I work in optical engineering and am not an expert scientist in the nature of light. Our professional society SPIE held conferences (titled nature of light: what is a ohoton) over the last several years ( i believe there were 7 sessions over 7 years) where the experts argued out the nature of light and there is still disagreement amongst them on what a photon is and whether it exists.

Meanwhile, solving electromagnetic field components in the presence of optical components similar to Feynmans approach, whether it be a simple lens or photonic integrated circuits, well models actual behavior in all practical cases encountered with modern optical devices that I am aware of. I haven't seen any benefit to switching to a photon emission based model, especially when the experts cant even agree on the fundamental nature of the photon.

The physics of light slowing through a medium is well explained by Feynman in this lecture:

https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/I_31.html

It is a result of moving charges in the material and its effect on the field.

The photon absorption and re-emission model doesn't hold up as well as Feynman's explanation.

There is research indicating that the pathway for SAD is through a different receptor in the eye, known as the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), rather than through the cones used to detect color.

See paper here as an example of this research:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30173913/

And general article discussing the issue here:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/21/678342879/scientists-find-a-brain-circuit-that-could-explain-seasonal-depression

So while I dont have any direct studies that would quantify the rate at which colorblind people experience SAD compared to normal color vision, it would be unexpected to find a rate difference based on the actual pathway being part of a different receptor in the eyes than the cones used for color vision.

Have some extra cash built up for sure. There is the physical cost of moving and then there are all the extra costs once you arrive.

Things like paying for a new drivers license and auto registration. You can maybe put it off for a while but a ticket can be a headache and cost more in the long run. Along that line you will need to change car insurance if you have a car, which might cost more. Might need to switch cell service which could involve extra fees. If you have to get your own place you could have fees and deposits for the rental and utilities. Depending on how you do your banking, opening new accounts and transferring money might incur fees. Also health insurance changes between programs available in each state might cause a change in you costs

One other hidden expense when leaving Florida to go to Massachusetts is state income tax. At hourly wages like you earn at Walmart, the state tax won't be too bad, but it could still be an unexpected decrease in your available cash.

Not trying to scare you off of the move, just better to anticipate these things ahead of time than to be surprised when you get there.

Good luck and hope you find what you need to make your life better when you get there.

There are several mechanisms that can impact the transmission of light through the various layers of the eye, but in general as we age the transmission of the eye will decrease significantly and intraocular scatter will increase due to "yellowing or clouding" of the various layers.

In fact the IES (Illumination Engineering Society) which publishes recommended light levels for various applications (indoor and outdoor) will generally recommend much higher light levels (sometimes as much as 2X) for spaces that are used by predominantly by elderly people (nursing home for example) to accommodate for the loss in transmission we experience as we age.

As long as you have had your eyes examined and there isn't anything abnormal causing the transmission loss, it's just something to be expected as we age.