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I Live Here

Valrico

A military career took him many places, but his positive experiences in the area drove him back.

By JAMES BAUER
Published February 18, 2005

Florida "Crackers" brag about being natives of Florida, but they didn't choose it, God chose that they be born here. On the other hand, my wife and I chose to live in Valrico. And it wasn't as if we didn't have other options or hadn't seen life in other places.

After a 26-year career in the military we had moved 13 times, lived in the Northwest, Midwest, Northeast and Southeast United States and two foreign countries. We chose the Brandon area because of the positive experiences we had when we lived here while I was the ROTC commander at the University of South Florida. The friends that we and our five children made brought us back.

If I had to sum it up, there are three main reasons we like this area: the strong family values that, in spite of what's going on elsewhere, still exist in this community; the strong community spirit that exists here; and, finally, the robust support of the military that this community has.

Our children went to the local schools and university, played sports and even married two local boys. Going to sporting events, playing in the many local parks and going to the local beaches were all family events. Although their jobs have taken several of them away, our children still call this area home.

I have seen the community spirit in this area grow even stronger with the intense growth in population. The Chamber of Commerce is an active and effective organization that is helping to keep the growth under control and this community beautiful and well organized.

I've worked with the United Way and three social service organizations and the charity and benevolence of this area is unmatched. The Rotary Clubs always have strongly supported our local charities. These activities are the foundation of a robust community spirit.

Finally, as a veteran, I'm most appreciative of the strong military support in this area.

Brandon, although a distance away from MacDill Air Force Base, has always been the bedroom community for the military. This community recently got an award for its outstanding support of the base and we have established an annual "Military Appreciation Day" every Fourth of July to honor all military members and veterans in the area.

The only regret is that when we walk around the neighborhood in the evening we can no longer smell the heavy aroma of orange blossoms. The orange groves are now subdivisions.

Bauer lives on Brianholly Drive in Valrico.

[Last modified February 17, 2005, 10:50:08]