed now (Notes works in mysterious ways), but I'm so glad it did. I grew up in Florida, and while I'm also too white collar to be a true Florida (wo)man now, I think that's where my appreciation for chaos agents like Trump and Musk - people who enjoy a bit of mayhem - comes from. I also share your thoughts about how Florida is a utopia, not a place, but one that resists our attempts at projection. This might be too trashy for your tastes, but it reminded me of a very funny Carl Hiassen novel where a Florida woman kidnaps a landscape developer to try to open his eyes to real Florida - unsuccessfully.
I'm reading this on the lanai, no clouds, sun filtering down into the tress and native vegetation. I've been here 26 years but felt this. My soul longs for the hills of my state of birth like it does to be on the water, so I stay near the water. My tattoos all have breaking waves my whole left ribcage armpit to hip is covered in waves trust me I get the call of being on the water here. I was thinking this last week I can't wait till it warms up to be able to take my son kayaking or canoeing or down the crystal river with its seagrass. The biggest mistake people make in my opinion too is that the stuff for tourists, while fun, or beach party life is what it's about here and it's anything but that. You only get to play if you work hard and stay out of the way of the party crowd. Loved this missive.
I keep meaning to come back and comment on this, but every time I think I have some profound addition or insight on the topic, I find that it's not as profound or insightful as I thought. But this piece has been stirring in me for the past week or so. Forgive me if this sounds a bit slavish, but this really is a beautiful reflection that only a native son can write about the place they call home. It makes me want to do one for my own state, as we have a very similar situation as Florida (i.e. a distinct culture, masses of immigrants both foreign and domestic, the slow erosion of the old ways and the struggle of new ones to form), but you and I have very different writing styles and I'm not sure I could be so poetic in my prose, as it's just not my strong suit. Point is - this really is great work, here.
You can tell that this is written by a native son of the Sunshine State, the whole essay oozes with that easy familiarity and love of even the darker aspects of the state that only growing up there can provide.
It makes me want to write something similar about my own home state (that sunshine state of the west, California)
Very nice read, would definitely visit if I ever made it out of EUrope (not bloody likely though) on some trip or other. Your description of Florida Man and the prevailing attitudes made me feel right at home.
"The conversations one has with near strangers, which can seem mystifyingly involved to Yankees, are to the end of intelligence gathering, fortifying social norms, and furthering feuds, all of which hold Southern society together."
This is identical to the swedish countryside, especially the really far off parts like my literal neck of the woods (up to 70% of Sweden is forested nowadays, the rest is farmland or cities); "att slänga käft", literally "to throw jaw" meaning to be able and interested in having a chat with anyone is virtually a commandment. Feuds, non-violent most of the time, also exist. Some - between villages - have been ongoing since before the advent of king Vasa I five hundred years ago. Nowadays it's jeers and jokes 99.9% of the time but get them drunk and onto the dance-rotunda and you might see punches thrown.
Don't take this the wrong way but 50 people per square mile? That's clustered compared to here: fewer than 1 person per square kilometer (2.5 sq kilometers equals 1 sq mile) There are more moose than people out here in the foothills of the fjells. No 'gators though, but plenty of Northern Pike in the lakes, some growing close to two yards; taste like a plank of pine at that size, usually turned into fish-mush and baked as fishballs served with potatoes, fresh ground horseradish, green peas in butter and a white pepper sauce with a light lager to drink.
Anways, where was I? Oh yeah, right here! ;)
Now do one for all the other states. I double dog dare you.
I gave this a deeper dive. The gross caricature of Florida Man is most certainly a reaction to non-natives. I love the way you have reclaimed the term and created a sense of pride and identity among our local population. In a city known for tourism, real estate scams, and corruption… we are in need of a real identity that unites us. I was born here and have no intention to stay long-term as a resident due to the slow pace of life and prominent anti-intellectualism, yet when I return to see family (my current situation) I want to feel like I’m part of a genuine local culture. You have set the stage for this very well. Also, I deeply love the Everglades and St. Augustine. There is nowhere else like these places in the rest of America. They are truly Florida. We need a True Florida.
As a native I approve! Seriously bro, nailed it! Bad ass read. I’m still smiling.
"My classroom features portraits of Robert E. Lee and Andrew Jackson; dip bars, a pull-up frame, and heavy steel clubs sit next to shelves stocked with Evola, Guenon, Gomez-Davila, and an inviting biography of Yukio Mishima. Looming over me as I type is a deer skull, taken from a huge buck that ran off the road and crashed against my mother’s house some years ago. Construction paper paeans to 'believe and achieve' are not part of the aesthetic."
That remark about construction paper paeans is particularly incisive, in my opinion. So many of the schools I have entered, even at the secondary level, are festooned with pointless scraps of paper proclaiming the type of banal, inoffensive and uninspiring platitudes which have never compelled anyone to meaningful change.
Administrations are so afraid of taking risks with their messaging, it ends up achieving no point whatsoever. Thankfully for us, the artwork of the political "minds" (I use that term reticently) behind those bureaucratic hierarchies is similarly devoid of higher ideals.
A classroom bookshelf occupied by Evola and Mishima would be a sight for sore eyes, indeed in such a cultural wasteland.
Thanks. Another side we don’t often see.
I'm not sure why this just appeared on my Notes feed now (Notes works in mysterious ways), but I'm so glad it did. I grew up in Florida, and while I'm also too white collar to be a true Florida (wo)man now, I think that's where my appreciation for chaos agents like Trump and Musk - people who enjoy a bit of mayhem - comes from. I also share your thoughts about how Florida is a utopia, not a place, but one that resists our attempts at projection. This might be too trashy for your tastes, but it reminded me of a very funny Carl Hiassen novel where a Florida woman kidnaps a landscape developer to try to open his eyes to real Florida - unsuccessfully.
I'm reading this on the lanai, no clouds, sun filtering down into the tress and native vegetation. I've been here 26 years but felt this. My soul longs for the hills of my state of birth like it does to be on the water, so I stay near the water. My tattoos all have breaking waves my whole left ribcage armpit to hip is covered in waves trust me I get the call of being on the water here. I was thinking this last week I can't wait till it warms up to be able to take my son kayaking or canoeing or down the crystal river with its seagrass. The biggest mistake people make in my opinion too is that the stuff for tourists, while fun, or beach party life is what it's about here and it's anything but that. You only get to play if you work hard and stay out of the way of the party crowd. Loved this missive.
I never knew I could feel a kinship with Florida Man.
I keep meaning to come back and comment on this, but every time I think I have some profound addition or insight on the topic, I find that it's not as profound or insightful as I thought. But this piece has been stirring in me for the past week or so. Forgive me if this sounds a bit slavish, but this really is a beautiful reflection that only a native son can write about the place they call home. It makes me want to do one for my own state, as we have a very similar situation as Florida (i.e. a distinct culture, masses of immigrants both foreign and domestic, the slow erosion of the old ways and the struggle of new ones to form), but you and I have very different writing styles and I'm not sure I could be so poetic in my prose, as it's just not my strong suit. Point is - this really is great work, here.
You can tell that this is written by a native son of the Sunshine State, the whole essay oozes with that easy familiarity and love of even the darker aspects of the state that only growing up there can provide.
It makes me want to write something similar about my own home state (that sunshine state of the west, California)
"the indisputable symbol of success is the boat, be it motor, pontoon, sail, or other, which serves as the center of recreational life."
Please tell us more about airboats, which even outlanders can easily identify as the highest form of boat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airboat