Even though our area of St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa is often referred to as Tampa Bay (diehards remind us that there is no such place, it's only a dividing body of water), and we are fortunate to share the advantages of a very large "city" with the feel of a comfortable neighborhood, there has always been a sense of rivalry. Fortunately new corporations and residents have been working to change that. Tampa has always been the "big city" - the financial center, with skyscrapers downtown, the hub for attorneys and CPAs and the big headquarters. St Pete was historically referred to as the city with all the old people (a misperception now, since the average age in St Pete is 39). Some people in St Pete longed to be like Tampa.
Now, interestingly, people of all ages being transferred to Tampa are choosing to live in St Pete. Young professionals are moving from Tampa to St Pete. Tampa has large planned communities that we'll never have on our peninsula. But we have charming neighborhoods, little pockets of individuality. We have a downtown that doesn't dry up after 5 pm when everyone goes home. We have parks along the water, and lots of waterfront, and our downtown has become vibrant and exciting, a pleasure to many different ages.
The Tampa Museum of Art has been having problems in getting a new building, and I had to smile when I read in the newspaper recently that the mayor of Tampa was complaining that art and museums just didn't have the support in Tampa that they did in St. Pete.
I love being in St Pete and being an ambassador for the city along the way. I also like that we can go to Tampa for the Bucs games, or the wonderful Tampa International Airport, or shows and exhibits. We're far more together than apart - the sum is greater than the parts.
p.s. If you think St. Petersburg is still old people and green benches, just come on down (or up) and see for yourself what a wonderful place it is to live. (or visit, or vacation, or do business.......)
