We are here in sunny Florida, enjoying the eighty-degree weather while the snowflakes pile higher and higher in Rhode Island. Last night we were also subjected to bad weather in the form of a frightening thunderstorm. Howling winds bent tender trees to the ground, lightning illuminated the sky as though it were the Fourth of July, and drumming thunder challenged my eardrums. Unlike similar rumbling storms in Rhode Island, this one was over in ten minutes and the sky was once again clear enough to see the stars twinkling above.

According to the Population Reference Bureau, Florida has the second largest percentage of elderly at 20.5%, surpassed only by Maine which has 20.6% Several years ago I had heard the rumor that Rhode Island was at the top in terms of elderly population, but in this report, it comes in a measly 14th. In my limited travels around the area down here, the percentage of elderly seems to be around 90%, but that may be because younger people are working or in school. The elderly stereotype abounds around here. Getting a parking space is an hour-long project. Elderly drivers pull in and out of spots, very slowly, as they try to get their cars spaced just right. OR they pull in quickly without realizing they are so close to the car next to them that their door will undoubtedly slam into and mar the adjoining car’s door. Or, they block the whole roadway, they put on their blinker and wait. And wait. And wait for someone to pull out so they don’t have to walk as far. Once they get in the store, they have the egotistical notion that they are the only people shopping. They block the entire aisle with their carts while they peruse and read labels. If asked politely to please move their cart, they glare accusingly, so much so that I will back the cart out of the aisle just to get away. To make matters worse, I was waiting on line to purchase my goodies and a woman with a cart full of provisions cut in front of me. I looked at HER accusingly and she calmly explained that she was “with” the woman who was in front of me.

It was with this depressing view of the elderly that Hubby and I went to a river side restaurant for a nice dinner out and to listen to some music. Properly masked and socially distant, we sat at a high-top table where I ordered a salad with strawberries, oranges, grilled shrimp and citrus dressing. Being brave, he ordered a fish taco, prepared with grilled tilapia and pineapple salsa. He ordered a locally brewed ale, while I stuck with my Diet Coke. Looking around, I noticed that every person in the restaurant, including the bartender, cook and waitresses, was elderly. Dressed in the uniform of khaki shorts, sandals and flowered shirts, the tanned, well coifed Floridians laughed and joked with each other as they sang along with the well-known songs from the 60s with a Neil Diamond look-alike. Many threw off their shoes and got up to dance while I heartily tapped my foot in time to the music on the leg of the table. As we sat there, a parade of boats drove up and down the channel. Oh, what a variety of boats there were! Remembering my family’s own “float boat”, (ie pontoon boat,) I was flabbergasted to see new, improved models that must have cost as much as a house. They were sturdy and sexy and no doubt would travel at the speed of sound given the chance. On the front of each boat, without exception, was an elderly woman, long hair blowing in the wind, unbuttoned shirt flowing in the breeze to reveal a well-fitting bathing suit. Often with a drink in one hand, she would wave at the restaurant patrons with the others, and the men in the crowd would eagerly wave back. Singing the old songs and watching the boats go by, I more closely observed the happy and friendly crowd. It struck me that they weren’t acting old at all. Having paid their dues to society by working and raising families, these mature adults now had all the time in the world to enjoy retired life. I was pleased to be among them, and once again was reassured that not all elderly people drive slowly and block store aisles. Hubby and I look forward to joining their ranks, but first I need to buy a better fitting bathing suit.