Seasonal friendships thrive among Long Island snowbirds
From left, Yvonne Melnitsky, Yvonne Libow, Lauren Spandau, Ellen Rutsky, Randi Camhi, Carol Drucker, Elaine Pira and Cindy Floyd, members of a Long Island snowbird group that meets regularly in Florida, get together for a reunion at Nolo in Seaford. Credit: Jeff Bachner
Like any reunion, this one starts off with a lot of hugging.
The gaggle of women haven’t seen each other since they gathered in March in Boynton Beach, Florida. The group is made up of Long Islanders who are also snowbirds. When they are in South Florida from January through March, they meet once a month for dinners there, inviting all snowbird members of the Long Island Women Over 50 Discussion and Event Group and drawing up to two dozen people at each event.
Yvonne Melnitsky, left, and Ellen Rutsky socialize with members of a Long Island snowbird group that meets regularly in Florida and on the Island during the summer. Credit: Jeff Bachner
And when it’s summer, they have an annual "Florida Friends Reunion" on Long Island, this time meeting for dinner at Nola Kitchen & Cocktails in Seaford. "It gives a steadiness to the friendship," says Ellen Rutsky, 75, who spends summers in Merrick and winters in Delray Beach. When she leaves for the winter, "It’s not like, ‘Goodbye, I’m going to Florida, see you.’ It’s ‘You’re going to Florida? Me too! Let’s get together.’"
‘A CONNECTION’
Rutsky says she goes to Long Island meetups in Florida because being from the land of bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches gives the women a common bond. The events offer a chance to network and talk about grandchildren, vacations, health challenges, she says.
"We have a connection," agrees Randi Camhi, 66, of Bellmore and Boynton Beach. Camhi’s been pulling the women together in Florida for five years, usually planning the dinners for someplace outdoors. "I like to do everything by the water," Camhi says. In fact, the Long Island reunion was supposed to be at the Surf Shack Restaurant at Tobay Beach, but threatening weather caused the location to be moved to Seaford at the last minute. "It’s always nice to get together, we don’t always have the opportunity to see each other, even when we’re up here," Camhi says. "We really enjoy each other’s company."
Randi Camhi, left, and Yvonne Libow, of Merrick, chat at the snowbird's reunion at Nolo in Seaford. Credit: Jeff Bachner
Cindy Floyd, 72, a social worker from West Babylon, saw the reunion posted on Facebook and came to the dinner even though she hasn’t yet spent a winter in Florida. "I want to just start thinking about going down there," Floyd says; she’s considering renting for a month next winter. " ‘Should I drive down there with my dog? Should I leave my dog home? Should I rent a car?’ I want to pick their brains," she says.
"January is not always a given if you want beach or pool," Camhi advises her. "Go in February or March." Better weather, Camhi says.
"You ask the questions. We’ll let you know," Rutsky says. "That’s what I meant by networking."
MAH JONGG AND SKY DIVING
Though the reunion starts at 5:30 p.m., the chatting is so lively that it is nearly an hour later when Camhi asks, "Did anyone look at the menu?" and the women order.
The talking continues, with the snowbirds sharing some of the challenges of living in two places, including leaving grandchildren behind on Long Island all winter, or having to return north unexpectedly to see their doctors or care for other family members here.
Of course, there’s the inevitable snowbird question: "Do you play canasta or mah-jongg?" Lauren Spandau,, 64, of Merrick, and Boynton Beach, asks Floyd. "We can always use another player."
Yvonne Libow, 62, of Merrick, and Port St. Lucie, has a more daring activity in mind — she asks if anyone will go skydiving with her.
No takers. "I don’t even like when they open the shade in the plane," Rutsky says, and everyone laughs.
Yvonne Melnitsky, 61, of Plainview, and Lake Worth, says it’s comfortable being with other women from Long Island, both here and in the Sunshine State. "You want the best of both worlds," she says, "and it’s great."
Beth Whitehouse writes about families, parenting and great things to do with the kids on Long Island. She’s been a Newsday editor and shared a 1997 Newsday staff Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the crash of TWA Flight 800.
