Snowbirds' usual Florida nests emptier this year
Resort that normally draws thousands seeing few retirees because of pandemic
As Quebecers prepare for a partial lockdown that will last at least 18 days, Jack Rosenthal is counting his blessings that he and his wife, Essie, decided to winter in Florida.
“We're very happy we are here and not in Montreal, even though the winter is relatively mild,” Rosenthal said in a phone interview. “We are enjoying every moment and we consider ourselves very lucky.”
While at least 70 per cent of Quebec's 250,000 snowbirds have remained at home during the pandemic, Rosenthal bucked the trend and boarded a flight to Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 1.
“We wore masks, shields and rubber gloves,” the retired accountant said. “I put them on in my condo in Montreal and I didn't take them off until I got into my condo in Florida.”
During a normal winter, there are about 5,000 to 7,000 cars from Quebec in the parking lot of the sprawling retirement complex in Deerfield Beach.
While some Quebecers are fleeing the province over the Christmas holidays, the number of snowbirds who spend several months in the Sunshine State has plummeted.
“You used to see hundreds of people while walking around (the complex) and now you might meet five or six people,” Rosenthal said.
Some of Rosenthal's friends in Côte- St-luc decided it was too risky to travel to Florida. There are also far fewer French-canadians, he said.
About 8,000 passengers per day are expected to come and go at Trudeau airport during the holidays — down from 62,000 travellers on the busiest days, said Anne- Sophie Hamel, director of corporate affairs and media relations for Aéroports de Montréal.
The Quebec government has issued warnings against unnecessary travel. All international travellers are required to quarantine for 14 days once they return to Canada.
New restrictions start on Friday aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. The measures include closing non-essential businesses and keeping elementary schools closed an extra week, until at least Jan. 11.
At this time of year, Century Village East in Deerfield Beach is usually bustling with Quebecers lounging by the pool or playing tennis or pickleball.
With so many social activities cancelled, Rosenthal and his wife stroll around the village or have lunch under a palm tree at the beach.
In previous years, Rosenthal volunteered to give English lessons to French-canadian retirees who had difficulty communicating with their cable company or ordering in a restaurant.
“Usually, there are several hundred people at the pétanque ( boules) area,” he said of his fellow Quebecers, who come from as far away as Chicoutimi to escape the snow and cold weather.
Others have inquired about Jewish traditions, so they could wish their Jewish neighbours a good Sabbath on Shabbat.
Rosenthal is hopeful that winters in Florida will return to normal next year.
In the meantime, he keeps in touch with family and friends back home and continues to enjoy the good weather while following public health guidelines.
“We imagined we could live in Florida the same way we could in Montreal, which is really isolated,” he said. “We feel completely safe.”