Archive | Kindred Spirit III RSS feed for this section

28 February 2019 GRAND FINALE!!! So long to 13 years of blogging from Ocala, FL


     This issue concludes 13 years of blogging. Now that we’ve become CLODS (Cruisers Living on Dirt), our lives are like everyone else’s so until we take flight in our coach, there’ll be no more blogging and maybe not even then. May just use Facebook as our way of letting you know if we’re doing anything other than living here in our Bubble.

     Our eldest, Chadwick, Jr., and granddaughter, Izzi, both had early February birthdays. They just keep getting older yet I stay the same age. Don’t understand how that is.

     Bill visited his 89 year old sister in upstate NY and, luckily, he was there for a week between blizzards. He just can’t tolerate temps below 60 degrees anymore so the weather seemed orchestrated with him in mind.

     We love ABBA. Have seen the performance on Broadway, the ‘’official ABBA sanctioned’ troupe in Clayton, NY, and again here this month, as well as the movie a couple times. Great happy music!!!

     I participated in several Martin Luther King and Black History Month events and learned so much as well as broadened my horizons. Unforgettable functions.

     We celebrated Valentine’s Day quite festively, at our Beautiful Lodge. Great food, fun, libations, and music. It seemed as if all the women were in red!




     Of course we had a Full Moon party hosted by neighbors, Terry and Barb. Thankfully, it wasn’t so cold this month, albeit it very cloudy so no moon could we see but that didn’t stop the fun, fellowship, and an excuse to gather with neighbors.

     Friends, Cozette and John, from New Smyrna Beach, came for an overnight visit and we had a wonderful time listening to John play and sing his original songs and catching up since last we saw them so long ago.


     While they were here, we went to view horse jumping–a new experience for the four of us.



     Bill closed out the month with a trip to a Model T gathering in St. Augustine







while I attended an incredible presentation by an Emmy award-winning National Geographic film maker, Mark Emery. He presented his documentary film, highlighting the historic, economic, and environmental significance of Silver Springs. Through the eyes of 4 Americans who, incidentally, are black, and were the glass bottom boat drivers, who have a combined 200 years of experience on the river.  Emery delivered an engaging story of Silver Springs, the history of segregation at the springs, and the coming of age of these remarkable ambassadors for nature. The film told the history and ecology of Silver Springs through the people who lived it as it unfolded. It is a film legacy with remaining boat drivers who are able to share this story. After the presentation, Emery and several of the boat captains, shared additional insights and stories about their experiences. This was a gem of a presentation and opportunity.

     It’s difficult to believe that we end our first 5 months in our new home tomorrow. Time in certainly flying but we’re both extremely busy with Bill’s Old Car Club that he initiated, pickle ball to which he’s become addicted, his French class that he loves, and my swimming and working out with a great trainer. 

     Our weather is gorgeous but there always seems to be a freeze soon’s trees are budding and flowers blossoming.  Tomorrow begins Spring and Daylight Savings Time is not far behind.  Hope to see you on Facebook.

Bill and Laura Bender
9128 SW 82nd Lane
Ocala, FL 34481
864 525 5236
http://kindredspiritiii.blogspot.com








28 February 2019 GRAND FINALE!!! So long to 13 years of blogging from Ocala, FL


     This issue concludes 13 years of blogging. Now that we’ve become CLODS (Cruisers Living on Dirt), our lives are like everyone else’s so until we take flight in our coach, there’ll be no more blogging and maybe not even then. May just use Facebook as our way of letting you know if we’re doing anything other than living here in our Bubble.

     Our eldest, Chadwick, Jr., and granddaughter, Izzi, both had early February birthdays. They just keep getting older yet I stay the same age. Don’t understand how that is.

     Bill visited his 89 year old sister in upstate NY and, luckily, he was there for a week between blizzards. He just can’t tolerate temps below 60 degrees anymore so the weather seemed orchestrated with him in mind.

     We love ABBA. Have seen the performance on Broadway, the ‘’official ABBA sanctioned’ troupe in Clayton, NY, and again here this month, as well as the movie a couple times. Great happy music!!!

