Spring Comes In Like A Lion...

Southwest Florida has never been known to have four, distinctive seasons. It has almost always been lauded as one of the hottest locations in Florida. While the rest of our country was enjoying their mild winter, southwest Florida's winter never actually happened. I mean, in all honesty, it didn't really get cold here at all! Sure we had a few days of cooler temperatures, but nothing that resembled freezing cold temperatures. For those of us who are year-round residents, we like this warmer weather. Each year, when the Arctic blasts chill the midwest and eastern seaboard, the snowbirds start arriving here in droves. 

But, as the temperatures around the country warm up again with the arrival of spring, local residents know it's only a matter of time before the last snowbird departs for home. Because of the seasonal nature of southwest Florida's economy, their departure is a mixed blessing.

Tourist season represents the busy time in southwest Florida. Businesses that have planned all year are, typically, enjoying a stream of customers that they only witness during the seasonal months. While that is certainly not the case with every business, it does represent a majority of businesses in southwest Florida. From recreational fishing boat operators to water park lifeguards to restaurants of every style and description, the late winter months are the most profitable time of year for many parts of Florida!

Some other businesses, however, are eagerly awaiting their departure. Those business's livelihood is based in home watch, lawn maintenance or another line of income inversely proportional to the influx of tourists, Because so very many businesses here involve recreational and tourism activities, it is during that time of year when the pace of life here speeds up! The traffic slows down, but our need to get places quickly increases. So, a ‘mixed blessing’ could be defined as following a lost snowbird up Del Prado Boulevard on your way to an appointment with two new clients, both of which you'll be late meeting because you hadn´t planned on having to drive 32 miles per hour the entire way while following a car from Michigan!

Despite the increased tendency towards frustration, the season doesn't last too long and so, following Easter, the daily, local population finally begins to diminish. As our tourist season rolls to a close, so, too, begins the intense heat and humidity of summer. Southwest Florida is (plain and simply) too hot during the summer months. Hence, the decision to become a year-round resident is something of an aquired taste. If it weren't for abundant beaches and lots of local pools and swimming holes, most of the residents would probably just melt!

As spring becomes summer in southwest Florida, it does so very quickly. To say that in southwest Florida spring “..goes out like a lamb” isn't giving that season's exit enough credit for speed! However, as locals, we can get up off our beach towels now and head for the waves and a swim! The water's finally warm enough for us, too!

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