Why would ANYONE want to live in Orlando?

I’ve spent most of my life in Florida, and that’s what I used to think. The reason? Growing up while watching TV shows giving away the cliche “Fabulous Disney Vacation” in a sunny Orlando, Florida, tourist trap. I thought that’s what Orlando was. Someplace people flew or drove to just as a means to visit Mickey. I never wanted to live here in a million years.

So how did I end up here? My wife, Jenny, and I needed a change; the neighborhood we were living in was in decline. We wanted a better place to raise our family. Our youngest daughter was heading into middle school, so the time was right to make a move.

We asked around, looking for ideas for where to relocate. Someone said, “Hey, you should move to Orlando!” I said “Noooooooooo!” They said, “Well, come and check out what’s going on in Lake Nona.”

So we did. And something really clicked.

Six years ago, there wasn’t much here, but there was potential. And, as a bonus, it was far enough away from the core of Orlando that I had such a distaste for. We obviously fell in love with Lake Nona – that part was easy. We’ve met such amazing people here and have had such incredible experiences. How could you not love this place?

Everyone has a story here. I think that’s what I love the most about Nonahood News. It allows us to tell stories worth telling that might otherwise go untold. The fact that we’re in one of the most interesting, exciting places in the world is just icing on the cake.

Over time, a funny thing happened. I started learning more about Orlando. I was lucky enough to stumble into involvement in a video production called Brunch Bros. It’s a really fun series that focuses on two bros finding the best brunch around. One episode even had a special guest appearance by our own Mayor Dyer – how cool is that? Through that production, I was exposed to a larger cross-section of Orlando than I’d ever before seen.

Earlier this year, something else opened my eyes about Orlando. I saw a post on the Nextdoor app advertising something called the Mayor’s City Academy. The Mayor’s City Academy is a 12-week whirlwind tour through all facets of the City of Orlando. I have to say that is was an incredibly eye-opening experience.

We went everywhere from waste treatment plants to fire and police departments, and from botanical gardens to city hall. I learned more about Orlando in those 12 weeks than I had my entire life. I am finally coming around – I’m not just proud to live in Lake Nona, I am also proud to live in Orlando.

I think the city’s catchphrase “You Don’t Know the Half of It” is entirely appropriate. If you have any desire to learn more about Orlando, I highly encourage you to look into the Mayor’s City Academy. It is a big time commitment, but if you are selected, it’ll be worth the time, and you get 12 free dinners out of it AND validated parking everywhere you visit.

I think I’d like to close by saying thank you. Thank you to everyone in Lake Nona for allowing us to tell your stories. Thank you to Mayor Buddy Dyer for charting the course for The City Beautiful, a place Jenny and I hope to live out our “happily ever after.”