It comes as a bit of a surprise when we tell our friends about the temperatures we encounter primarily living, as we now do, along the Florida panhandle. Having decided on taking up residence in an over-55 managed facility, Latitude Margaritaville Water Sound (LMWS), paralleling the magical Emerald Coast, we are often held to ransom by cold fronts descending from wintery Canada.
To be honest, we didn’t do our research, thinking all of Florida enjoyed the same weather conditions as we have enjoyed in the past whenever we visited the Florida Keys. However, leaving our former home on Sanctuary Drive in Windsor, Colorado, we were apprehensive about how easily we would adapt to the potential of less warmer days. Just as we were initially confused over Florida spanning two time zones – yes, we live within Central Standard Time and not the Eastern Standard Time – the state is split into two geographical zones what else might we would find that would be different:
“Florida has two main climate zones,
with the
(tropical) southernmost areas having warmer,
tropical-like conditions, and the rest of the
(sub-tropical, northern area of the) state
having milder winters with more frequent freezes.”
The good news is that this period of colder weather didn’t last long and warmer conditions have returned. This past weekend it was back to daytime temperatures pushing upwards into the mid-70s F. Nice! However, this post isn’t about how cold Florida can become, but rather, how we have become more attuned to outside activities. And of how our "adjusting to Florida" is coming along.
We continue with our lanai “decoration” and this has been perhaps our most enjoyable pursuit since taking up occupancy in our new home, a very short six months ago. Our decision to pave beyond the Lanai, build a combination pool and spa (heated, of course), and erect the pool’s screened enclosure – affectionally referred to as “the birdcage” – has helped with our transition to living in the great outdoors.
Adding pool lighting as the pool and spa were created was part of a much bigger plan that would assure us of year-round enjoyment of these great outdoors. And look carefully at the photos as you may spot the arrival of our Pool Ledge chairs – made it in time for the holidays.
We
brought patio furniture with us from Windsor Colorado and this gave us a head
start but decorating didn’t stop with just a few chairs, a bar and a grill. We aren't done yet, according to the goals we agreed upon. As
we progressed with the plan, there were plenty of opportunities to simply sit
back, enjoy the view and to sip on a cocktail. No need to rush, right?
Like
many grandparents before us, providing an enriching environment attractive to
our grandkids was a priority right from the outset. Even though we elected to
build a two-bedroom house, it did include a multifunction den that we enclosed
with French Doors. Decorating it as our office was only part of the story as we
included a faux bar that in reality was a Murphy Bed. Again, this is only half
the story.
We
knew from past experiences that spending any time in a temporary bedroom was
never going to be used for anything more than sleeping so, recently, we
added a lighting system to the birdcage and this has dramatically changed the
ambiance even as it makes “playing outdoors” more of an option as evenings here
start early. Being on the leading edge of the central time zone, the sun sets
before 5:00pm so making the environment enjoyable has benefited from being
attractively lit:
Playing
around with the color combinations – do you think the above sets the stage for
holidays to come? Turning the pool lights a shade of brown with the surround
lights yellow in acknowledgement of Thanksgiving was never going to work for us,
but giving it more of a Christmas feel certainly seemed, to us, to be a better
lighting option. But one thing remained. As enticing as the scene might be, as
the clock continues to count down the evening hours, it becomes pretty chilly
under the birdcage.
This
week we installed an outdoor infrared heater. A rather big one. Still early days before we can
pass judgement on the prudence of such an installation but, for now, it’s doing
the job of ensuring the Lanai is warm no matter how cold it gets. This is an
important life-choice factor as, with age, everything feels a little colder.
Unfortunately, that’s not all that comes with maturing as grandparents.
That
need for a nap after lunch and that fondness for an early night’s retreat to a
comfortable bed all become practices we look forward to – how did that happen?
To paraphrase the popular Jimmy Buffett refrains, when did we suddenly become
the grandparents we were warned about? We
both know that, while we might be growing old, we certainly are not growing up.
We retain the sense of adventure we have always had and planning the next one
is always an enjoyable exercise. But again, as the visits by our grandchildren
remind us, there’s a reason why “grand” precedes kids. We have finally
entered a demographic we so fiercely resisted for the duration of our time
together as husband and wife.
Returning to the topic of Florida seasons, amazing: There
is a fall season in Florida? Yes, the colors of autumn are hard to miss even as
we continue to drive the Florida highways. In LMWS, where the flora features numerous imported shrubs – we even
have Australian bottlebrush bushes flowering red – we enjoy a color palate
that blends reds, golds and browns with the evergreen native pines. Just one
more reminder that as seasons come and go, our maturing continues unabated.
For
the past three months, we have been commuting between the panhandle and the
southern reaches of Florida. Our now-routine 550-mile drive to and from Boca
Raton – yes, an 1,100-mile return journey – has become something we look
forward to. Not just because of the warmer weather, but for the food, the
shopping and time spent with friends and business colleagues.
Margo
and I have always seen life as a journey and yes, our lives are a highway, not
to put too fine a point on the fact that for almost three decades, it’s been a
constant, almost perpetual movement, between where we are and where we need to
be and we don’t see any changes happening in the near future. The road may go on forever but no, the parties are winding down. Ouch!
As
a development, LMWS not only parallels the beaches of the Emerald Coast, but is
located alongside the navigable Gulf intracoastal waterway. Not quite the same
as it’s more famous Atlantic Ocean intracoastal waterway, it’s a means to sail
between cities without needing to head out into the gulf. Well, not entirely as
it’s not contiguous all the way west to Corpus Christi, but there’s enough of
these oftentimes muddy waters to provide many options as to final destinations.
When the skies are blue so is the waterway. Cloudy? Then the more familiar
muddy body of water has become a familiar sight.
Driving
the Florida highways has become our primary navigable option as we divide time
between heading east with heading north and west. As we continue to drive
between our Florida residence and our Colorado condo, the miles are adding up even as our
highway "situational awareness" has sharpened. Yes, on America’s Interstates,
everyone is out to kill you and unfortunately, that’s the new reality and there
are plenty of signs to support the lack of highway knowledge, indeed courtesy,
among drivers.
Frustrations
develop quickly and sudden rash moves fuels that need to remain aware at all
times. Speed limits? Fuhgeddaboudit! So, the speed limit is 70 mph – surely, 84
is fine, right? Passing a series of trucks on the curbside lane at 90 mph? Sure
– need to pass those big rigs before they begin using all the lanes to pass each
other. Highway Patrol cars are seldom seen and modern navigation systems are
letting us know exactly where they are but even so, passing them at 78 mph or
even 81 mph (in that same 70 mph zone) has not bothered any patrol offices to date.
At
a fast-food diner, off an interstate, we once asked a patrol officer what
really was the speed limit on a 70mph stretch of highway? With a slight shrug,
they told us to stick to the speed limit but then, when we said we are at risk
as every driver is passing us at speed. Well, came the response, “try not to do
more than 10 mph over the signed speed limits!” Love this country – no rules,
just informal guidelines!
Well, way down yonder on the
Chattahoochee
It gets hotter than a hoochie coochie
Yeah, way down yonder on the
Chattahoochee
Never knew how much that muddy water meant to me …
Alan Jackson
Driving
across Florida, almost every county line, every river crossing, and almost
every highway - think the "Pascagoula Highway" – brings a song to
mind. It’s hard not to think in terms of the lyrics of songs we often hear
while walking around LMWS. It’s a truism that electing to live in
Margaritaville is a sure sign that music plays a part of your lifestyle. Margo met Jimmy one lunchtime in Key West, back in the ‘90s, and perhaps
that was the catalyst for our fondness for the Florida Keys and the laid-back
beach-focused, lifestyle that it represents.
Then
again, the more we tune-into the lifestyle this affords us, the more my memory
goes back to my youth, living in Sydney and spending as many days as I could on
Sydney’s northern beaches. Same temperature, same climate and same, very
simplistic lifestyle. So much so that with every trip back to Sydney, nostalgia
quickly takes root. But then again, growing old but not up has a certain cachet
about it. If only we could see the Southern Cross! "Cause when we part ways
with the Southern Cross, slipping as it always does beneath the southern sky,
we understand now why we came this way!” A line that continues to resonate with me no matter in which direction we pass by these stars.
Kicking
back, even now, watching the latest sunset, with the backyard lights coming on,
maybe, just maybe, a Sydney recreation is truly, all that we needed. Coming up soon, maybe? Then
again, we have to admit, it’s not that shabby living by the water after
all, even as lengthening shadows let us know that the sun is making a final
appearance before leaving us for the night, we miss the bright lights of Sydney less and less with the passage of time. We may have relocated from Sanctuary
Drive, Colorado, to Florida but it is safe to say; we have built
our very own sanctuary and nothing we know of can detract us from life's latest chapter!
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