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The Way (and Sound) of Water

 

Margaritaville, along the
shoreline at Panama City Beach.

The second installment of the film Avatar carried the subtitle, The Way of Water. While I remain a fan of this epic story and yes, I just read about the third installment planned for release late next year, it didn’t escape my attention that much that occupied mine and Margo’s time had to do with water. Making a move from the mountains to the sea has a certain poetic ring about it and for us, it’s a story that has only just begun.

We left our Longmont, Colorado, condo early in July and now, well into August, we can write about our plans for the future with more certainty. Central to these plans will be our move to Water Sound, Florida. As for our choice of location, having gone back and forth on our options as you tend to do before making a serious move to places unknown, we have settled on a new build in the development, Latitude Margaritaville Water Sound (LMWS).

Extra-sunny days meant bubbles coming from
the train at Pier Park, Panama City Beach,
adjacent to the local Margaritaville restaurant.

The music you may choose on the satellite channel, Margaritaville, is piped throughout the LMWS development and, as of right now, we show no signs of tiring of the repertoire of songs being broadcast. Actually, it is a little strange at first to step out of your vehicle, while the channel is playing in the car, to then hear it coming from hidden speakers scattered throughout the grounds. It truly does set the mood for a laid-back, kick off the sandal’s kind of vacation, enjoy a cocktail, kind of day.

And we have succumbed; totally. It is no secret as to how intoxicating the melodies of Jimmy Buffett become and even as we listen to Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, the message never gets old:

These changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes
Nothing remains quite the same
Through all of the islands and all of the highlands
If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane

Yes, for Margo and me, there has been a substantial change in latitude and so far, the charm of being close to the beach is showing no signs of letting up on us. Shall we head to the beach? Why not? Margarita perhaps? Of course – pour me another!

Latitude Margaritaville Water Sound,
Town Center entry to the Intracoastal Waterway.

On a more serious side, while I posted about our expectations we had with our then-likely longer term move to Florida, we were just settling into a year-long rental of a two-bedroom plus den cottage, Aloha. Well, Margo was never keen on living in a planned community, but it feels a tad different here. Aloha is one of six designs in the Conch Cottages collection, the choice of this temporary residence proved opportunistic. Nothing indecisive about doing so and it gave us the chance to look around the place – visit the Town Center, eat at the Margaritaville style café, check out the gym, lap pool and yes, the oversized lagoon.

When we advised the sales team back in April that we wanted to buy a home, they took down our names and address only to advised us that it can take a long time – expect lots to be allocated late in the year and then plan a further wait of between 12 and 14 months. Heavy sigh; slow exhale of breath. So much for that laid-back, kind of vacation, feeling. Ouch – but we went through the steps anyway working with the development builder’s sales rep, Robb Edwards (and no, not the COO of Andretti Global and the strategist for Colton Herta).

Little to look at but behind, and
to the right, of the roller is our lot.

For some unexplained reason, I can hear Margo humming a Polish song written by Wojciech Mlynarski that repeats the phrase: przyjdzie walec i wyrowna (the roller will come and it will be even)!

This past weekend we went back to the model homes and checked out some of the smaller villas and cottages. But then this led us back to our original choice, a stand-alone house, Aruba. And no, this isn’t some place on the island in the Caribbean, but rather just one of four builds in the Island Collection – for those checking out the web site of LMWS. We walked back to the sales office and that’s where the real fun started.

Remember the words to the lyrics:

Through all of the islands and all of the highlands
If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane

Well, focused on a home in the island collection meant an extra long wait, or so we were initially told back in April. However, running into Robb, after exchanging pleasantries, we confirmed our interest in the Aruba and for some reason, I asked him whether he knew of any currently being built where the owners were bailing for any reason. His countenance changed immediately.

Fortunately, he cheered up pretty quickly. Aware that, should we buy one under construction, it would not be helping his hoped-for commission,  he turned and pointed at a computer screen and told us, “Well, what do you know? We just had a lot in the location you preferred become available. Would you like it?” Somehow, my later explanation to Margo that the builder’s sales team prioritizes addressing the needs of the squeaky wheel, and if we hadn’t caught up with Robb who knows who else would have been offered this lot!

