Flying with the Snowbirds

“We’re going to Florida, but we’re NOT going to Sarasota or Pinecraft,” my sister and I agreed when we began planning our February Florida trip.

“Absolutely not. That’s where all the other Mennonites go, and we’re going to be different.”

“Not Sarasota, and not Pinecraft. All the plain people go to Pinecraft to visit other plain people and play shuffleboard.”

“What a silly reason to go somewhere on vacation.”

“We can see plain people at home in Lancaster County.”

“We can see plain people when we look in the mirror!”

Brenda first invited me along with her family to visit the Sunshine State when I mentioned that I’ve never been there.

“Well, do you want to go with us in February?” She and her husband and their six children have been wanting a vacation, and my nieces have been begging to go to Florida. They hear about Florida from classmates who have wealthy relatives with beach houses in Pinecraft, a section of Sarasota that’s a popular winter vacation spot for snowbird Mennonites.

Our relatives don’t own beach houses (we come from plebeian stock) and so no Florida vacations for our family when I was growing up. My sisters Brenda and Joanne went to Florida when they were teenagers, but I was too young to go along.

But now’s my big chance. Do I want to escape part of February in Pennsylvania to walk in flip-flops on white sand beaches in the Sunshine State?

“If you’re serious about inviting me, I’m coming with you,” I said.

Brenda and I started making plans. Her friend had a beach house in the town of Navarre on the Florida panhandle, which looked like a safe distance from Sarasota.

“I’ll call my friend to reserve the house,” said Brenda. Some time later, Brenda texted me, “Friend sold house in Navarre. We’ll have to look for another place.”

Days later, Brenda texted me again, “Um, we found another AirBnb house that meets our needs. But it’s in Sarasota.”

“They have the best prices. So we booked that house.”

At least we know why all the plain people go to Sarasota.

As I write this, we’re just a few weeks away from going to Florida! I’ve talked to several friends, and they all assure me I’ll love Florida.

On the way down south, we’ll stop in to visit our cousin who lives in Georgia.

In Florida, my nieces and I both want to collect sea shells. We also want to go fishing. I haven’t been fishing since I was too young to need a license, but it should be fun to try again. We also want to visit Sarasota Jungle Gardens and the Big Cats Sanctuary. Brenda said her children love animals.

To save money, we’ll pack most of our food.

It sounds beautiful, and it will be a great way to grow closer to my nieces and nephews.

I may even go visit my friends in Pinecraft.

Note: the seagull in the featured image is from Delaware, not Florida. I will try to post some pictures on social media from Florida in February.