Living in South West Florida meant an adjustment for this nothern gal, but the beauty that surrounded her made all the difference

It's been nearly 5 years since I made the move from the midwest to tropical South West Florida and sometimes my nothern friends and family ask if I miss the seasons. 

My answer is always a flat no, since I've learned to enjoy defining seasons in a different way.  Growing up in New England, I prided myself on having the right clothes, attitude and food to fit each season. 

Winter meant hunkering down with bowls of steamy homemade soup usually made with tomatoes left over from the garden and feather down blankets to snuggle under.

Spring brought scented liliacs, frilly dresses and cotton sweaters and a sigh of relief to see the sun on a regular basis again. 

Summer always came and went too quickly but gardens bloomed and slacks gave way to swim suits and shorts.  Lunch included fresh garden greens and a fresh catch of perch from the lake.

Fall, always my favorite, brought the hint of holidays, pumpkins and golden leaves.  The cool mornings made a fleece wrap a must. 

But Florida has seasons too, though they aren't defined by temperature. Instead you can always count on warm sunny days that go from temperate to hot as the calendar changes. I still relish my hot soups and fresh greens but replaced my perch with grouper and other local fishes. 

It's fun to watch the tourists come and go, you know that means it must be the winter months and there's no denying the holidays when strings of tiny white lights dot the palm trees. Summer down here brings steamy mornings and afternoon rains that cool the air if for only a short time.  I begining to cherish my summers in S.W. Florida as it is the quiet time of year when restaurants aren't crowded and you can again make it through one cyle of a traffic light.  

So do I miss the taditional nothern seasons.  No. Every time I see the snow banks and clips of folks wrapped in their wolen gear, I feel liberated and embrace my two season state, which makes me grateful for my new home.

Linda Bilodeau

Books:

Stepping Through Seagrass

The Olive Branch- A Tale of Resistance.