There is Time

 I have to say that as a pipe smoker, there IS something special about smoking a pipe.  W are fairly settled in our new place.  I smoled my pipe yesterday at a poolside table with my wife as company.  Other than a wasp flying around us, it was a very pleasant time, with both of us talking about a more permanent place to live.  We don't need to be on the water, but living here makes us appreciate the morning views.  But the fact is I miss my pipe and need to be in a community that allows for smoking.

We will begin our search for a place now that we are settled in here.  Right now we aren't in a hurry, but already condos and apartments are being reserved for the winter months.  Things open up in the spring as the snowbirds head north.  But many people make this a year round home community.  As I said, however, we aren't in a hurry.  But we'll begin looking and start with on-line shopping, which is how our son found this place.  Maybe as amazing as the lanai is this condo comes furnished.  But we are thinking that at our age we aren't sure we want the headaches of property ownership.

I'm not sure what the square footage is here, but I am thinking it is above average for its size.  The lanai alone is larger than most master bedrooms. It's width covers the width of the entire condo and the depth is about an average distance from floor to ceiling.  Even when I'm not smoking my pipe, I spend most of time out here. We have covered parking here.  Most places charge extra for a garage and covered parking is a premium at best.  

We will compare most any place to this one, but being on the water makes a difference.  To get this view does come at a cost, however.  Without the water it would be less.  Just about all places have an HOA and often smokers are grandfathered into agreements.  But almost all I have seen in either condo rentals or apartments are non-smoking.

I am of the belief that allowances need to be made for pipes, or I will just smoke my pipe at our son's house, as I have been doing.  We were upfront with the owner here aboit my pipes.  But when looking for a place we need to consider my pipes.  I can give them up for a short period like a week or two, but really I don't want to permanently give them up.

The fact is we have time to look.  And THAT is my point today.  I have a lot of time to smoke my pipes, but with so few pipe smokers in the US today, I doubt seriously non-smoking communities make many, if any, allowances for pipe smokers.  I might have to be upfront, as we were here.  I smoke a pipe and I do so for relaxation as some might sip wine or some other alcoholic drink.  The pipe is my choice for relaxation and might be more beneficial to me than not smoking at all.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave