Evening Walk on the Beach

Since the alteration to Daylight Savings Time we have cultivated the very agreeable habit of a post-dinner walk.  I can't honestly say that an evening walk is of the same invigorating nature as a morning walk but the views on the Gulf Coast in the evening are undeniably alluring (because the sun sets over the sea). Invariably upon our arrival on the beach we discover several abandoned collapsible beach chairs which the staff have yet to collect and secrete for the night.  These afford us a convenient perch for lingering on the shore, gossiping between ourselves, rejoicing in the events of the day and watching the family and young lovers traipsing about in the sunset.

Nec Plus Ultra

The first clue I had this morning - apart from the glistening blue sky, yellow sunrise and entertaining squawks of subtropical birds - was the sound of symphony music on Sarasota's FM Channel 89.1 when I turned on the bedside Bose radio. It isn't often that my first try with a hotel radio station is as fortuitous.  My sleep last night was better than it has been recently.  Even though the mattress initially felt less than firm, it turned out to have been comfortable. After my shower I opened the balcony door and sat on a patio chair at a round glassed table, munching my slices of orange and drinking my green tea while reading the March 28th edition of Vanity Fair. As I glanced up at the nearby tennis courts and golf course through the swaying palm trees I was feeling undeniably smug. My delight was further gratified by a bowl of diced red, yellow and green peppers with white onion, chunks of Norwegian smoked salmon and one scrambled egg; and a toasted English muffin with fresh ground peanut butter.

Longboat Key on the Gulf of Mexico

There was considerable excitement coursing through our veins early this morning as we concluded the final steps in our departure from Daytona Beach Shores.  At three o'clock this morning we had both awoken and resolved to lull ourselves back to sleep with a cup of coffee and some E. F. Benson. At seven o'clock we restored our nutritional strength by going to the Cracked Egg for a final mess of bacon, signature sausage patties, eggs and tomatoe slices. Then after breakfast in addition to having a few remaining things to pack in the car, we felt obliged to attend upon the condominium concierge to hand over the keys, fobs and garage door opener.  We notified our estate agent upon completion of that particular duty.  There were some kind things shared by us and other residents as we set about leaving.  But once we were in the car and on our way westward along International Speedway in Daytona Beach headed for Longboat Key, our relief was palpable.

Last Day on Daytona Beach Shores

Unquestionably we have been spoiled with exceptionally fine weather during the last hours of our sojourn on Daytona Beach Shores.  The Ocean and the wind have cooperated to produce a constant scene of rollicking waves and pleasant breeze, everything we had ever hoped to find here.  We began our day today in the usual manner; that is, with a one mile walk on the beach to the lifeguard stand and back. Afterwards after having lounged by the pool for about an hour I went for another walk on the beach in the opposite direction to an access point, about 0.8 miles return trip.

The cost of doing business

As we edge closer and closer to removing our personal belongings from the apartment and packing the car in preparation for our departure there are a number of things surfacing which we question bringing back.  It is an inevitable accident of nomadic living that upon the arrival at each particular designation the first week or so is spent at local department stores gathering items which the landlord didn't consider necessary for the tenancy.  This year for example we bought 2 plastic cutting boards for the kitchen, a measuring cup and spoons, a Keurig coffee maker, 2 small synthetic rugs to place under our dining room chairs, a bathroom shower rug, water filters, air filters and light bulb replacements. Though one is tempted to imagine that there will always be a use for those items, the truth is that they will most likely simply end up in storage somewhere, never to be recovered.  We certainly haven't any need or room for them in our apartment at home in Canada; and it is equally doubtful that we'll ever feel compelled to cart them back south with us next year.  If we knew we were staying in the same southern residence year after year there would be some strength in just leaving them there.  However our history has been one of constant change.  This doesn't mean that we won't have the generosity to leave them where they now are.  On the balance the debate is quickly resolved by admitting they are effectively useless to us and that they merely represent the cost of doing business.  It is remarkable how easily one can unwittingly become absorbed in petty economy!

Spa Day

Having a professional manicure and pedicure is not something I do regularly.  But occasionally - as today - the indulgence is one I easily rationalize.  After almost a month in hospital I am anxious to restore at least a semblance of physical wellness.  I already missed a scheduled appointment with a dental hygienist for a teeth cleaning. The special care of my nails this afternoon coincided with a haircut earlier this morning. I now feel I have done all I can to prepare myself for our upcoming departure to Longboat Key in the next few days.  I consider it part of a purge, a ritual cleansing.

Dinner with the banker

I hesitate to refer to this evening's dinner companion as a banker (though that is indeed his profession) not because there is anything especially offensive about bankers - not the way for example one hears nasty quips about lawyers and real estate agents - but I hesitate to call people by name when writing about them in this public forum.  Some people are understandably reluctant to submit to public accounts of any description.  Though I haven't any intention of saying anything diminishing about the gentleman, I acknowledge that for whatever reason even the most benign allusion can unwittingly become pernicious.  Therefore to avoid any possibility of contamination I shall only say that late this afternoon I received a telephone call from a chap whom I first met and last saw about thirty years ago.  He and his wife now live nearby in Florida; he said he had an opportunity to drive here for a short visit.  Naturally I welcomed him.  Because my friend advised his window of latitude was limited to about three hours we decided to head directly to a resaturant for a bite to eat while engaging ourselves in catching up.

I'm going home

The 18th and near final song of Rocky Horror Picture Show in the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (transvestite scientist) was him (Tim Curry) singing the lachrymose  "I'm going home".  The title is in fact surprisingly common, having been used by no less than the Kingston Trio, Mickey & Sylvia, Tanita Tikaram and even The Zombies. Otherwise the cult movie theme of returning to the planet Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania is singular.  In all but the original UK version of the film this song is the last except for the reprise of "Science Fiction/Double Feature" (The Lips). The song - in F Major - is considered one of the slower songs of "Rocky Horror" and has the same ballad features as the opening song "Science Fiction/Double Feature".

Last Weekend on Daytona Beach Shores, FL

When we began our routine morning walking on the beach today we suddently realized this would be our last weekend on Daytona Beach Shores.  We intend to leave on Thursday, March 29th - very possibly never to return.  Luckily for us the weather today was brilliantly sunny and comfortably warm, a high of 70℉ with a balmy easterly wind at 16 km/hr (sorry, but my Weather App is oddly a combination of Fahrenheit temperature and metric speed).

New Smyrna Beach, FL

New Smyrna Beach (pronounced by the locals "Sa-Mer-Na" not "Smer-Na") is a small beach town south of Daytona Beach Shores.  Since our arrival on Daytona Beach Shores we have been inquisitive to know more about New Smyrna Beach.  Several people whom we've encountered during the past five months have raved about the place. Whenever I bicycled to Ponce Inlet (which is at the end of the peninsula of which Daytona Beach Shores is a part) I could see New Smyrna Beach on the opposite side of the intracoastal waterway that rounded the butt of the barrier island and joined the Halifax River which effectively separates Daytona Beach Shores from the mainland.