When the autumn winds blow the last leaves off the trees, when daylight starts late and twilight starts early, when the squirrels skitter up the trees to hoard their nuts, when the geese and ducks huddle by the hundreds on the lake (they used to fly south but the lake doesn't completely freeze anymore) #- then the snowbirds start their strange ritual.

The migration of us human mammals from the northern part of our country to the southern part #) mostly to Florida, on an annual basis is a uniquely American occurrence.

Oh, it's true that many Europeans winter on the Riviera and the Costa del Sol, but not in the huge numbers that we do. Our incredible economy allows those with upper middle class incomes to own winter residences “down south.”

This phenomenon has started a whole new culture. A southern friend of ours told us that she didn't know until recently that damn Yankee was two words #- but I digress.

It all started in the early 1970s when Disneyworld opened in Orlando. Fla. Our family, along with thousands of others, took a winter vacation at Disney's fantastic playground.

After a couple of days with Mickey and Minnie, we rented ocean front cabins on the beach. While wandering around the local habitat, it was discovered that there were thousands of condominiums being built. Stopping at the sales office, we discovered that some could be acquired dirt cheap. The pitch was that our condo could be rented out for the “season” (January through March) and the cost of mortgage, maintenance and taxes (also dirt cheap) could be recovered by the rental fee. Our only investment was a modest down payment, and we could use our vacation home “off season.”

We went for it.

During the last 30 years, Florida has grown exponentially. It is no longer “dirt cheap” to own and operate a residence in Florida, but our investment was a sound one and the benefits extend far beyond sunshine and warm winter temperatures.

There is an entire enclave of friends and relatives who migrate annually with us. So much so that the gals don't even have to suspend their bridge club for the winter.

It has been proven that getting out of the cold, dreary northern climate in winter adds years to your life. We can be outside and exercise year-round rather than hibernate as other mammals do.

The plentiful sunshine, taken in modest doses with ample sun blocking lotion, is very therapeutic. The days are longer by about one and a half hours and the combined effect of sunshine and longer days eliminates the “winter blahs” and “cabin fever.”

That said, the snowbird lifestyle is not for everyone. The commute becomes more difficult each year as routes 81 and 95 become increasingly clogged with traffic. Several of our friends are content to sit by the fire and enjoy the peace and solitude of winter in the beautiful Finger Lakes. Some of the more active still enjoy cross-country skiing. Snow has its own beauty and resting from the hectic summer schedule of picnics and barbecues has its own rewards.

To them we say; “See you in the spring.”

Harold Miller is a businessman and Auburn native. He may be reached at hmillermod@aol.com