A New Year

 No, it's not THE New Year.  But about this time last year, my wife and I began talking about leaving NY for Florida.  I can recall sitting on the deck of our home in NY and we began talking about a move to Florida.  But first we began talking about our son's house he was buying in Cape Coral.  She said we could move in with him for awhile and find a place of pur own down there.  I began thinking about it, but so many arrangements needed to be made.  We talked about the logistics of a move and so much needed to be done.  He got the house and he'd move in the middle of June.

We had so many plans that had to be made and decided we'd come down in July.  I started thinking about beaches and fishing.  I wondered how we'd like Florida in July.  So, about this time a year ago, we began making plans for a move.  A lot had to be done.  But I wondered if I'd like Florida and not having been here we decided at that point we would make the move.  So, looking back on the last year, we've made a lot of adjustments.  We began thinking we'd move in November, maybe a week before Thanksgiving. 

But our plans began about a year ago.  And here we are in our own place which is only temporary.  But it gives us time.  I sit here on the lanai in the cool of the early evening after a summer rainstorm thinking to myself that I don't have any regrets in life.  My wife and I were talking and neither of us regret how we've lived the past 48 years together.  We came down a year ago next month and we haven't looked back.  I miss our other son in Columbus, but we keep in touch and he's been down a couple of times to visit.

It's good he has a place to visit and can come and go as he wishes.  But having spent our first winter here I can honestly say I didn't miss the cold one bit.  We've used his pool and apart from a few jacket days here, it's been nice and warm.  We missed Ian, but the house came through without much damage.  Some things still need to be repaired, but we help with things that need to be done.  We have time and take some burden of home ownership off our son's shoulders.  

I can honestly say it's been a good year for us.   We've been to the beach once by boat, but I have yet to get any fishing line wet.  My son got good news about repairs to his house.  They will repair the roof and replace the lanai.  The pool needs a new pump and we are thinking about draining the pool and get it resurfaced.  All that will eventually get done.  The hut tub is working now, but as to whether the hurricane damaged the pool and hot tub, we don't think so.  But we help managing the house for him.  

Actually, it has been a good year in spite of hurricane Ian.  I've smoked my pipe nearly every day while here and all seems right with the world.  I'm smoking my Meerschaum Lee Van Cleef pipe this morning with Vanilla Custard.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave