Snowbirds & Sunbirds- welcome guests
By jxmartin
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It is February in Southwest Florida. The warm Florida sun presides over the gentle sway of palm trees and the rhythmic sussuration of the Seaside waves as they crash upon the tan of sandy beaches. It is an inviting prospect to our northern cousins who are beset by snow and cold for several months. To local residents, that means that the population will practically double itself, from the lows of mid-Summer. Everywhere you go, there is a conga line of cars in front of you. The restaurants are packed to the rafters every night and the beaches can’t hold any more sun burned bodies.
Is this an anti-snowbird rant? No, not really. Every one of these multitude of cars is packed with spending machines that make Florida a prosperous place to live and work. The entertainment industry depends on a lively “Seasonal Trade.” All of these visitors need a place to sleep and restaurants to dine in. These welcome guests provide a river of cash to Florida’s economy.
Still, it does try one’s patience when the restaurant lines are extra-long and parking spots at the beach disappear before nine A.M. All of our visitors are on vacation. They mean to enjoy the delights of this sub-tropical paradise. The balance, of course, is that after a few months, most of our guests return home. We get this beautiful tropical paradise to enjoy, at a much more relaxed pace.
And of course, during the summer months, there is an exodus of Floridian “sunbirds” to the north, to take advantage of their guest facilities’ in the cooler climates. Florida license plates are seen driving happily, along many a mountain or lakes region in the Northeastern United States. In both cases, visitors are welcome and much needed guests. They should be treated as the valued additions to our economies that they are. Welcome y’all, to Florida. We hope you enjoy your stay and come back every year. And when you see one of us driving through the Adirondacks or the Wisconsin Lakes Region, give us a wave like we do to y’all.
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(354 words)
Joseph Xavier Martin
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Comments
You brought back my own
You brought back my own memories of visiting Florida, such a beautiful place with its white velvety sandy beaches, and many welcoming people, bars and restaurants to visit.
One of my favourite places, was a boat trip up the Everglades and seeing all the wild creatures in their habitat, especially the Manatees. Sadly will never be able to go again, yet I have my wonderful memories.
Jenny.
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The first part of your
The first part of your information was so interesting and new to me, giving me more insight into areas I'd never heard of before.
How wonderful your trip sounds, I was right there with you every step of the way, memories came flooding back in bucket loads. My son got to dive in a part of the river where there were baby alligators, but they said it was safe, just as long as you stayed clear of the alligators area because we were told that they're quite shy of humans. It was also in Florida that my son learnt to swim when he was about seven, that was in about 1989.
Thank you so much for sharing your adventure which was truely significant to my own experience.
All the best in your future travels.
Jenny.
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