I have become a snowbird much earlier than expected in life. And I love it. It started with the pandemic because I needed a change of scenery with everything being shut down. It was so tough to live somewhere where I couldn't be inside or outside and living alone on top of it. Especially in a city like Chicago, you couldn’t even have dinner or walk along the lake. So, I went to Georgia for two months and while I loved it, it was too cold in Jan/Feb.
So last year, I made my way further South to FL and really enjoyed it. So much so, I decided to do it again this year. I fortunately work from home, so I do have the flexibility to work in any location.
I had met just a handful of neighbors last year because the Omicron variant was running amuck which was a huge bummer.
This year I am living in the same rental and I feel like I have met the entire neighborhood. I keep getting invited to many different parties and food trucks and it has been a blast. One of the people I met told me she does manicures and pedicures in her house. Yes, please.
So, I go to her house and meet her, her daughter and husband. They are such a super cute family from New York. She is an estetician and doesn't want to work in a shop so made a bedroom a salon.
As we are talking, she says, what color nail polish would you like? I said you know, Valentine’s Day is around the corner so I could do pink or red. I went on to say, even though I don’t have a Valentine, it will be fun to spread the cheer.
She said, you don’t have a Valentine? I have got a guy…..(my favorite words).
She said she knows him from New York and he happens to live in the same subdivision here in FL Small world.
She said he is a really nice guy and even if we just have a drink, could be fun. So, before I am even home from my mani/pedi, this guy starts texting me.
He said, perhaps we could meet tomorrow? I said sure, sounds great. Now, in another small small world twist, he knows my landlords in the place I am renting. He spent New Year’s Eve with them recently. So, he said how about if I come over to your place and we go for a walk? I said sure, sounds great.
So, he shows up the next day with his dog and we go for a walk. I learn a lot about this guy. I mean, a lot. He didn’t ask me any questions, I heard all about his career, his place, his family, his security side jobs, etc. etc. It was interesting but I thought it was weird he didn’t ask me any questions. Everyone tells me he was nervous but who knows?
He then invited me to watch football with some other neighbors the next day. I initially said yes but then this other neighbor invited me to a pool party to watch football. Which one do you think I did? Let’s just say outdoors always wins in my world.
The funny thing is, I told my neighbor I was invited to watch the game with this guy and she said, do you have a picture of him? I said of course I have a receipt (we took a picture while walking)! I showed her a picture of him and she said “he is cute in a New York city worker type of way”. I don’t know why that made me laugh, but it did. She is an East Coaster herself.
So, I told him I am sorry I can’t go and have some work trips coming up but will be in touch when I get back. He said no problem.
I am renting this place for 2 more months so…………………..More to come!
Lesson learned? Who knew a manicure can lead to a date? Always stay open to meeting new people. You never know.
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