     I participated in several Martin Luther King and Black History Month events and learned so much as well as broadened my horizons. Unforgettable functions.

     We celebrated Valentine’s Day quite festively, at our Beautiful Lodge. Great food, fun, libations, and music. It seemed as if all the women were in red!




     Of course we had a Full Moon party hosted by neighbors, Terry and Barb. Thankfully, it wasn’t so cold this month, albeit it very cloudy so no moon could we see but that didn’t stop the fun, fellowship, and an excuse to gather with neighbors.

     Friends, Cozette and John, from New Smyrna Beach, came for an overnight visit and we had a wonderful time listening to John play and sing his original songs and catching up since last we saw them so long ago.


     While they were here, we went to view horse jumping–a new experience for the four of us.



     Bill closed out the month with a trip to a Model T gathering in St. Augustine







while I attended an incredible presentation by an Emmy award-winning National Geographic film maker, Mark Emery. He presented his documentary film, highlighting the historic, economic, and environmental significance of Silver Springs. Through the eyes of 4 Americans who, incidentally, are black, and were the glass bottom boat drivers, who have a combined 200 years of experience on the river.  Emery delivered an engaging story of Silver Springs, the history of segregation at the springs, and the coming of age of these remarkable ambassadors for nature. The film told the history and ecology of Silver Springs through the people who lived it as it unfolded. It is a film legacy with remaining boat drivers who are able to share this story. After the presentation, Emery and several of the boat captains, shared additional insights and stories about their experiences. This was a gem of a presentation and opportunity.

     It’s difficult to believe that we end our first 5 months in our new home tomorrow. Time in certainly flying but we’re both extremely busy with Bill’s Old Car Club that he initiated, pickle ball to which he’s become addicted, his French class that he loves, and my swimming and working out with a great trainer. 

     Our weather is gorgeous but there always seems to be a freeze soon’s trees are budding and flowers blossoming.  Tomorrow begins Spring and Daylight Savings Time is not far behind.  Hope to see you on Facebook.

Bill and Laura Bender
9128 SW 82nd Lane
Ocala, FL 34481
864 525 5236
http://kindredspiritiii.blogspot.com








31 January 2019 Larkhill Community Ocala, FL

      2019 began with a flurry of parties or maybe it was just a continuation of the soirees of 2018! New Year’s Day we enjoyed 3 parties—1 was a meal of collards, black eyed peas, cornbread, ribs, and chicken in a neighbors’ home down the street—our Southern Good Luck Charm for the year.

     Another neighbor needed a bit of nursing help so I hung his IV antibiotics a few times to fill in some blanks. I don’t miss getting up to go to work but I do miss nursing.

     We finally got our living room rug and the remainder of our bedroom furniture.


     There are two more pieces that don’t show here but we’re so excited to finally have drawers! Headboard is asymmetrical as are night stands. More narrow one on left with longer portion of headboard and the wider night table on the right with the shorter headboard segment.

       There is a significance to the canvas of an abstract Washington DC skyline and the bicycle bookends. In all of our years of cruising and although we loved many places, we spent the most concentrated time in DC and it’s our all-time favorite city. We spent a total of 6 months and 1 week there, riding our bikes to Bethesda (home of NHC), Silver Spring, Mt. Vernon, Arlington, Alexandria, Capitol Heights, Georgetown, Hyattsville, Crystal City, and more places than I can name. So that’s why we fell in love with the painting! THEN, Bill spied the bookends and we knew that they would have a special place beneath the painting of our nation’s capitol.





     I can tell you that we weren’t sad to see the Rubbermaid tubs go that we’d been living out of for months. Oh, the things we take for granted! Several weeks later and I’m still thrilled at being able to open a drawer and finding the items that I expect to be there. With the tubs, I never knew where anything was. A rug and furniture has helped our echo somewhat but we still hear ourselves bouncing off the walls. Window treatments will probably help—one of these days.

     There’s a wonderful art instructor here as part of our Life Long Learning Center. I’ve taken classes from her before and just love her. If only I could tuck myself in her back pocket and absorb every technique that she knows. I did a little sea turtle the other day and it’s hanging in our guest room.


