I, as an insurance adjuster, have mixed views on some of the advise on here.
There are some great suggestions here but ...............
Most importantly --- TELL YOUR INSURANCE BROKER OF YOUR PLANS!!! Failure to disclose the plans may lead to complications if you have a claim. You have only a few obligations under the terms of the policy but one is that you must deal with the insurer in "utmost good faith" Deception may result a denial.
Your insurance company (at least in Canada) does not consider your home vacant if it is furnished and you plan to return. If you plan to return the house is considered unoccupied, but not vacant. Still some coverage restrictions on most policies but not a total lack of coverage.
There may be some steps you need to take to protect the place while you're gone but it is a simple process.
This isn't rocket science, people that live in the north have been headed to warm winter locations for decades and most insurers have coverage to deal with a home that is unoccupied. You're not doing something new and unheard of by heading south while maintaining a principle residence somewhere cold.
Talk to your broker, they should be able to help. If your present broker can't or won't help then you need a new broker, not an elaborate set of lies.
By the way, a frozen pipe will never result in a major flood if you turn off the main water supply valve, just one of the many simple things one can do to prevent big problems when you are not at home for an extended period!