Not A Neighborhood Yet

When I grew up in Naples, FL, it was a small town of locals that trebled in size during the winter months with the winter visitors. These weren't tourists on vacation for a week, although there were some. They were wealthy people who owned homes in town but would never have said they were from Naples. Beginning around Thanksgiving, cars with Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio licence plates would be stuck in traffic with us Floridians. They stayed until about Easter, then headed home to the north. Snow birds.

Although Naples depended on their money, it didn't ask for their loyalty. No donations to the art museum, no participation in local politics, no roots put down. Now that has all changed, and Naples is awash in retirees that serve their new community well.

I think Key Biscayne is like Naples in the 1950's. Many of the people living here are from away. Only 26% were born in Florida; 54% were born out of the US, according to AreaVibes which claims the 2016 US  Census as its source. From my observations, most are South Americans, which jibes with AreaVibes claim that 65% speak Spanish as their main language. I would love to practice my Spanish, but they immediately switch to English to help me along and to avoid the pain to their ears. Only the cashier at Winn Dixie suffers with my attempts since I told her I'm working on improving my gringa espanol

What does that mean for my future here? So far, the majority of seniors at the community center has been Snow Birds. Most have already flown, the remaining leaving after the 4th of July (tomorrow). Many are New Yorkers heading back to the city. I did meet a woman from Scotland who is going to North Carolina for July and August.

Are there people who are interested in making new friends? If so, how can I connect with them, especially in the summer when being outdoors is impossible? It is officially hot with record temperatures being hit in Miami. My granddaughter and I have enjoyed riding our bikes to and from her nature camp at Crandon Park in the morning and evening, but midday is inside only. We are curled up in our cocoon of air conditioning, awaiting our emerging in the fall, a long time away.