     We also have a performing arts center and enjoyed a dueling pianos show like none other. They play piano, harmonica, sax, guitar, and are also a comedy team. Deuces Wild is their name so if they come to your area, you’d love their show.

     Bill and I began foreign language classes and after only 1 class, I’m not sure I’ll survive. He’s taking French and I, Spanish. Now why didn’t I take French, too???  Sure would’ve made a lot of sense because when Bill worked for Michelin, a French company, he was fluent to the point that he could give presentations in French when he went to the home office in France. He’s thrilled with his instructor and just the first class seemed to resurrect all he knew but had forgotten. My instructor is also very good but when I took 2 years of Spanish in college, I never even came close to being fluent so I’m struggling. Hope subsequent classes loosen my tongue a bit.

     Andy and Dinata, boating and RV friends from Marathon, have settled in Leesburg, FL, so they drove up to visit us for a day. We had a wonderful time laughing, talking, laughing, catching up, and laughing some more.

      Bill’s Old Car Club took an excursion to the horse farm of the Gypsy Gold Vanner breed established in the 1995 by Dennis, the farm owner, and his late wife. He thrilled us as he narrated a walking two-hour tour of his farm. We met the Gypsy Gold Vanner horses in person, heard the history of the breed from its discovery in Great Britain and to its growth in the United States. Dennis discovered this unique breed in England where they were used as draw horses for the bands of gypsies and he brought the breed to America. 


     He explained the species, its history, and the unique British Gypsy culture. We walked the farm and met the stallions, mares, foals, mules, donkeys, parrots, and various other animals loved at Gypsy Gold Farm. I was surprised to not see dogs or cats there but I loved on the other creatures—although not the birds.

     The farm land and animals are immaculately maintained by 3 people—Dennis, who just had his 70th birthday, and two others.  That 3 people can maintain that level of perfection is amazing.  If you’re ever in the Ocala area, put this on your list of things to do. The tours are 3 days a week and reservations must be made in advance.


Notice the perfect heart on the flank of this horse!
     So many of our neighbors have entertained us in their homes and we haven’t been able to without asking them to bring their own chair!  😦   Now that we’re almost complete sans lanai furniture and window treatments, we’ve had a few open houses inviting our new neighbors. Having several nights of guests was fun and we look forward to doing that more often.

     Last month I suggested we have a Full Moon Party each month. We hosted the first one in December. Another of our neighbors, Tom and Elaine, hosted the January Super Blood Wolf Moon/Eclipse Party. It was COLD—in the low 30’s which is way below my comfort level.

     Carolyn and Don, dear friends from our boating lives, were our first overnight house guests. They’re fleeing north GA for Marathon and some warm weather. We had an exciting time of ‘catching up’. 


     Our Larkhill neighborhood gathered at a local steak house to wrap up the month and, of course, food and fellowship were outstanding. 


     January ended with the Larkhill Men’s Breakfast Club heading off in a caravan for Red’s Cafe and Sherry, a neighbor, and I drove to The Villages for a make-over for me. Her complexion is gorgeous and flawless and and she’s inspired me to buy some makeup after a decade long hiatus of wearing none. 


     An end of month report on our language classes—on Bill’s 3rd class, he presented a ‘story’ in French and the instructor understood him and Bill understood each class member’s “recital”.  Hate to admit it but I’m not doing nearly that spectacularly in Spanish. Hopefully February’s report will present my Spanish language skills in a better light.




Bill and Laura
9128 SW 82nd Lane
Ocala, FL 34481
     



31 January 2019 Larkhill Community Ocala, FL

      2019 began with a flurry of parties or maybe it was just a continuation of the soirees of 2018! New Year’s Day we enjoyed 3 parties—1 was a meal of collards, black eyed peas, cornbread, ribs, and chicken in a neighbors’ home down the street—our Southern Good Luck Charm for the year.

     Another neighbor needed a bit of nursing help so I hung his IV antibiotics a few times to fill in some blanks. I don’t miss getting up to go to work but I do miss nursing.

     We finally got our living room rug and the remainder of our bedroom furniture.


