Candi: As a child growing up in Florida, I could never understand the attraction of Florida to the older generation. They were everywhere….in grocery stores, at the beach, in the movie theaters, and particularly, in restaurants. What was so great about Florida, I wondered. I always took the warm temperatures for granted and continued to wonder what the attraction was…..until I was an “old person.” But in between my teen years (when my family relocated to to the Washington, DC area) and my approaching “old age,” I continued to be puzzled about the attraction of Florida to the old folks.
Ron: I grew up in New York, then lived in Boston and New Haven before migrating to Washington as a young adult. My paternal grandparents went to Florida for several months every winter. The only effect on me was the loss of regular presents that they used to bestow on me and my siblings. As a young adult, I visited them one year – it was hot and humid, but they never ran the AC; my grandfather was gravely ill; and they didn’t seem particularly happy. I think about 20 years elapsed until my next visit to Florida. At which time I visited my parents — who had relocated to Florida. They didn’t seem especially happy either and so I gave no further thought to any future sojourn in the Sunshine State.
Candi: But then I became an “old person”, and my attitude adjusted. On my 65th Birthday, I celebrated by going on a trip to Florida with a girlfriend, to see the Washington Nationals play baseball in Spring training in Viera, Florida. We flew to Orlando, hung out at the pool, and drove daily to Viera to see the Nationals play. How convenient was it that you didn’t need to bring sweaters, coats and gloves! You could just hang out in the ballpark in your jeans, and short sleeves, and even get some sun on your face. What fun! Maybe there was something to this Florida thing!
Ron: I visited my parents in Florida to some extent over the years, but always told myself that this was not a place for me. Eventually, they passed away and my visits ceased. Until a half year after my wife of 51 years died and I was in the throes of a deep depression. For reasons I still do not understand, I decided to go to Florida. I met up with some old friends who had relocated there years earlier. And I cannot explain it, but I felt strangely comfortable and “at home” in the Sunshine State. I started vsiting every year, for longer and longer periods.
Candi: Then, I got fixed up on a date with my soon-to-be new husband (I was a widow, and he was a widower), and we arranged to meet in Florida for Spring Training. No coats, sweaters or gloves needed. We were both big Baseball fans and coming back to Florida for Spring Training made a lot of sense. Getting away from the cold, snow, and ice, and sitting together outside in the sun (with sunscreen of course) was a very appealing idea.
Ron: We noticed that we were hardly alone; there were lots of other “Old People” hanging out at the ballpark too. And at the beach, the supermarket, the theatres, and of course the restaurants.
Candi & Ron: We got married two years later, and have been coming to Florida together every winter since. We drive south at the beginning of January, and we stay for a longer and longer period of time each year. We bask in the sun, go to the beach, swim in the municipal pool, workout in the nearby gym, socialize with the increasingly large circle of (senior) friends we have made, eat out (too frequently) in the ample number of excellent restaurants in the area, frequent plays, shows and concerts in the increasingly robust cultural scene, attend Osher lectures at FAU, entertain friends and family that visit us from the frozen north and enjoy most of our home cooked meals outside on the patio. All this in January, February and early March.
When we talk to friends and family at home, they remind us that we are missing the cold, snow, ice, and dark days, and cold nights. What a shame to miss that! We do miss our friends and family, who remain in the frozen north. But we definitely do not miss the cold, ice, etc.
We enjoy being with friends; celebrating milestone events; pursuing cultural, atheletic and social events and activities; and trying to remember what our arthritis felt like in the cold. We enjoy being part of a community that goes to Farm Markets on Saturday, enjoys swimming laps in the outdoor pool, working out in tee shirts on a sunny day, having to choose which of the many fabulous restaurants to frequent on Saturdy evening, and even going to Shul occasionally. It is liberating and enervating to walk outside, upon arising, to feel the warmth of the sun at 7AM.
We highly recommend the lifetyle, especially if you’re a Senior. Check it out. It might change your life!