[gnu]

Mrs. Gnu and I shopped at the Home Depot in Naples, Fl today and they had the huge tent outside loaded with real Christmas trees. They were pre- cut and wrapped, but available. Even the Island Publik store has trees for sale out front. You'll have no trouble finding a tree, but as to which species, I don't know.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family!

[Villages Kahuna]

I'm not certain that the absence of "real" trees in TV is caused by their cost as much as not having the "stuff" to decorate them, or the people to decorate them for.

I can't tell you how many of our neighbors have said that boxes and boxes of Christmas lights and decorations were among the items that were sold during the garage sales we all seemed to have before moving to Florida. Then when we get here we're faced with a couple problems. If we decide we want to decorate--and if we're not traveling north to be with family for the holidays--we'd have to buy all new lights, decorations, etc. But maybe more important, finding a place to store all that stuff for eleven months each year is not a small problem. It seems that among a lot of things that are different between our houses "up north" and here in sunny Florida is the amount of storage space available. For those of you who don't live here yet, that's something you'll find out soon enough.

I think those issues may have a lot more to do with changes in Christmas traditions than anything else.

[Just Susan]

Are there air conditioned storage, rental units nearby for seasonal and overstock items?

[Just Susan]

Originally Posted by njgranny

I've gone all the way down to a small artificial tree. Last year, I put it in a plastic bag and stored it in the closet decorated. How lazy is that?

Smart, not lazy!

[faithfulfrank]

VK,
Good points. A real tree is nice, but they are more work then an artificial one.
We've always had a real one, and a 12 footer is more work then a 7 footer. Our biggest was a 14 footer two years ago.

Storage is indeed less down in Florida.....which is why I'm building another garage onto my existing garage....just got approved.

Frank D.

[graciegirl]

The Christmas tree in Florida is a thing that I view with some apprehension. Christmas has always been a huge holiday for our family and we have always decorated a LOT and had LOTS of parties. However...I have to admit that just before we came home on the First of December for the Holidays, I sorta, kinda, just a little bit, wished I didn't have all of the work ahead that faced me. I think there must be more like me, that may secretly wish NOT to have as much Christmas paraphenalia and as much preparation and entertaining at home as we once had.

sigh. Now I am probably in REAL trouble with Santa Claus.

[faithfulfrank]

At least down in Florida you don't have weather to contend with in decorating.
I have to wrap my outside trees with christmas lights before the ice storms come and wreck our trees.

We also have to put up the lights on the gutter a month ahead of time because of the weather.

I can't wait to decorate in Florida.

Frank D.

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by Just Susan

Are there air conditioned storage, rental units nearby for seasonal and overstock items?

Yes. The one we used was in Oxford. However there are a number of them. Just check the yellow pages.

[downeaster]

Last year my neighbor, who goes all out decorating, placed one of those large inflated scenes on his lawn. It killed all of the grass under it. If you use one of those it may be a good idea to move it occasionally.

[rsetterlund]

My Sister moved down to Florida about 8 years ago from New York. She says it is real easy to get a real tree if that is what you want. She also says the price is not that much more than she would have spent up North.

[RayB]

I have read these posts with great amusement. We have lived in Florida for over Twenty years. Yes they have Christmas Trees in Florida. We lived in Tampa and for years we visited Christmas Tree farms just north of Tampa where we could pick out our tree, cut it down a bring it home. If you don't believe there are real trees available in The Villages just visit the Public stores a look at the beautiful cut trees they have for sale. The state of Florida is covered with pine trees. The State is one of the largest lumber and wood products producer in the nation.

[nONIE]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

The Christmas tree in Florida is a thing that I view with some apprehension. Christmas has always been a huge holiday for our family and we have always decorated a LOT and had LOTS of parties. However...I have to admit that just before we came home on the First of December for the Holidays, I sorta, kinda, just a little bit, wished I didn't have all of the work ahead that faced me. I think there must be more like me, that may secretly wish NOT to have as much Christmas paraphenalia and as much preparation and entertaining at home as we once had.

sigh. Now I am probably in REAL trouble with Santa Claus.

Gracie,

Why not cut back a little on all the hoopla. Im sure you have gone all out for many years to make people happy,(cause thats how you are). Isnt it time to be just a teeny weeny bit more conservative in your efforts? You have earned a rest this year, trust me noone will even notice. The main thing is that you will be all together and enjoying each others company. Please be good to yourself this year and take a little rest, you deserve it. And tell them One of Santas elves said so!!!!!