SQUAW WINTER?: Carol Bidwell of Rew writes, “I remember a grand
lady from Duke Center, Mabel Beal 1885-1974, always used to say:
‘You can’t have “Indian Summer” until after you’ve had “Squaw
Winter.”‘ Has anyone else ever heard of this?”

OUR TURN: Why not to live in Florida?

More readers have their say: Former Bradford resident Craig
Scott writes, “I live in New Hampshire, but I take the Florida top
10 list as a knock on the whole Northeast.”

“Here’s my list of reasons NOT to live in Florida.

* Flying cockroaches

* Hurricane Ivan

* Love bugs

* Hurricane Andrew

* No fall

* Tampa Bay Devil Rays

* Hurricane Dennis

* No spring

* A governor named Bush.”

Another ex-Bradfordian, Ellen Tingley, writes: “Have to comment
on the Top Ten reasons for living in Florida. Although I do agree
w/most of them, I have to wonder what part of Florida this writer
is living in?”

“Yes, we have no snow, sleet or ice but there is quite a bit of
mud, especially during some of our storms.

“And low heating bills? Sure, but when you run your air
conditioning eight months out of the year, you still have a bill to
pay! No state income tax, but you sure do pay a lot of taxes and
now insurance is outrageous, if you can get insurance.

“I would also like to know where the secretaries make $55,000 a
year. Not in my neighborhood.

“No car inspections, but you should see some of the ‘hoopies’ on
the roads. Which, by the way, we do have potholes (made by the
rains) and 70 mph is fine if everyone on the roads didn’t think
they were driving on a NASCAR track. Zoom in and out of lanes like
Mario Andretti.

“Building going on everywhere. Pretty soon there will be more
condos than people! Have to agree on the grocery stores – lots of
fresh fruit and veggies all the time and at reasonable prices. Love
the flea market open air veggie stands!

“No matter where you live there are pros and cons. We traded the
snow for the sun and don’t regret it. But the clean crisp air of an
Autumn morning with the bright color of the leaves, priceless…
“

POST SCRIPT: Our recent gorgeous weather makes it easy to love
Bradford but, note: Snow is forecast by Friday.