One of the most remarkable things to me about Southwest Florida, and Florida in general, is that most of the people I meet usually aren’t from Florida. Of course, the snowbirds aren’t from Florida—their primary residence lies elsewhere—but most of us who call Florida home are not originally from the Sunshine State. We moved here either because of a new opportunity for ourselves and our families or in search of one.
The fact that most of us weren’t born in Florida makes it easier for even the most introverted among us to strike up a conversation with strangers. And economists like me are among the most introverted of all. Here’s an old joke: How can you tell when an economist is an extrovert? He stares at your shoes.
But in Florida, there’s a magical question you can ask anyone that is almost always a sure-fire conversation starter, whether you are an introvert or not: Where are you from?
If you don’t believe me, try it out the next time you need to make small talk with a stranger—whether at a coffee shop, a bar or a restaurant counter—or even with a customer or client when you are trying to break the ice.
It’s magical because most people residing in Florida weren’t born in Florida; they moved here.
The numbers bear out this observation: According to the most recent American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, just 35.8% of Florida residents were actually born in the state. The rest of us moved from another part of the country or another country altogether. So if you ask someone where they are from, about two-thirds of the time they’ll tell you someplace besides Florida. And usually they are delighted to go on to tell you what drew them to Florida. Sometimes the stories are matter-of-fact, but sometimes they are tales of danger, heroism, broken families, romance or entrepreneurship. You never know until you ask, and the people I meet are mostly glad that you cared enough to ask.
It’s rare indeed that a random stranger will reply by telling you something like, “Why, I was born in Fort Myers, and I have lived here my whole life!” It’s such an unusual reply it usually becomes its own topic of conversation—precisely because it’s so remarkable. And as you listen to our lifelong residents speak, you’ll receive the gift of hearing firsthand how Fort Myers has evolved, from a perspective they alone possess.
According to the same census survey, the remaining 64.2% of us—including me—that weren’t born in Florida come from all over, including the 22% who arrived in Florida from a different country. I love the fact that, in Southwest Florida, a question as simple as “Where are you from?” can generate such a diverse array of answers and stories.
My closest friends and neighbors come from Michigan, Brazil, Alabama, France, North Carolina, the Philippines and West Virginia, to name a few places. And I met all of them because, just like them, I relocated to Southwest Florida. As I reflect on Florida Gulf Coast University’s 25-plus years of history, I’m thankful for all the people—administrators, faculty, staff and students—who took a chance and joined us here, from all over the world, to be part of our collaborative journey. Whether it’s FGCU’s outgoing president, our incoming one or just about anyone else you happen to meet, everyone came from someplace. And most of the time it wasn’t Florida.
But once new Floridians arrive, they stay. The U.S. Census Bureau, once again, confirmed Florida leads all other states in net migration each year—a trend already in place before the pandemic. New Floridians bring new ideas with them. They bring fresh perspectives on old problems, and they make us even more productive as a consequence.
What are you doing for lunch next week? I have a question I’d love to ask you.
Victor V. Claar is associate professor of economics in the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University. He serves as the George Gibbs Center for Economic Prosperity at the James Madison Institute adjunct director, and chairs the Freedom & Virtue Institute board.
