Exposition Part 3 (setting part 2)

Jacksonville, Florida.

'The LARGEST city in the US. The governments of the City of Jacksonville and Duval County consolidated in 1968, giving Jacksonville a particularly large land area and placing most of its metropolitan area within the city limits.'

Translation = Jacksonville is HUGE. Not huge as in lots and lots of people; huge as in lots and lots of land. As referenced in the previous post, I decribed the setting in which I grew up as a place characterized by tranquility, simple beauty and innocent charm. This is no longer the case. Ok, before you all go thinking I'm dissing on Jax, I'm not. I'm just saying that it is pretty much NOTHING like what I'm used to. But there is plenty to love here, I will say that...and I will expound on it soon and probably often.
I would say that the biggest adjustment for me is how much time I have to spend in the car. In Charleston, or more specifically: Mount Pleasant, if you got in the car to go somewhere in the city, you were ususally there in under 10 minutes and your anxiety levels remain fairly low. If you have to get on a major highway or interstate, then it means you are going out of town. In Jacksonville, it is impossible to go anywhere without getting on a big road, doing lots of merging, jocky-ing and subsequently lots of cussing. (not really, I try my hardest not to cuss.) I spend a minimum of 20-25 minutes in the car each time I get behind the wheel. This translates into way more trips to the gas station. Also, what falls into the category of 'not too far from here' or 'just around the corner' is operating from a different scale. I mean, the beach is 45 minutes away!
BUT! Like I said, there's a lot to love here.
First, depending on where you are standing and which way the wind is blowing, the air will all of a sudden smell like coffee. HELLO, that's cool. There's a big coffee plant smack dab in the middle of town that emits an aroma of coffee into the air that caffeinates the entire city. Beat that, Charleston ;)
There really is a lot of beauty here. When I previously alluded to Florida being the place I had always stereotyped as a resort, theme-park and geriatric world, I am discovering that Jacksonville is proving that stereotype wrong. (maybe I'm just not far enough south - Jacksonville is BARELY in Florida). The ancient and massive moss-lined oak trees are here as well; the grass and the plants and the air feel similar to home...and if I'm honest, I find myself noticing that the grass here is even greener. (if you're wondering, that WAS meant to be a pun and literal at the same time).
What's most lovely about Jacksonville is the community of people who have welcomed me in...into their homes, into their lives, into their hearts. It was to be the biggest void I'd have upon arriving here; the relationships, connections and love that I left behind felt like a literal tearing of my heart. But God knew that. And in a way that only He can do, He has orchestrated a whole new group of people for me to love and be loved by. I imagine my next post should be an exposition of characters...as they are key parts in the story. (stay tuned for Exposition Part 4) But really, I am 7 months into this new adventure and pleased to say that that I am already deeply, madly in love with a whole new group of people that I know will be my friends for the rest of my life. God is so smart.