Our Winter Escape
We have officially arrived in sunny Florida, where we’ll be spending the next six months. We’ll head back to Minnesota for the holidays, but for now we’re looking forward to escaping the snow and cold while enjoying a slower pace of life.
This winter we’re staying at Wilderness RV Resort near Silver Springs, Florida. I found the resort online and inquired about seasonal rentals, only to learn they had recently stopped accepting reservations because all of the sites are now individually owned. The good news was that owners are allowed to rent out their sites. As luck would have it, the very next day I found a listing for this one.
The photos looked great, and while the location wasn’t exactly what we had envisioned—we had hoped to be closer to the Gulf beaches—the price fit our budget. After Hurricane Ian devastated our beloved Fort Myers Beach, we’re especially grateful to have found such a wonderful place to spend the winter.
The site exceeded our expectations. A magnificent live oak draped with Spanish moss provides shade throughout the day. It features a large concrete pad for the RV and truck, a brick patio with a pergola, and a storage shed. We really couldn’t have asked for a better spot to call home for the winter.
The welcoming atmosphere was evident from the moment we arrived. Pat and I had just stepped out of the truck to look over the site when a gentleman stopped by in his golf cart and offered to help us get set up if we needed anything. Within the first hour, four different neighbors came over to introduce themselves and welcome us to the community. It made us feel right at home almost immediately.
Apparently, we’ve arrived a little ahead of most of the snowbirds. Quite a few sites are still empty, but our new neighbors told us they’ll begin filling over the next few weeks, and by the end of November the resort will be bustling with activity. As an added bonus, we’re parked next door to the park’s social activities coordinator, which should make it easy to get involved and meet even more people.
The rest of the day was spent getting the RV set up, picking up a few groceries, and relaxing while visiting with one of our new neighbors before the sun went down.
We have a feeling this is going to be a great winter. Tomorrow we’ll finish settling in, add a few personal touches to our site, and start exploring both the resort and the surrounding area.