It is astounding that we get calls from our Southern friends during the winters but don't hear from them during the summers and hurricane seasons.

Beautiful, how else would it be?

When we moved to Florida, we were hit by Tropical Storm Fay the day the moving van arrived. Several roads were closed.

Every state has its natural disasters, and it ticks me off when others gloat, lie, brag, deny about their own state.

A tropical storm is just some wind and rain. I come from New England the effects of a blizzard are around for weeks. The year before we moved we spent as much time shoveling the roof as the driveway. I also lost a tree in one of the hurricanes that they do also get up there. I'm happy here year round.

After watching the news and the east coast, last years hurricane was a piece of cake in TV, compared to what those poor souls are going thru.

My Northern friends never seem to call when property tax bills come due.

I have been through several blizzards, two ice storms, a couple of earthquakes including the big 1989 one, a couple of hurricanes, two tropical storms, one cyclone, a hailstorm (where hail was nearly size of golf balls, wrecking our Jeep Wrangler), invasion by crickets, a flood, and a couple of tornadoes. We have lost countless trees. Yet I am glad I lived in all of these places including three times in Florida because of the variety of lifestyles, beauty, different peoples, seasonal changes, different plants, different topography, wonderful "Sunday drives" where we spend a day or two exploring places we have not been to, learning history, and so on.

Tropical Storm Fay brought enough wind and rain into our garage that we had to move all the moving boxes, etc into the house. Our driveway was 500 ft long, and the poor movers had to park the van out in the street, not in the driveway. So it most certainly was not beautiful as one of you said.

I am happy to let you know that our property taxes for the entire year is $1900 for a 2600 sq ft house and 3.3 acres. But I recognize that the property taxes in too many places are atrocious. Fl certainly has a low cost of living.

Thank you for your kind words and for not gloating at the poor souls.

Moving is not my favorite thing to do. I do however enjoy visiting all of those lovely places but Florida is where I am happy to live. We all have choices to make and this is mine.

My initial post wasn't meant to gloat. I am so sorry that anyone had damage from this storm.

I only meant to say that the country from California to New York had unbelievably bad weather and we were spared here.

Richard. Sandtrap. I am sure You understand. We will all miss you. I know you are in the arms of God.