We took a short trip to Florida in March. After leaving our Midwest snow behind, stepping out of the plane and onto Florida soil was like stepping from winter into spring.
Travel Light Tip
When we travel to a new destination we like to take a walk as soon as possible. This serves three main purposes for us:
1. It familiarizes us with the immediate area.
2. It acclimates us to the weather in a different locale.
3. It gives us a settled feeling.
We found our first alligator in a retaining pond near the street. He was just a little fellow—maybe three feet long. If he had any nearby relatives we didn’t see them. But then, we did not conduct a thorough search either. Hmm. Maybe that wouldn’t give everyone a settled feeling.
We enjoyed the lush vegetation and flowers in Sarasota. Best of all were the crimson red flowering bushes everywhere (sorry no photo of them). I think they were bougainvillea, but I didn’t ask. Someone can correct me if they wish. Anyone?
Travel Light Humor
It is no secret. Many retirees have chosen Florida as their retirement home. Some areas are basically bedroom communities. Drug stores and medical buildings abound.
However, not everyone drawn to live in the state is of retirement age. Friends, who are not retired, recently moved to Florida for the weather and the beaches. To help them determine which part of the state to live in, they decided to rent first.
Whenever he had a project or “honey-do” he wanted to accomplish after his office hours he could not. Only one hardware store was available near their rental home. It closed at 5:00 p.m. Why should it stay open any later? Nobody tackled a project after work because they weren’t working.
As our friends looked for a home, they discussed the names of potential subdivisions with a new friend. He freely shared his opinion and his pet name for a retirement community they were considering.
“You’re too young,” he said. “You don’t want to live in Wrinkle Wood.”
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Before we went to Florida I was doing okay with our winter weather here at home since I actually like snow. But once I’d viewed the flowers, walked on the beach, and picked oranges for my breakfast, even I was ready to be done with winter.
What helps you acclimate to new surroundings? Tell me about it in the comments below. Seen any alligators lately? How settled did they make you feel? Please tell me about that in the comments, too.
Until next time . . . Travel Light . . . and tread softly near alligators,
SuZan
©2019 SuZan Klassen
SuZan Klassen 