The last few weeks have been a bit rough around here. Getting ready to move and everything that comes with it is stressful enough but we have had some hiccups that have made this time around (it's only our 10th move in 12 years) a bit harder than usual. Thankfully today, it has all been ironed out and in 10 days we will be Texas bound.
So, as our year at the beach is coming to a close, we have spent some time reflecting on what a wonderful adventure it's been. We are both so grateful to live a lifestyle where we have been able to experience so many wonderful things together. Life is short and unpredictable but the heart of life is good and man, has it been fun!
Here are some of my favorite things about this past year we have spent living it up on the beach:
*Watching two bald eagles build their nest on the cell tower across the street from our house. Then watching their babies grow, test out their wings, learn how to fly and leave the nest.
*Watching a mourning dove build her stick nest in our garage, laying two eggs, hatching them, and watching the babies grow.
*Walks along the beach, hunting for shells and other treasures.
*Amassing a collection of shells so big it caused me to use 3 rolls of packing paper to wrap them up for the move
*Snorkeling in the ocean and watching a sweet little seahorse bobbing around attached to a piece of seaweed.
*Snorkeling out to a sandbar 50 yards in the ocean and being surrounded by dozens of starfish
*Taking a ride on Loop Road, a 25 mile long dirt road in the Everglades, and observing hundreds of alligators in their natural habitat, less than 30 feet away from us.
* Visting Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, watching the famous Mermaid show and seeing a mama manatee and her baby up close in the Springs.
*Going with friends to Crystal River and Three Sisters Springs to snorkel with the manatees. Rubbing a manatees back and having him roll over so I could scratch.
*Swimming in the ocean while manatees passed right by, close enough to touch.
*Countless dolphin sightings
*Going to see the Christmas Lights at the Tampa Bay Zoo
*Walking down the beach to the beach cafe to have Thanksgiving Day dinner in the sand.
*Spending Christmas on the beach with my family
*Finding a Great White Shark fossilized tooth during one of my shell hunts
*A Motorcyle ride along the coast and catching an amazing sunrise
*Watching the sunset from the beach or our deck
*Hearing great live music from the bar across the street while relaxing on our deck
*Stand up paddle boarding
*Kayaking
*Hiking Robinsons Preserve
*Seeing Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks and Sandhill Cranes
*Seeing Bon Jovi and Stevie Knicks in concert
*Going to see a preseason baseball game for the Pittsburgh Pirates
*Dressing up as a Mermaid and a Pirate and coming in second in a costume contest
*Riding my bike to get groceries
*Getting the BEST sandwiches from a great local deli
*Ordering sandwiches from a different great local deli and having them delivered to us right on the beach
*Amazing visits and adventures with our friends and family who came to visit
*Seeing stingrays
*Experiencing a Hurricane and floating in the street on my blow up raft in my swimsuit
*Saturday morning walks to the City Pier and stopping for breakfast along the way
*Mini-golf (which I NEVER won)
*Getting to see Snooty the oldest living manatee
*Doing a 5k on Siesta Key for sea turtle conservationan
*Doing a 5K Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot over the John Ringling Bridge in Sarasota
*Being surrounded by Monk Parakeets and feeling like you live in a Tarzan movie
*Going to the local fish markets where the fisherman unload their catch right off the boat
*Learning how to grill different types of fish
*Double rainbows
*Key Lime Coconut Cake from Hometown Desserts, a local island bakery
*Tuna sandwiches from our favorite little dive/bait shop, New Pass Grille
As I write this list, I am sure there are so many things that I am missing. Suffice it to say that we have had one hell of a ride this year. Here's to many more adventures to come in Texas...or wherever the Gypsy Caravan may roam :)
We live in a world that focuses too often on the negative, so I'm really refreshed to read your list of so many positives. Sometimes, we forget to appreciate the good things that we are given and the ones that we create, but it's sure worth the time to do that. It's been an amazing year, and here's to the next one! :)
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