Why We Love Living Here
Published in Texture Magazine Sept. 2010
By Sarah Sekula
LOCALS REVEAL WHY THEY CALL CENTRAL FLORIDA HOME. Metro Orlando is home to more than two million people, and the reasons are many. For some, it’s the unbeatable weather. For others, it’s because the area is a great place to start a business. Want more reasons? These seven locals are eager to share why they love living here. To see and hear their and other residents’ stories, visit the Metro Orlando EDC’s OrlandoWorks channel at www.youtube.com/orlandoworks.
ANNA AQUINO
KISSIMMEE, OSCEOLA COUNTY
“My husband and I moved to Central Florida in 2000 and to Osceola County in 2005. We’re both from the north originally. Osceola County is a great place to raise a family. There is always something to do in the area. This is where we felt we needed to be for this season in our lives. It’s always nice to be able to call family in the north while it’s snowing to tell them you just turned the A/C down. We love being here because it’s a small town right next to “the big mouse.” There is always something happening in the community. The parks are always great, but the local stomps are always more fun.”
TOM & BOB CANNON
LONGWOOD AND LAKE MARY, SEMINOLE COUNTY
“We both grew up in Seminole County, and we’ve lived here most of our lives. Our grandparents, cousins and uncles live in Seminole, too. We feel most comfortable here, and I would be sur- prised if we didn’t always have a home here. Last year, we launched BungoBox as a way to keep unnecessary waste out of Central Florida landfills. We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response, and I think that is partially due to the way that Metro Orlando embraces small businesses. Our family has had Seminole County-based businesses for more than 30 years. Bob and I are just keeping the tradition going.”
JENNIFER FLUG
ORLANDO, ORANGE COUNTY
“On multiple occasions I have found myself passionately bragging about all of the wonderful things this city has to offer. I have been living in the Down- town Central Business District for the past three years and love the area. Once my weekend begins I have no reason to use my car since everything I could want is right downstairs. There are endless options for restaurants and cafés to suit every taste. Lake Eola is a popular spot for weekend strolls and community events. One of my favorite events is the weekly Farmers’ Market. Every Sunday many local farmers, food vendors and artists come out to transform the serene lakeside park into a fabulous outdoor market.”
RODNEY HUGHES
WINDERMERE, ORANGE COUNTY
“First, I love the city, the people and the pace. However, I had to grow to like it. I was dating my present wife at the time I moved here. After living in Winnipeg, which was like Siberia, I realized that I was allergic to cold weather. So that convinced me to move here with her. I am an entrepreneur at heart, so being in a place where people are open to new ideas and accepting of who you are as a person was very attractive to me. This region is a perfect place for entrepreneurs because
of those reasons and all of the resources here. I also love coming home to the palm trees after traveling to other cities. What keeps me here is the fact that Orlando is a young city with much to give and more and more opportunities being uncovered every day. The move has been everything that I expected. Today, wild horses couldn’t drag me away. This is home.”
BOB O’MALLEY
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, SEMINOLE COUNTY
“I have three kids, and Orlando is a great town for young families. I like Orlando because of the numerous options for outdoor recreation. In particular, we enjoy going to the beach (on both the east and west coasts), canoeing on the Wekiva River, and playing soccer year- round. We also really like the school our kids attend. I’ve lived in Boston, which is a great city, but the weather is mis- erable. I grew up in Maitland. My family moved here when I was entering second grade. In total, I’ve lived here 30 years.”
KAREN CYR
MINNEOLA, LAKE COUNTY
“After bouncing around multiple apartments and houses for nearly five years (everywhere from Winter Park to east Orlando), I knew I found my home when I laid eyes on Lake County. That feeling was set in stone my first week- end in my new rental house in Min- neola. Neighbors that actually wave and talk to you, beautiful rolling hills, serene lakes and a multitude of state parks are just some of the reasons why I love living in Lake County. The main reason, though, is the people.
Living in Lake County is almost like taking a step back in time to a more family- and community-orientated era, where people take pride in own- ership and respect their neighbors. There is a united feeling here — you feel like a person instead of a number. There is nowhere else in Central Florida that I would even think about raising a family, and friends and family who come to visit my new home are always speechless over the landscape of this unique area of Florida. It’s easy to see why I’m so passionate about my new home."
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