     There are two more pieces that don’t show here but we’re so excited to finally have drawers! Headboard is asymmetrical as are night stands. More narrow one on left with longer portion of headboard and the wider night table on the right with the shorter headboard segment.

       There is a significance to the canvas of an abstract Washington DC skyline and the bicycle bookends. In all of our years of cruising and although we loved many places, we spent the most concentrated time in DC and it’s our all-time favorite city. We spent a total of 6 months and 1 week there, riding our bikes to Bethesda (home of NHC), Silver Spring, Mt. Vernon, Arlington, Alexandria, Capitol Heights, Georgetown, Hyattsville, Crystal City, and more places than I can name. So that’s why we fell in love with the painting! THEN, Bill spied the bookends and we knew that they would have a special place beneath the painting of our nation’s capitol.





     I can tell you that we weren’t sad to see the Rubbermaid tubs go that we’d been living out of for months. Oh, the things we take for granted! Several weeks later and I’m still thrilled at being able to open a drawer and finding the items that I expect to be there. With the tubs, I never knew where anything was. A rug and furniture has helped our echo somewhat but we still hear ourselves bouncing off the walls. Window treatments will probably help—one of these days.

     There’s a wonderful art instructor here as part of our Life Long Learning Center. I’ve taken classes from her before and just love her. If only I could tuck myself in her back pocket and absorb every technique that she knows. I did a little sea turtle the other day and it’s hanging in our guest room.


     We also have a performing arts center and enjoyed a dueling pianos show like none other. They play piano, harmonica, sax, guitar, and are also a comedy team. Deuces Wild is their name so if they come to your area, you’d love their show.

     Bill and I began foreign language classes and after only 1 class, I’m not sure I’ll survive. He’s taking French and I, Spanish. Now why didn’t I take French, too???  Sure would’ve made a lot of sense because when Bill worked for Michelin, a French company, he was fluent to the point that he could give presentations in French when he went to the home office in France. He’s thrilled with his instructor and just the first class seemed to resurrect all he knew but had forgotten. My instructor is also very good but when I took 2 years of Spanish in college, I never even came close to being fluent so I’m struggling. Hope subsequent classes loosen my tongue a bit.

     Andy and Dinata, boating and RV friends from Marathon, have settled in Leesburg, FL, so they drove up to visit us for a day. We had a wonderful time laughing, talking, laughing, catching up, and laughing some more.

      Bill’s Old Car Club took an excursion to the horse farm of the Gypsy Gold Vanner breed established in the 1995 by Dennis, the farm owner, and his late wife. He thrilled us as he narrated a walking two-hour tour of his farm. We met the Gypsy Gold Vanner horses in person, heard the history of the breed from its discovery in Great Britain and to its growth in the United States. Dennis discovered this unique breed in England where they were used as draw horses for the bands of gypsies and he brought the breed to America. 


     He explained the species, its history, and the unique British Gypsy culture. We walked the farm and met the stallions, mares, foals, mules, donkeys, parrots, and various other animals loved at Gypsy Gold Farm. I was surprised to not see dogs or cats there but I loved on the other creatures—although not the birds.

     The farm land and animals are immaculately maintained by 3 people—Dennis, who just had his 70th birthday, and two others.  That 3 people can maintain that level of perfection is amazing.  If you’re ever in the Ocala area, put this on your list of things to do. The tours are 3 days a week and reservations must be made in advance.


Notice the perfect heart on the flank of this horse!
     So many of our neighbors have entertained us in their homes and we haven’t been able to without asking them to bring their own chair!  😦   Now that we’re almost complete sans lanai furniture and window treatments, we’ve had a few open houses inviting our new neighbors. Having several nights of guests was fun and we look forward to doing that more often.

     Last month I suggested we have a Full Moon Party each month. We hosted the first one in December. Another of our neighbors, Tom and Elaine, hosted the January Super Blood Wolf Moon/Eclipse Party. It was COLD—in the low 30’s which is way below my comfort level.

     Carolyn and Don, dear friends from our boating lives, were our first overnight house guests. They’re fleeing north GA for Marathon and some warm weather. We had an exciting time of ‘catching up’. 


