Our area of Florida is a nice place to live and even a great place to die, judging from the number of retirees who move to the nearby communities. Folks brown themselves on the sparkling white sand beaches of nearby Gulf of Mexico. Balmy breezes and warm sunshine grace the countryside most of the year. In early spring, the jacaranda trees set the sky ablaze with gorgeous purple blooms. In the late fall, citrus trees illuminate the landscape with juicy orbs of yellow, pink, and orange.
Nearby waters abound with fish and porpoise.
On summer evenings the air vibrates with the throaty resonance of large bullfrogs, reminding one of Budweiser commercials. In early May one can hear the mating calls of amorous alligators late into the night. And to offset the sonorous wildlife, one can catch a concert performance almost any night of the week at Ruth Eckerd Hall just a few blocks away. Typical events include the Florida Orchestra or any one of scores of singers, bands, ballets, operas, comedians, and other road-show entertainers. The area is home to many spring training camps for major league baseball teams, and residents love to attend pre-season training games .