infiltrating florida
tommyJoe recently wrote about the “Best part about life in Tampa. He says “Well DUH! The weather! And this time of year is awfully hard to beat.”
You got that right, Joe. We thought Joe might have share more of his insight with Sticks readers, so I invite you to meet the blogger:
Joe Litton
2 blogs:
LittleJoe - http://littlejoe.typepad.com
JoeLitton.net - http://www.joelitton.net
How did you come to live in Tampa Bay? I was laid off from Enron on 9/15/2001… yup, right after 9/11. I’d been working at Enron Broadband in Portland Oregon. My wife and I had lived in Vancouver Washington since getting married in 1980. Up there, one gets 9 months of rain every year …all day, every day,
light gray rain. We decided to find somewhere with a stronger economy and with sunshine. We were down here exploring the area and going through an Open House when my cell rang with a job back up in Portland. But the hook was already sunk. So I worked in Portland until our son (who is now about to graduate from The University of Tampa) was getting done with high school. Then I found a job here and we moved down at the start of 2004.
My wife used to be on antidepressants and would spend 30 minutes each morning sitting a few inches from a bright light to deal with the rain. Down here she needs neither of those things. We’ve got good jobs, have made friends, getting involved in the community. Our life is here now. And we felt a calling to help infiltrate Florida with more liberals!
What’s the best & worst thing about Tampa Bay? Best: Several things: Beaches, sunshine, diversity of population, La Ideal Cuban sandwich shop on Tampa Bay Blvd, The Wine Exchange, Tampa Theatre. Worst: Ronda Storms and Adam Putnam were each elected to represent me… but they don’t.
What’s the best & worst thing in your neighborhood? East of town in Seffner. Wanted to be outside of the evacuation zones. And I work in Tampa and my wife used to work in Lakeland, so it was central. Best: We swore we’d never live in a gated community. Guess where we live? I’m so embarrassed. But the neighbors are great. Two of our best friends are the couple across the street. Lots of oak trees, close to I-4 and I-75, great neighbors. Worst: HOAs are a mixed blessing. Whenever I submit another solar proposal to the HOA (we’ve got a solar attic fan and solar pool heat, will have solar water heater next Friday, and are putting in 3 Solatube skylights …and prepping for a clothesline and another solar attic fan) …I include a reference or copy of Florida’s Solar Access Law to remind them that even if one or two folks wish that every house looked exactly the same and had NO visible solar devices, we have a legal and moral right to make better energy choices.
Tell me about your blogs. The JoeLitton.net site is tech-oriented …mainly around IBM/Lotus technologies, since that’s how I make my living. I started the tech blog first …to explore blogging as a personal and business tool. It has led to me speaking at large industry conferences, doing book reviews, and some good side contract work. And I have made MANY friends from around the world (some of whom I get to see every year) that I’ve met through the tech blog. So that is successful.
The LittleJoe site is about life in Tampa, house stuff, drink recipes, and periodic liberal political rants. Did I mention that we’re liberals? It’s a place to spill my random non-tech brain droppings. The personal blog is a success because it allows me a forum to air my political thoughts, keep family and friends in other parts of the country and the world in touch with our lives, and store my drink recipes. I don’t really look at stats for either blog.
Important? Keeping the drink recipes updated. Storm season is coming and we have to be prepared!
Difficulty? Time. I have plenty of ideas and write down different things about which I want to blog. But between work and working around the house and yard, and periodic meetings outside of work …with just a few more days in each hour, it would be easy.
What’s the coolest thing you have ever done? Standing on top of Mt. St. Helens back before it blew up, skydiving, learning to meditate, getting married. But I do think the single biggest life-changing event was becoming a parent 22 years ago. I don’t know that anyone can know what it is like to truly love unconditionally until one has a child.And of course, discovering The Flying Spaghetti Monster. Yes, I am a Pastafarian. May He touch you with His Noodly Appendage.
How about a round of applause for Joe Litton!
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April 19th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
It is so nice to read this. We are in Portland and thinking about moving to your neck of the woods. My husband is there already in his decision process and I’m a little worried about being a liberal in Tampa. We have a baby and want him to be exposed to diversity and people with an open mind. California is too expensive. The rain is making us nuts! I’m in mental health and afraid it may be hard to find a job there. We are going for a visit in a couple of months to finalize our decision.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Amy
April 22nd, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Amy …If you happen to spot this response to your comment, please shoot me an email ( jrlitton at gmail dot com) …I’d love to chat with you guys and share our impressions of the Tampa Bay area and Florida. You’d be SURPRISED to learn that the number of liberals is growing! From the public voter registration data, I learned that our neighborhood - which I assumed was largely conservative - is only half Republican. The other half are Democrat or Independent.
And there are many local clubs and organizations for liberals and really for any interest at all.
If you’re up for it, my wife and I would love to meet you guys when you are visiting …maybe have you by the house for some grilling, sit out by the pool, and talk about NW and Florida life.
Cheers!
-Joe