[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by kenoc7

Florida is far from free if you want to read books or discuss gender identity or racial discrimination.

Ya, that’s right on top of my to do list of retirement activities, right behind getting a root canal and open heart surgery.

[Nucky]

How about FaceTime or Zooming with these "friends"? Make the offer to them if you wish and see what their reaction is.

I am in a Zoom meeting with up to 25 people from Jersey and have been for the past several years. It's a nuthouse but a good way to stay in touch with people from your former life. They all say Florida sucks but all want to visit us. I don't think so. Homey Don't Play That Game. There are plenty of Hotels around these parts.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

My office manger of over 25 years is AA. She was down in FL last Winter, visiting her sister (who lives about 30 minutes north), and I invited her and her husband to join us for dinner @ Blue Fin in Brownwood.

They LOVED TV and have returned for dinner 2-3 more times on subsequent visits... She's thinking of moving here when she retires...

I asked her if the "political slant" TV is supposedly known for made any difference. She said no one treated her any differently than they do in DC or the Maryland suburbs...

If she's AA, maybe you shouldn't have taken her to a rowdy bar (Blue Fin). Not nice to tempt those trying to purge their demons. Maybe take her someplace not so alcohol-focused. Ohhhhh, you mean she is of African (or Caribbean or West Indies) descent. Just say so, no need to use code words.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Learned that from you …………….

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

If she's AA, maybe you shouldn't have taken her to a rowdy bar (Blue Fin). Not nice to tempt those trying to purge their demons. Maybe take her someplace not so alcohol-focused. Ohhhhh, you mean she is of African (or Caribbean or West Indies) descent. Just say so, no need to use code words.

It's an abbreviation, used all the time in medical notes...

No "code words" implied nor intended...

But thanks for the insinuation...

[Taltarzac725]

I was playing a game on FunTrivia yesterday which has people from all over the world and was matched with another person of 60+ who lives in Florida.

We got the challenge but he wrote me that he is quite a bit south of me as he did not want to move to the Villages because there are way too many you know who with certain opinions and he does not golf.

ZCaveman was on FunTrivia as well for a while. He passed away, unfortunately.

I would interact with him quite a bit on various internet places.

[Pgcacace]

A free FL means free from COVID restrictions among other things.

[cherylking]

We moved here from Heritage Todd Creek in Thornton, Colorado in 2017. It's a 55+ neighborhood. Many people I knew there, have a second place in Arizona or visit AZ. They think the humidity is unbearable here. Or at least that's a lot of the negative comments I've heard. Yes, it's humid but not always. There are 100+ swimming pools to get cooled off in TV or even air conditioning.
I've been back to CO 4 times to visit friends. We belong to the Colorado club in TV and love it. There is so much more here than any other 55+ neighborhood.

I will admit, I did shed some tears when I left CO, It was definitely because of the friends I left behind but I don't regret it at all.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by mikeycereal

Yeah but percentages favor one side, if not all. I myself do not latch on to either cult, and refrain from deep discussions because no one is going to sway another to their side in that sense. Takes a wacko website and news channel to do that.

Correction….news channels.

[Warbunny1]

Michael, we to will be moving from Ft. Collins CO to Richmond, close in a few weeks and will settle in shortly after that. Best wishes and good luck, hope to see you there very soon. As others have said, once you're in, your real friends will be lining up to visit.

Mike 63
Chicago, IL
Ft. Collins, CO

[Carlsondm]

That a typical sarcastic response from some people. We moved from Michigan 4 years ago and don't regret it one bit. We are a mobile society. We travel back occasionally and see them about as much as we did before. We love that we dejunked and did something for ourselves. Part of the adventure of life.

[Michael 61]

Originally Posted by Warbunny1

Michael, we to will be moving from Ft. Collins CO to Richmond, close in a few weeks and will settle in shortly after that. Best wishes and good luck, hope to see you there very soon. As others have said, once you're in, your real friends will be lining up to visit.

Mike 63
Chicago, IL
Ft. Collins, CO

Mike, good luck with your move - it’s crazy for me right now, as I am doing so much renovations right now on my home in Colorado Springs, as I ready to put it on the market. Maybe we’ll see you in the Colorado Club 😀

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Oldragbagger

We faced some of the same, not only from a couple of longtime best friends, but also from one of our kids. It was really surprising from the kids because they hadn’t lived near us for nearly 10 years but they assumed we would move to where they were when we retired. They didn’t take it well when we told them we had other plans.
Have honest conversations with them. Maybe tell them directly that you are surprised by their reactions and ask why they aren’t being supportive. Sometimes people don’t even understand why they are reacting a certain way until forced to confront it and think about their feelings. If their reasons are rooted in the fact that they will be missing you and can’t imagine not being able to see you, accept that as love and have discussions about how the friendship will continue. If it’s about jealousy then that’s their problem. You can’t control how other people feel.
If they are REAL friends they will come around in time, especially once they see that you are happy.

Exceptional insight !

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Pgcacace

A free FL means free from COVID restrictions among other things.

Agree ! Free to ride a bike, play golf, go to a state park or beach...all maskless. Old collage chums were always telling me that was not the case for them (Calif. and Illinois). Also friends were amazed that our children were able to go to public schools, to attend in person in Illinois had to have the $$ for private or parochial schools, and governments there even came down on those schools... thus our friends also began to use the term "free Florida", not meaning we need to be FREED, but that we were free to act as we wished to protect our selves and it was made our responsibility, the burden of looking after our personal health was not placed on others.

[kitnhead]

We realized we needed to leave CA when the term “illegal haircut” came into fashion. It was absolutely crazy and terribly depressing to live there. I was not a bit sad to leave, and I had a lovely little house; but for me, freedom is everything.