Merry Christmas

Hello Folks,

Most of you must think we fell off the edge of the earth. So yes, we are here to say that the earth is actually flat in southern Florida. It has taken us quite a while to find our way out of the water after falling off the earth's edge.

We've been traveling for 10 days now. We stopped in Charlottesville Va, a very nice town with a wonderful walking main street (no cars), and the University of Virginia. (more on that in another post). We also visited Monticello (home of  our friend Thomas Jefferson) which was a privilege. From there we headed south to Roanoke; a larger city than Charlottesville which we also enjoyed.

Next on the agenda was to stop in Asheville, NC but somewhere along in the drive Mark decided that he really wanted a change of environment from what he has lived in for the last 30 years. He declared that he wanted different vegetation and different terrain so we made a beeline out of the land of deciduous trees, to Florida, completely bypassing some of the previously planned stops.

Our first experience of Florida was the panhandle area having arrived in Pensacola in the evening of whatever day it was. The very favorite towns were South Walton, Grayton Beach, Santa Rosa Beach and the famous Seaside community. All of these are wonderfully charming towns; small bohemian atmospheres. I'd gladly live in any of them. The sand is white and fluffy like salt contrasted against the crystal blue water and the vivid blue sky.

But, we couldn't possibly stop our search for Splendidville so soon into the trip, so we continued on. Florida may not be as big as the states of Texas or Pennsylvania but it is a very big state nonetheless. My butt went flat after the more than 8 hour drive from Panama City to Cape Coral. However here is where the excitement began for us.

We briefly visited Sanibel Island which certainly is lovely but too congested for our liking. We discovered Pine Island which is the next island over from Sanibel. I had never heard of Pine Island and it is truly unusual. It is largely agricultural; farms growing every variety of palm tree, mango trees, starfruit farms, avocado farms, nurseries etc.  Interspersed between the farms are residential communities, many golf courses and marinas with beautiful sailboats and power boats. The island is 17 miles long and just a few miles wide, similar in size to Manhattan island except that there are only 9,000 people living here. The reason it is not more popular is because it has no beaches at all but instead is edged by mangroves. Everyone on the island owns a boat and when desired they take a 10 minute boat ride across the blue water to any of the many surrounding islands with beaches. I am afraid to say this but I think we found a haven. We are in awe; it feels like Hawaii. Never did we imagine that a place like this existed in Florida. Across the bridge from here, just 2 miles away starts the hustle and bustle of the mainland and the populated areas of Cape Coral, Fort Myers.  Not far to the south are Bonita Springs and Naples and just north of here are Sarasota, Venice, Nokomis and Port Charlotte. We prefer the much slower pace of old world Florida we found here. The last few days have been spent driving the area learning and absorbing as much as we can. I am still looking for the local cheese maker but the wine store has been located!!

It is Christmas time so not much more will happen in the next day or so. We wish all our friends a spirited holiday season, a Merry Christmas and the best of health in the new year.

Mark and I are excited. We realize that we are being duped by the currently divine weather and that it will turn to be very, very hot and humid in a few months. We have decided to give Pine Island a shot as our new home and we pray that we survive the first summer without too much pain. Here comes 2013!

Where do you think you're going?

12/15/2012

Where to go? We are looking for Splendidville. It will be located in Perfectboro Township, Charmington County.  A vibrant, youthful town; fun, with good  restaurants.  Must have water; a lake or seashore. The friendly and inviting people will not care which latitude you came from previously. The climate will, naturally, be warmer than in Connecticut but will not be too hot, or too cold, too humid, too arid, too rainy. No hurricanes, no tornadoes, no earthquakes, and trees don't fall on power lines. The fertile earth will be rockless (ha), and therefore easily tilled, and will soon hold our gardens of breathtaking flowers and bountiful vegetables. The terrain will be one of rolling hills where Mark and I will ride our bikes, adding many miles to the odometer. Small theater groups will entertain us. The local cheese store will be located directly next door to the wine store which will have a large selection of outstanding Pinot Noir's from Oregon. Taxes? What taxes? Ah, come on....is this really too much to ask?

Goldilocks

Hudson River

12/01/2012

Hudson River. My childhood home was in Rockland County, NY. The Hudson River held an important place in my life; a pivotal component of my youth. I suppose it was the first body of water I learned to observe. Next I would learn to love the ocean and later still I would appreciate living lakeside. 

As we all know so well, rivers change personalities daily, as do oceans and lakes. One day the river would be blue and cheerful. The next it would be opaque grey, churning and angry. But most often the mighty Hudson was a shimmering blue/grey color with brilliant sparks bouncing on the choppy waves. 

We would cross the Hudson eastbound at the George Washington Bridge every Sunday when our family would drive to NYC to attend church. And we would see the river at the Tappan Zee Bridge when in Nyack, which was the largest and nearest town where much of our shopping was done.

There was one particular year, don't know exactly when....could have been 1965 or so, when the brackish river was almost solidly frozen over. It was a brutally cold winter. The ice was not sparkling, sleek and flat. It was mountainous with one huge icy chunk pushing up against the other like crashing tectonic plates. Large barges were lined up in a row, frozen in the river until spring.

Our church was located downtown so we would drive the West Side Highway south and exit at the 21st street piers. The NYC piers were fully active back then complete with the sights and sounds of a bustling port. Weekly the large boats and ocean liners from every corner of the world would be docked; Norwegian, English, American giants. Steaming smoke stacks as big as silos readying to go. The tone of the  'steaming silo' was roughly 2 octaves lower than a note that I can personally muster, and one that would vibrate inside your chest. Often there were international naval ships in port as well which would deposit bands of sightseeing sailors into the streets. These were the exciting weekly scenes for us, but which no longer exist.

Soon we will be crossing the grand Hudson heading west from Connecticut via the Newburgh Bridge. Will the water be choppy and grey? Will it be happy and blue? Will the waves bless us with their brilliant sparks till we meet again?
O