This could be the first winter in 35 years Vicki Borenstein spends in Canada. She had to buy new boots. A new coat. Ice cleats, so she doesn’t slip while walking her spunky Irish Jack Russell terrier. His name is Charlie, and he’s never seen snow.

Even before she retired, Borenstein was living the snowbird life. As a real estate agent, it was easy to hop a plane to Miami to escape the bitter Ontario cold. In recent years, Borenstein has happily left behind her high-rise Toronto condo for six months at a picturesque home in Gulfport that’s four blocks from the beach.

Read the full article by Sara DiNatale in The Tampa Bay Times

Editor’s Note: Vicki Borenstein is also a long time travel industry executive, a member of the Travel Hall of Fame and the publisher of Travel Industry Today.