We Moved to Chicago

Dendee reflects on his move from Sarasota, Florida, to the suburbs of Chicago in June 1999, a change driven largely by business rather than desire. Leaving Florida was an emotional experience for him. Sarasota represented an almost idyllic setting, filled with white sand beaches, palm trees, and near-constant sunshine. Although he acknowledged that the relentless heat eventually became tiring—so much so that it subtly shaped daily habits—he still felt a genuine sense of loss when leaving such a beautiful environment behind.

Chicago, by contrast, presented a very different way of life. While the climate and surroundings were far removed from Florida’s tropical appeal, Dendee found the city surprisingly impressive. For a large metropolitan area, it struck him as vibrant and engaging, offering a sense of scale and energy that Sarasota could not. He also found some comfort in leaving behind Florida’s less charming aspects, particularly the infamous giant cockroaches – one of which had once given him a near heart-attack-inducing scare.

Despite growing to appreciate Chicago, Dendee remained aware of what he missed. Simple pleasures like standing barefoot in warm, blue ocean water stayed with him as symbols of the life he had left behind. Overall, his reflection captures the emotional push and pull of relocation: the excitement of discovering a new city balanced against nostalgia for a place that once felt like home.