SHOULD YOU STAY PUT?

The state of Florida is full of retirees fleeing the ice and snow.  A friend who moved there said,  “I never want to see a snowflake again.”  And yet, my husband and I chose to retire in our Indiana home.

This week, I remembered why we  stay up north.  First of all, I lived in Florida for three years back in the 70’s. My youngest daughter was born there.  What I remember most about raising young children in that state is that you almost never saw children out playing in their yards or in the neighborhood.  Most of the time,  the heat and humidity made it too uncomfortable.  And so, strangely enough, my children spent more time indoors on a yearly basis than they did  after moving up north. Retirees don’t have to worry about raising children, but the heat is still a problem, as the elderly are much more affected by hot weather.

Crime is a problem in Florida, because it’s the “point of no return,” for many unskilled people who move there without adequate resources or a job.  And during the winter months, the traffic is horrendous.  If you think you’d like to run a free motel, though, it’s a great place.  Distant relatives and acquaintances from up north suddenly start cultivating your friendship, and before you know it, they’ve come for a visit. And then there are the palmetto bugs that are actually giant roaches. Even with a monthly pest control service, they show up in strange places all over your house.

All of those problems are manageable, but what  I missed most about  Indiana was the spring and fall seasons.  As you age, you spend less time  gadding about,  taking trips, going to concerts and restaurants.  If your health isn’t good, the constantly changing landscape  provides excitement and drama right out the window. A sunny day in March brings a crop of colorful crocuses.  Then it snows, but a few days later it warms up, and there are your daffodils waving in the wind. More cold, maybe some snow, but then it’s warm enough for the magnolia and crab apple trees to bloom.  When summer arrives, the trees produce a lovely deep green foliage that you never see in the Florida palm trees.  A Florida summer is either scorched or yellow-green.

And then, along about September, a cold breeze sweeps in, and you suddenly feel a spurt of energy as you watch the leaves turn to a riot of yellow, red, orange and gold.  The crisp, cool air invigorates you in a way that no ocean breeze ever can. 

And so, as our days dwindle down to a precious few, we’re glad we’re Back Home in Indiana.