Glad you don't know anyone that was there! Yeah, I try to keep instagram updated as much as possible during emergencies since it's on my phone! As for the videos of people that don't evacuate there are a number of reasons. Some of them are younger people with survivor bias, nothing bad has happened in previous hurricanes.. some of it has to do with how much of a pain evacuation can be. Florida is huge state. I can drive for eight hours and still be in Florida depending on when we left and whether or not I'm trying to get to Georgia or Alabama and I'm not at the bottom of the state at all. During an evacuation it gets worse, supplies become scarce and people with generators are buying containers full of gas. There are frequent gas shortages despite the port of Tampa, and other areas increasing the amount of gas trucks coming in. Then you have how much of a pain getting things together and leaving, even more of a pain if you have pets. Traffic becomes an issue and a few years ago where people were still in their cars trying to get out when the hurricane hit people in Texas. So some people stay. Some of them are big dumb and don't live in a safe place or consider where they are going if high storm surge comes in.

I operate on a simple rule. Is the evacuation mandatory? This time was the first time I was under a mandatory evacuation so thus it was the first time I evacuated. Also after the evacuation you have no idea how your house and all your possession are doing! That part was very stressful. Hoping I didn't see my house on the news in a bad way.

Hopefully they can keep copycats from doing anything so people get to enjoy Christmas markets. I'm not sure when I'd schedule my dream trip to Germany. Both Christmas and Oktoberfest look like fun and I doubt I'd conquer my fear of flying more than once.

I highly recommend having cats. But! I recommend getting two adult cats that get along as they are more of a starter cat that way and you want at least two because they need companions or they get lonely. The biggest trick is litter box maintenance and feeding them. Special diets can smell very potent and that takes getting used to. They also need time to play. I don't recommend kittens as with adult cats you get their full personality kittens on the other hand they grow into their personalities and may become more or less rambunctious. You could always see if there are shelters that need volunteers. I know here we're always looking for fosters and people who will take care of kittens! That way you could see if cat ownership is for you, lol!

Here's hoping! Hope you have a good year too!