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>>I've missed checking in with the forum - and hope >>others haven't given up on it altogether. This was my >>first winter being retired and living in northeastern >>Pennsylvania. I always assumed that I really didn't >>mind the winter - having grown up in Syracuse. I >>learned to drive on snow and the weather rarely >>stopped me from doing what I wanted. I always made it >>to work, enjoyed the occasional snow day, and dealt >>with the elements. Now, however, being retired, I've >>changed my tune. While I still get around and keep >>busy, I resent having to spend six months with mainly >>indoor activities. All winter long I looked out the >>window waiting for spring. I want to putter around in >>the yard, sit on the deck and read a book, and play >>golf. I don't want to spend half of the rest of my >>life waiting for good weather. Looks like it's time to >>become a snowbird - or else relocate to a more >>moderate climate permanently. I don't think I'd want >>to live in Florida year round, but how far south do I >>have to go to escape the long bleak winter? > > >Shirley, > >Both Tom and Dave have hit it well on the head--south >of the Mason Dixon is good, North of the 34th >parallel. Makes for a narrow band but you avoid the >harsh winters and the seltering summer heat within >that band. > >Like Dave, I've already had to mow, the azeales and >dogwood are blooming, crocus and daffodils are spent, >tulips are blooming too. Our Bradfords are spent, but >fruit trees are blossoming, and my veggie garden goes >in right after Easter this year. I've got cabbage to >harvest now, and just set out new strawberries. > >It's been so long since we had a significant >snowfall--a light one (just one) this past winter--we >do get an occasional ice storm, and while tornadoes >are a threat, the area I live in usually escapes high >wind damage. On the flip, we're in a long term draught >(although you wouldn't know it from this Spring's >rainfall) and unemployment in our county is over 13%. >As a retiree, that's not so earth shattering, except >for the diminishing retirement investment returns >everyone has experienced with the economy as it is. > >I'm two hours from the mountains (where I can go if I >have to have a snow infusion) and 3 ½ hours from the >Atlantic beaches. By chance and marriage I landed in a >pretty moderate and agreeable zone.

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