Today, my department is moving from a rented suite in Downtown Orlando back to our main location in Winter Park.

Two years ago, all of us begrudgingly agreed to move to the downtown office due to space issues in our home location. We complained about the added commute [at the time, I lived exactly 2.3 miles from our office], the crowded downtown area, and the isolation from our other coworkers.

Now, a full two years later, we’re all complaining about having to move back home. Why the change?

Our downtown location – on the tenth floor of a large office building – has one of the most beautiful views in all of Orlando. We take up the entire tenth floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows wrapping around our entire suite. We literally have a view outside of every window. To the north, we face beautiful Lake Ivanhoe. In the west, we see gorgeous sunsets almost every night, filling our department with the most perfect amber light that made everything sparkle like it was on fire. Absolutely gorgeous.

On top of that, we’re in the middle of EVERYTHING down here. I am literally a five minute drive from some of most incredible social, cultural, and literary happenings in Central Florida. For example, College Park – home of Infusion Tea and several book stores and historical landmarks – is less than two miles from our office. There was always a poetry reading, open Mic Night, or something happening in the area, so there was no excuse for me to miss out.

And don’t get me started on the restaurants. And the bars. And all of the other amazing hangouts we could walk to after work.

So, yeah, two years ago we went to the downtown office, kicking and screaming. Now, we’re leaving it kicking and screaming. Funny how that works.

I’ve learned something, though, about this whole adventure. Orlando is a city FULL of events and opportunities. Why did it take me so long to start exploring this area? Why did I wait until I was forced to work downtown to start exploring the literary, cultural, art, and social scene? I’ve lived in this city for over a decade and it took my company making a location decision for me to really start LIVING in Orlando.

Well… better late than never! Now I know where everything is. Urban Rethink, Infusion Tea, Austin’s Coffee, Sleepy Moon Cafe – all of it right in my backyard.

So now I need to get back to packing. Tomorrow morning, I’m back to main campus for work. Even though I’m no longer walking distance from all of my favorite spots, I sure know how to find them! And I’m not letting the slightly longer commute from main campus stop me from going to them now that I’ve finally discovered them.

Anyone seen the packing tape?

~ Victoria Elizabeth Ann