     Our Larkhill neighborhood gathered at a local steak house to wrap up the month and, of course, food and fellowship were outstanding. 


     January ended with the Larkhill Men’s Breakfast Club heading off in a caravan for Red’s Cafe and Sherry, a neighbor, and I drove to The Villages for a make-over for me. Her complexion is gorgeous and flawless and and she’s inspired me to buy some makeup after a decade long hiatus of wearing none. 


     An end of month report on our language classes—on Bill’s 3rd class, he presented a ‘story’ in French and the instructor understood him and Bill understood each class member’s “recital”.  Hate to admit it but I’m not doing nearly that spectacularly in Spanish. Hopefully February’s report will present my Spanish language skills in a better light.




Bill and Laura
9128 SW 82nd Lane
Ocala, FL 34481
     



31 December 2018 Ocala and occasionally Jacksonville

     Hip hip hooray!!! Our sofa finally arrived on 1 December—an indication of a good month to come! Now our guests don’t have to bring their own chairs nor sit on the floor.

     We began the month with Bill and some o…

31 December 2018 Ocala and occasionally Jacksonville

     Hip hip hooray!!! Our sofa finally arrived on 1 December—an indication of a good month to come! Now our guests don’t have to bring their own chairs nor sit on the floor.

     We began the month with Bill and some o…

30 November 2018 Ocala, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Ocala, Tampa, Ocala

     It’s impossible to believe that a month ago today we closed and began the arduous task of moving in. In that month we’ve received furniture ONLY for our guest suite and that’s where we’re sleeping for lack of our own completed bedro…

30 November 2018 Ocala, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Ocala, Tampa, Ocala

     It’s impossible to believe that a month ago today we closed and began the arduous task of moving in. In that month we’ve received furniture ONLY for our guest suite and that’s where we’re sleeping for lack of our own completed bedro…

31 October 2018 Ocala, FL

1 October 
     Today is the day I thought would never come! We closed this morning and began moving in this afternoon. 



     A friend and new neighbor planted Flah Flamingo in our yard to welcome us home this morning. We’ve almost been flocked!


2 October 
     Yesterday, I promised photos but last night we were weary to the bone so here are a few this morning. 





     At day’s end we had dinner at The Club and came home to savor a bottle of champagne brought over by another new friend and neighbor. We slept here last night on an air mattress and enjoyed our coffee in our wonderful chairs that we’ve not seen for ever so long. The shot to left of kitchen is from the back yard and our lanai. Southerners call that a “screened porch”.  ‘Lanai’ is far too fancy for us. We are most happy to be home.




10 October
     Today was my inaugural swim in one of our beautiful pools. This one is just a five minute stroll up the street. My swim was puny but it’s been so long since I’ve had the opportunity and I intend to get stronger every day. I have eagerly anticipated the day that I could swim at the slightest whim. 🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️ Not in any of the pools have I had to clamber for a lane to myself.


     To all my Facebook friends. I am no longer using FB Messenger. I see that I have many messages but I am not going to re-install it. So communicate with me either by email, text, an old fashioned phone call, or Messages, please.

12 October
     Tonight we were enthralled, grinning the entire time, during Peter Noone and Herman’s Hermits performance. It was so much fun to know every song and to sing along (quietly).

15 October
     Our bedroom suit that we ordered in March was delivered today and 2 of the 5 crates were in splinters.  They HOPE they can get replacements to us by Christmas.

     Both of us deplore shopping but we have been in the trenches and have certainly boosted Ocala’s economy. And sadly, we ain’t through yet. Overheard a man complaining in an interior design studio, “it costs as much to furnish and decorate this #@%* house as it did to buy it!” I wholeheartedly agree.






     We aren’t novices to moving. Several times during my “singlehood” I moved all alone and by myself but all of our moves combined were never as burdensome, complicated, thorny, and problematic as this one has been and continues to be. That must mean that moving is for the youthful.

