Southwest Florida Survival Guide

Manatees, lumbering sea cows that are also endangered, congregate in local waters, particularly during the winter. Their only enemy: man and his fast-moving boats. Large sea turtles-loggerhead, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, leatherback and green-come ashore on summer nights to lay their eggs. People patrol beaches at night to mark the nests to prevent their destruction.

On the bug front, fierce mosquitoes and cockroaches the size of small armored tanks pose a challenge. Avoid allowing water to collect in buckets and such on your property to reduce mosquito populations. As for the roaches, good aim with a roach spray or a solid whack with a heavy shoe usually does the trick.

15. Getting from here to there.

Southwest Florida International Airport south of Fort Myers connects the region to the world. Smaller airlines and charter services fly out of the Naples Airport. Private craft can also land at Marco Executive Airport, Immokalee Regional Airport and Page Field in Fort Myers. A car is virtually a necessity here, with limited bus service and few taxis other than the type that shuttle passengers to and from the airports.

16. Water, water everywhere.

There's plenty of water for swimming, boating and fishing. What's in short supply is the treated variety used for drinking, bathing and lawn irrigation. The region's water supply is a precious and limited commodity. Outdoor watering and car washing are restricted to conserve the supply. Instead of re-creating your lush Northern lawn, consider using smaller plots of grass and a lot of native plants that require little water. Ask at any garden store-or the local office of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service-for details on this method, known as xeriscape.

17. Here comes the sun.

Many newcomers develop painful sunburns without sunbathing. The sun is particularly strong in Florida, so use sunscreen all the time. Ditch those cute little sunglasses and get a serious pair that covers the eyes completely and protects against both UV-A and UV-B rays. Wear a hat for further face and scalp protection. Overexposure to the sun can result in wrinkled flesh, deadly melanoma and cataracts.

18. Doctor, doctor.

Because of its aging, affluent population, Southwest Florida has plenty of doctors, and hospitals equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The Cleveland Clinic Florida recently opened a branch in North Naples. Lee Memorial's Healthpark Medical Center has the ambience of a hotel, with a lush and soaring atrium lobby and a bargain-priced cafeteria that serves food people come in for even when they aren't sick. Lee Memorial also has a growing Children's Hospital with a pediatric specialty staff. People seeking alternative therapies such as acupuncture, ayurveda, reiki and Chinese herbal medicine can find it here, too.

19. Staking a claim.

Many visitors decide to buy their own piece of paradise. While the days when developers flew planeloads of Northerners down to buy land for $55 down and $55 a month are largely gone, there's a lot left to buy, ranging from undeveloped lots to timeshares, condos, houses and multimillion-dollar estates.

20. Pet subjects.

More than 100,000 dogs and cats reside in the region. Dogs don't get a warm welcome everywhere, but there are two dog parks-Barkingham Park at Buckingham Park east of Fort Myers and Rovers Run at Veterans Community Park in North Naples. Pets should be vaccinated for rabies and other contagious diseases and kept on leashes when outdoors. They should also be on heartworm and flea prevention year-round. For those who want a new pet, there are loads of homeless animals available, including many purebreds. More than 18,000 homeless pets undergo euthanasia at shelters here each year. Non-profit shelters avoid euthanasia by turning away animals when they are full. But county facilities, such as Lee County Animal Services and Domestic Animal Services in Naples, have to take all abandoned pets. Both are great places to find loving companions.