Between the stake in the foreground
and the first one further away
and to the top left, is our lot!

Why all the fuss? What was special about this lot? Not much to look at for now, but our lot backs onto a new water feature – a sizable pond – that is backed by a reserve never to be built upon. And we face north so we can entertain all summer long, somewhat out of the heat. Our Aruba will come with a pool and a spa and will be under a full-wrap birdcage that ensures we won’t have to deal with the critters that tend to hang around long after they have become a nuisance.

For those wondering whether we will witness close encounters of the reptile kind, then you can never assume any waterway in Florida will not entertain such (yes, you guessed it, alligators), our location is a good way away from the Intracoastal Waterway suggesting such visits will be unlikely. All the same, it will be something we will watch. For those unacquainted with the television show, Troppo, filmed north of Cairns in Northern Queensland, Australia, the ever-present anxiousness over the possible presence of a crocodile lurking just below the surface may send shivers down the spine of viewers but for us, we share no such anxieties.

A stroll down Maine Street, Rosemary Beach

Life has a way of challenging you even as it can be highly instructive. Only hours before we toured the model homes that weekend, we had driven to a small beachside township to the west of Panama City Beaches. With little forewarning we entered possibly the most charming village we have encountered in Florida. An architecture that could have just as easily been present somewhere in Europe we were enchanted to say the least. So much so we took an elevator to a rooftop restaurant where we enjoyed brunch.

From our table we could see a stretch of sand, the beach umbrellas painting a picture not unlike something you would see along the Mediterranean, and cobblestone streets to boot. Taking a stroll down main street that resembled nothing from the images created by Bob Seeger in the song of a similar name, Margo and I were enchanted and captivated. So much so we began talking enthusiastically about checking out the real estate.

By happenstance we walked past an open house but upon entering and chatting briefly with the agent, you can imagine our surprise when we read the price. Yes, seems everyone who was anyone had already found the place and with a price tag of US$7.5 Million, it was only mildly representative of the upper middle price bracket for the area. So there it was, back in the car and to our development and a revisit of model homes but this time, with a real purposed to ensure that we could beat potential price increases.

Enjoying brunch, overlooking the sites at
Rosemary Beach before reality kicked in!

Changing latitudes is a constant with Margo and me. Changing attitudes, equally so. This post borrowed a number of phrases from songs and films and appropriately enough, a reminder of just how all that we read, see and hear makes an impact on our perceptions of our surroundings not forgetting the folks we meet where friendships develop. When you loose count of the number of cruises you have been on or even how many times you have flown across the Pacific or the Atlantic, you can’t help but feel there’s a time coming where it will all slow down.

Or, perhaps not! The number of times Margo and I have discussed skipping a cruise, a flight or a drive only to change our minds yet again moments later. Coming as we have from different continents and finding our way to the US going down different paths, we do share a sense of movement. It is as if continuing to move is what we do best. And yet, for the first time together, we have started to appreciate a much slower lifestyle. If you haven’t detected this change of attitude then perhaps you may need to reread this post.

It's not subtle – the message couldn’t be clearer. We will continue to maintain a presence in Colorado and the decision to purchase a condo from a member of our extended family was the right thing to do. But having a home at sea level brings with it an appreciation that we no longer have to keep running, chasing who knows what goals. The idea of having this special second home will be tested in November when our grandkids along with their parents will visit our current rental place. Perhaps the only item left for us to discuss at that point will be whether our next TV screen will be 72 inches or 84?

In all seriousness though is how fast we have watched our mood change as much as it has. The way of water, here at Water Sound fortunately is way less challenging as presented in the film Avatar but then again, as beautiful a landscape as that film projected, living within Florida’s panhandle is providing just as beautiful landscape. So much so that simply finding time to watch sunsets has now become the highlight of the day: Sometimes! 

Sunset over Water Sound


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