It was 2008. The rusty fan hummed overhead while the soft sound of gentle waves lapped the shore. That unmistakable sticky coastal breeze would occasionally creep through the screens and kiss my cheeks as I rocked my way to nowhere. Creaking in 3/4 time, the worn heart pine floors joined in the coastal symphony. With a notepad and pencil in hand, a simple slogan was born. Live low key.

With a life split between A1A and 30A, we found ourselves deep in the trenches of all aspects of Florida life. While the two ends of the state are far from similar, they are both deep in our tropical hearts. Florida is a changin’ and while we want to embrace it, we also want to preserve some of the slower way of life.

“My beach experience growing up was different and I love that it was. It surely helped shape my today. Air conditioning? What’s that? We didn’t partake in condos. A weathered gulf coastal cottage built by my great-grandfather in 1935 offered shelter from the sun on our summer excursions. It was exactly like you would imagine…beach during the day and sandy driveway bbq dinners at night. Souvenir shops, airbrush tees and card games fill my memories. Roll away cots made their way to the sleeping porch and the sound of puttering planes pulling advertising banners occasionally overtook the crashing waves. That cottage still stands and the storms that have visited have been gracious to spare her. As an adult, my husband and I settled into life down south in Jupiter where our boys grew up. Holidays were spent up on 30A and free weekends were for exploring the backcountry of the Florida Keys. Being one of those mommas that didn’t allow much screen-time, my boys were forced to build forts beneath the coconut palms, canoe to Mangrove Island, wade through the oyster flats, search for treasure and forever be on the lookout for Old Man Shaw, the ex-pirate.”

After a lot of years, some things remain the same. Florida is still muggy and buggy and we still have a determination to seek out old Florida. It’s there for those that want to find it. Join us. Live low key.