NATCHEZ &8212; Their first visit to Natchez 15 years ago was to be a turning point in the lives of Clark and Phyllis Feiser, then residents of New Oxford, Pa., a small town near Gettysburg.

&8220;We came from Pittsburg on the Delta Queen,&8221; Clark Feiser said. The 14-day cruise to New Orleans included a stop at Natchez.

&8220;We toured a few homes in the morning and walked around the town in the afternoon,&8221; he said. &8220;We fell in love with the place.&8221;

Not considering retirement at that time, the couple nevertheless discussed it when they returned home and remembered their impressions of Natchez.

It was natural then that they should include Natchez in the places they researched as the time drew near. &8220;We looked at other places on their Web sites,&8221; Clark said. &8220;But we kept coming back to Natchez.&8221;

The Feisers met Roy Winkworth of the Natchez Retiree Partnership. He began to give them information to assist them in decision making.

&8220;We came down a weekend and met with Roy and bought some land about that time,&8221; Phyllis Feiser said. &8220;That was about 2003.&8221;

They held the land and considered building. Clark said he was skeptical about building a house so far away while continuing to live in Pennsylvania.

He met the right builder, however, and was assured the project would go along without a problem. &8220;And it did,&8221; he said. They moved into the house in November 2005.

The spacious house in a neat cul-de-sac has the feeling of an airy Florida house, including a lanai. There is a reason for the Florida feeling.

&8220;This is our Florida retirement home,&8221; Clark said, explaining that friends of theirs built the same house in Florida and that they liked it so much they bought the same plans.

Friendliness of Natchez people helped them to make their decision to move to Mississippi, Phyllis said. &8220;We really like the people. And there&8217;s so much to do in Natchez.&8221;

Both husband and wife volunteer at the antebellum house Auburn. &8220;But they won&8217;t let me wear a hoopskirt,&8221; Clark quipped.

Phyllis, however, loves the hoopskirt and they both enjoy giving tours. Also, he helps do small maintenance chores at the house.

&8220;Clark has always said that we&8217;re really misplaced Southerners,&8221; Phyllis said. He confirmed that idea.

&8220;And I have a green thumb that I couldn&8217;t do much with in Pennsylvania, and now I really have a chance to use it,&8221; she said.

Clark was owner of two funeral homes in Pennsylvania. &8220;I didn&8217;t realize how much I needed to get away from that after 35 years,&8221; he said.

What did their friends say when they told them they were moving to Mississippi?

&8220;Well, people up north, the only thing they can think of in Mississippi or Louisiana is alligators and swamps,&8221; Clark said.

Since their move here, the Feisers have hosted a number of friends from Pennsylvania and have enjoyed their friends&8217; surprise at seeing Natchez.

One couple is coming a second time in October for the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race. &8220;And we&8217;ve shown property to two couples,&8221; he said.