Readers speak up en masse in favour of going to Florida

Dear Readers: Here’s some of many responses to a letter-writer’s complaint regarding Canadian neighbours who travelled to their Florida property (Feb. 16):

Reader No. 1: “I’m happy for my neighbours who are able to go to their winter home in Florida and also get vaccinated.

“If the disgruntled/hurt letter-writer just had showed some kindness and positivity with the neighbours she/he would have a much happier life.”

Reader No. 2: “The government encouraged us not to travel but does allow it. People must quarantine upon their return.

“Yes, there’s some physical health risk, but there’s also the mental health aspect, a huge issue for many people.

“I’m not worried about them infecting others if they properly quarantine upon their return.

“My family and I haven’t travelled because I’m not comfortable doing so. But I don’t judge. The people I know have worn masks, followed all rules and properly quarantined.”

Reader No. 3: “About Canadians getting vaccinated in Florida: It’s a response to, ‘it’s available there when it wasn’t available here.’

“The complex where we own in Florida obtained the vaccine for all owners. Our friends went, got the vaccine and returned weeks ago.

“I’m 85, my wife and I didn’t go, so we’re awaiting, isolated and in risk. Should we have gambled instead?”

Reader No. 4: “I don’t know what we did to deserve the pariah status we’ve been accorded. It’s like we voluntarily decided to be infected with COVID-19 and spread it to unsuspecting Canadians.

“We travelled to properties we own in Florida. We and our friends aren’t in hot spots like Miami.

“We walk outside in the warmth and play socially distanced golf ( just as was done in Toronto during the summer).

“We haven’t been to a restaurant and wear masks during required trips to the store.

“My wife and I and Canadian friends here have received the vaccine. Yet we’re told upon returning to Canada we have to go through severe isolation while variants brought to Canada were on airplanes returning from hot spots (Brazil, U.K., etc.).”

Reader No. 5: “My wife and I are wintering in our Florida home for six months, having left mid-October.

“For six months we’ve posed zero risk of spreading COVID-19 to other Canadians, consumed zero Canadian health-care resources and will return vaccinated, thereby saving vaccine for other Canadians.

“We’ll test negative before returning. Why do so many people think this is a bad thing?”

Reader No. 6: “It seems that your reader is envious and that the friendship with the neighbours isn’t genuine. I don’t see the travellers as selfish for taking advantage of an opportunity to protect themselves.

“I’m 71, cooped up in a Toronto winter, waiting anxiously for my turn for a vaccine. I’m not begrudging others who can get one.”

Reader No. 7: “As retired health-care providers who worked 43 years doing shifts/weekends/holidays and exposed ourselves to every infection while caring physically for sick patients, it seems very short-sighted to shame our choice to leave the Canadian winter.

“Two sisters died at early retirement so for us, at that stage, we realize there are only so many heartbeats left.

“Resenting our southern living is simply small-minded.”

Ellie: I agree there’s been too much rush to criticism. Discontent is rampant this winter due to pandemic anxiety/fatigue: Waiting for vaccines, fearing virus variants.

Disclaimer: In the past, I’ve enjoyed some rented winter weeks on Florida’s westcoast Keys, but this year I’m remaining in Canada throughout, because it’s home.

Ellie’s tip of the day

A year of COVID-19’s threat has unsettled us all. We need understanding of each other’s stresses, not bitter judgment.