Being a Michigander for the first 23 years of my life had its perks during the holidays. I was lucky enough to witness all major holidays in alignment with the weather. The Fourth of July is sunny and 75, warm enough to go boating and cool enough for a bonfire at night. There are fall leaves during Thanksgiving, flowers blooming for Easter, and, most of all, snow for Christmas.

This will be my first Christmas season as a resident of Florida, and I am not quite sure if I am doing it right! I have pink and white poinsettias on my porch, instead of red. I have a mini, glittery Christmas tree from Trader Joe’s in the middle of my kitchen table instead of a glistening tree in my living room.

My neighbors have shown their outdoor spirit by hanging neon Christmas lights and staking lit-up flamingo trees into their lawns. What happened to the reindeer and pretty white crystal lights? I still have not decorated my place because I don’t even know the correct way of doing it down here. Do I go the traditional route and hang white lights or stay cohesive with pink and green?

Rather than going to see a light show at the zoo in Chicago or Grand Rapids, both great places to go during the Christmas season for outdoor activities like ice skating, I went to Enchanted Christmas inside Rays Stadium in St. Pete, Florida. This was a fun way to enjoy a lit-up wonderland, ice skating and Christmas characters. It was beautiful, but it wasn’t as authentic as there was no snow and it was warm inside. St Pete, however, had many pop-up bars that showed Christmas cheer. If any of my readers are in the local area, check out Intermezzo for a quick cocktail. Its espresso martini is the best I’ve ever had and the way they formed the pop up you feel as if you have walked right into a snow lodge in the North Pole.

As I drive to work, I see random tents with cut Christmas trees in the 80-degree weather. This is weird for me because I am so used to cutting my own tree down with my family. The way they sell trees here is as if it’s a circus show under a red-and-green striped tent.

Amazon has become my best friend as it is the fastest way to send gifts with personalized messages without the excess shipping charges. The malls are the same here with Santa in the middle and there are still Christmas parades, which, by the way, are way better than the ones in Michigan due to the climate and float preparation, minus the wind and snow.

The more I think about it, there is no wrong way of doing Christmas, as it is whatever brings the most joy and spirit to you and those around you. I will blend old with new until I make my own traditions and activities in the new climate; and before I know it, I will learn to love it here during the holidays or I will learn that a flight to the north is a must for the season. I know I’m not alone, as several people are snowbirds in Florida or have chosen to make it their new home in the past two years. It’s weird now, but I’m grateful that I no longer have to freeze my feet off.

— Christyn Pek, business development executive