Just Another Day in Paradise!

I just waived goodbye to family members from Michigan who have been visiting us for the past few days. Sometimes all it takes to appreciate what we have foolishly taken for granted here in Florida is to get a glimpse of it through someone else's eyes. 

I don't have to tell anyone who's been watching the news recently how brutal and invasive this winter season has been for a majority of people across the United States. At one point during the season there was measurable snowfall in every state in the U.S. ... EXCEPT for Florida. 

Normally my job is to write about some facet of the business of buying or selling real estate. Today, however, I'd like to profess my appreciation for Bradenton, the beautiful place that we all call home, by sharing a few of the ways that my daily life is enhanced by living in this tropical paradise:

• Smaller budget for clothing expenses, less closet space required for storage.
• Snow blower? Snow shovel? Block heaters? Ice scrapers? No need for any of these gadgets in Florida. (More space in my garage for beach chairs, coolers, boogie boards, chlorine tablets and toys for my pool!)
• Less risk to an unprotected eyes for damage from UV rays. Fresh snow reflects about 80 percent of the UV radiation compared to 15 percent for a dry, sandy Bradenton Beach. (Loads of fashionable shades to match your flip flops everywhere you go!)
• Cultural enrichment delivered locally by the largest artists' colony in Florida, Village of the Arts; the Manatee Players' , holding the first-place title from the American Association of Community Theatre competition; South Florida Museum; and ArtCenter Manatee.
• Scores of restaurants, year-round outdoor sports and entertainment options, serene places to meditate, relax and to smell the roses.
• Most of all, don't forget our breathtakingly beautiful beaches! Bradenton offers a wealth of beaches, in close proximity to choose from: Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, Coquina Beach, Siesta Key Beach,  and Anna Maria Island beaches. Sunsets, sand castles,  and the sound of the water kissing the shore ... now THAT'S paradise!

Thanks to my Aunt Grace and Uncle Bob, who will be going back to 25°F in Twin Lakes, Mich., for awakening my gratitude and appreciation for the beautiful place and the easy lifestyle that I sometimes take for granted! I’ll get my head back into real estate next week.  For the rest of this week, I'll be smiling and counting my blessings.