Been dancing my fool head off in Florida. I love to dance, so this has been kind of a life saving surprise. I live in the Long Bayou condos, and they have quite the social schedule. There were two dances in February! Not to mention their line dancing and ballroom dancing classes. All of this happens at night, and when I first got here I was firmly in Michigan mode, meaning I didn’t go out after dinner. Ever. 7 pm saw me with a glass of wine and a book.
Then I got a peek at the social schedule for this place. They actually put a calendar out every month and it is jam packed with excursions and classes and activities. I saw that there was going to be a Valentine’s Dance, and I decided to take line dance lessons every Tuesday night so I wouldn’t look too much a fool. The Valentine’s Dance was so fun that I went to the dance they had the next week. And this weekend I went out dancing with some people I met here. Imagine a bar full of 60-somethings. I didn’t think such a thing was possible but it happens here in Florida.
The place was right on the Gulf and there were two bands, one outside on the deck and the other inside after dark. We danced until the sun went down, and then we went inside and danced some more. It was so much fun. I’m starting to make some good friends and I’m thankful for them. I could have never predicted that I’d be dancing so much. Apart from the perpetually warm sunny days, it’s been the best thing about my new life in Florida.
Have to admit: it’s not all dancing in the moonlight. I really miss Al. And not just as a dance partner. I miss every single thing about living with him. All the things we take for granted from that first cup of coffee in the morning, through dinner together, to curling up in bed next to each other at night. But I’m hanging in there. I have placed framed photos of him around the house, we phone each other every day, we text. And we have an end date to this long distance marriage. He’ll be back in Florida in three weeks and I am counting the days. When he gets here, I’m taking him dancing.
cynthiaharrison.com 
Delightful post. Sounds like you are on the right track to becoming a Floridian. ☺☺☺
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It is so refreshing to have places to go at night that cater to an older crowd. Nobody past 40 goes out dancing at bars in Michigan! We wouldn’t dare show our wrinkled faces:)
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Ha, you don’t have to worry about that here, 90% of us all have wrinkled faces, no one notices or cares. ☺☺☺
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It’s lovely to dance again:))
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Go-go Cynthia! Lovely post.
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Thank you June. I didn’t know what to expect from this move, but honestly it’s been lovely so far:)
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I never thought Florida would appeal to me, just a place to die, to be frank. Well Cynthia, you are making me see it as a place to reinvent and live fully. Thank you!
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Jackie, there are a LOT of old people here. I am 61 and I am one of the youngest in my group. People retire here–they no longer have to work in the north (where the jobs are) so they flock down, and I’m sure you’re right, many do die here too. But they come to live a better life, or at least a warmer and thus more active one, with the time they have left.
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Cynthia, I hope your Al returns to Florida soon and brings his dancing shoes because it sounds like he is going to need them. Thanks for joining us at the Salon.
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More likely he will bring his golf shoes, but whatever. Glad I ran across your Salon!
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