You might be a Floridian if.....

[Jana Lewis]

You exhibit a slight twitch when introduced to
anyone with the first names of Charley, Frances or
Ivan

Your freezer never has more than $20 worth of food
in it any given time

You're looking at paint swatches for the plywood on
your windows, to accent the house color

You think of your hall closet/saferoom as "cozy"

Your pool is more accurately described as "framed
in" than "screened in"

Your freezer in the garage now only has homemade ice
in it

You no longer worry about relatives visiting during
the summer months

You too haven't heard back from the insurance
adjuster


You now understand what that little "2% hurricane
deductible" phrase really means

You're putting a collage together on your driveway
of roof shingles from your neighborhood

You were once proud of your 16" electric chain saw

Your Street has more than 3 "NO WAKE" signs posted

You now own 5 large ice chests

Your parrot can now say" hammered, pounded and
hunker down"

You recognize people in line at the free ice, gas
and plywood locations

You stop what you're doing and clap and wave when
you see a convoy of power company trucks come down
your street

You're depressed when they don't stop

You have the personal cell phone numbers of the
managers for: plywood, roofing supplies and
generators at Home Depot on your speed dialer

You've spent more than $20 on "Tall white kitchen
bags" to make your own sand bags

You're considering upgrading your 16" to a 20"
chainsaw

You know what "Bar chain oil" is

You're thinking of getting your wife the hardhat
with the ear protector and face shield for Christmas

You now think the $6000 whole house generator seems
reasonable

You look forward to discussions about the merits of
"cubed, block and dry ice"

Your therapist refers to your condition as
"generator envy"

You fight the urge to put on your winter coat and
wool cap and parade around in front of your picture
window, when you finally get power and your neighbor
across the street, with the noisy generator doesn't
get
electric

And finally, you might be a Floridian if

You ask your sister up north to start saving the
Sunday Real Estate classifieds!

[Lenore]

You turn off your cell phone to save it for a real emergency.:hammer:

You don't want to move back to California because the weather is too severe!:hammer:

You go back to your mobilehome after the roof blows off the shelter because it is safer.:hammer:

This actually happened.

[Pete Hanlin]

I was walking by the copier the other day and saw a list of reasons why hurricane season in Florida is like Christmas. I don't remember all of the items, but a few were:

1.) Your regular TV routine is interrupted for "specials"
2.) You purchase large quantities of food at the supermarket
3.) You receive calls from family and friends
4.) You spend time on the ladder working on the outside of your home
5.) You get time off work
6.) You shop at crowded stores
6.) (My favorite) You know at some point you'll have a tree in your house!

[Spexvet]

On the news, they showed a funny but sad sign that someone posted on their storm-damaged house.
1 - Charlie
2 - Frances
3 - Jeanne
4 - Sale