I come from New England, where you don’t need a calendar to tell you that fall has arrived. You can feel it in the air, and see it in the fashions and the foliage.

Here in Florida, we don’t even really say “fall” or “autumn” very often, we say “The beginning of season.”  When January rolls around, it’s not “winter”, it’s “high season”. Springtime is known as “end of season”.

So how do you know it’s “the beginning of season” in Florida? The weather isn’t much cooler, and most of the leaves don’t change. But, there are some tell-tale signs.

1.  Prices increase. Remember that rental car you got for dirt cheap this summer? In October it could cost you twice as much.

2. Your evening swim now happens in the moonlight. This is not a bad thing.

3. Everything you do outside of your home, like grocery shopping or going to the doctor, will now take at least half an hour longer, due to traffic.

4. Your options expand exponentially. Suddenly, there is great variety in the grocery store. Every day offers a new stuff to do for entertainment close to home.

5. The number of languages you hear increases dramatically. If you are in West Palm Beach or south, you may hear more French than Spanish or English. The blending of different sounds, smells and tastes is part of Florida’s seasonal magic.

6. It’s time to plant your garden.  Enough said.

I love Florida summers, or the “off season” time. At the same time, I really look forward to seeing my snowbird friends, and taking part in another wild and wonderful Florida season!