Moon Over Miami

As I write this from my home in Naples, the moon is glowing full in the eastern skies above Miami. Miami is a misunderstood city. I know, because I misunderstood it for years. From 1960 to 1992 I was able to live in Florida without once having to live in Miami. My many visits to the big city convinced me I never wanted to live there. It was big, ugly, dirty, noisy and dangerous. Traffic was horrendous and the many third world drivers made getting around a life threatening event. Store windows displayed signs that said "we speak English" for those few of us who didn't understand Spanish.

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew lay waste to most of the area of Miami-Dade County south of Kendall Drive. Homes were devastated, especially further south toward Homestead. Of the several thousand mobile homes in that area, it was reported that none survived the howling powerful winds. I knew one man who stayed in his house in Homestead during the storm. He and his wife survived by taking shelter in their bathroom, but he suffered permanent hearing loss from the deafening winds that battered his home during the storm.

Two weeks after the hurricane I was transferred to Miami. It greatly depressed me, but I needed the paycheck. Such is the fate of the wage slave. There was no housing available in the entire area. People displaced from their damaged homes had taken all of the rentals. I was living in Melbourne at the time, and sailed Silverheels, my 33 foot CSY sloop, to Miami Beach. I lived aboard at Miami Beach Marina for the next year.

Miami is a land of many cultures, races, creeds and colors. About half the population is Hispanic, and about half of those are Cubans who came to Miami after Castro took over the country. Many of the Cubans are second generation, born in America, but still proudly Cuban and proudly American. They have been a great asset to South Florida. Other Hispanics are from South and Central America, with virtually every country in the Western Hemisphere being represented.

There is a large Jamaican population, many Haitians, and islanders from everywhere in the Caribbean. African-Americans and Jewish people round out the balance. About 10% of the population is standard old white anglo saxon protestant or catholic. It is a huge melting pot, and a wonderful place to learn how to get along with just about anybody.

A few weeks ago I told my doctor, who has lived in Miami all of his life, that I miss living there, even though Naples is quieter and probably safer. He responded that the thing he likes most about Miami is that it's so close to America.

The picture above is of the Rickenbacker Causeway between Miami and Key Biscayne. More information about Miami at http://www.florida-backroads-travel.com/miami-florida.html