25 October
It seems that Pickle Ball is what old folks migrate to—many of whom used to play tennis.  It’s been many moons since I was a tennis player so I was game to give Pickle Ball a whirl. Bill and I have taken a couple of lessons and it is SO much fun to run and pick up the ball because my paddle has great difficulty “connecting”. All of the players, even the Hot Dawgs, were so welcoming, friendly, and patient with us. We love it but I haven’t been to the courts many times because there are so many other things I want to do so I need to finish trying them all out so I can prioritize. I did peek in on the ballet and everyone there welcomed me with outstretched arms. They’ll never confuse me with Pavlova!

     Today we ordered our sofa and were told to expect delivery in four months! :-(   We’re so empty that we echo.

26 October
We take any and every opportunity to celebrate everything! Today is our son, Andy’s 48th birthday as well as the 21st anniversary of our first date. We went to a lovely French restaurant owned by a couple from France and as was our last experience here, there, food and presentation were spectacular. We each ordered their filet mignon and it very well may beat out our favorite filet restaurant in Brunswick. They were so tender and delectable. A duo entertained us through our long and drawn out dining experience. Both sang and each played an instrument—guitar and flute. Their voices and their instrumentation blended impeccably.

30 October
     Today Bill drove to Jacksonville to bring another load of our carnage home. I think this is the 5th trip with the car packed to the gills. How in the world did we collect so much junque??? He hopes to be home tomorrow and he’s gotta be because we have a very fun thing to do on the 1st but you’ll need to wait another month to find out what that is and see photos.

31 October
     Friends have asked if we miss the boat. I miss our mattress!!! I think of Kindred Spirit III  often but am dumbfounded that I don’t pine for rocking at anchor and cruising the waterways. I thought I’d shed copious tears every day…that may transpire when she sells and leaves us standing on the shore as the new owners steam away from us.

     There are just SO many things to do here that, so far, there is hardly time to taste them all. I’m up before dawn, hit the deck running with no extraneous time during the day, and long for the sun to set so I can hit the hay. 

     Neither of us are sleeping well. It takes forever to fall asleep and then our thoughts awaken us despite the list we made before bedtime— sometimes it may be 1 AM or 3 AM and we’re up and at ‘em for the endurance.

     What brings me more joy than having enough room so that we don’t have to pat each others’ fannies when we need to pass or having a dishwasher and a washer and dryer that who-knows-who didn’t just washed their car mats and dog beds, is watching Bill playing in his garage. That poor baby has languished and yearned for years for a garage that he could outfit and begin his old car collection. In the middle of the night, if he’s not beside me, I know exactly where he is…and I’m right. For instance, he was showing me a little shim that looked like a domino sans spots, that he made for a shelf and explained to me how and where it would fit. All I could come up with was, “Billy, that’s such a clever idea and perfectly constructed.” After all these years, what should I expect from an engineer? It’s his attention to detail with everything that is such a superb gift. When I enter a room in the dark, the light switch is exactly where I’d expect it to be. Outlets are numerous and well placed. I can’t begin to enumerate all the things he thought of that would’ve never crossed my mind till we’d have closed and then it’d be “too dadgum bad!!!” I used to kid him about his obsession with minutia but now I praise him for it. Opposites certainly do attract.

     Thanks to you all for hanging in there with us all these years.

Bill and Laura
Larkhill
Ocala, FL


31 October 2018 Ocala, FL

1 October 
     Today is the day I thought would never come! We closed this morning and began moving in this afternoon. 



     A friend and new neighbor planted Flah Flamingo in our yard to welcome us home this morning. We’ve almost been flocked!


2 October 
     Yesterday, I promised photos but last night we were weary to the bone so here are a few this morning. 





     At day’s end we had dinner at The Club and came home to savor a bottle of champagne brought over by another new friend and neighbor. We slept here last night on an air mattress and enjoyed our coffee in our wonderful chairs that we’ve not seen for ever so long. The shot to left of kitchen is from the back yard and our lanai. Southerners call that a “screened porch”.  ‘Lanai’ is far too fancy for us. We are most happy to be home.




10 October
     Today was my inaugural swim in one of our beautiful pools. This one is just a five minute stroll up the street. My swim was puny but it’s been so long since I’ve had the opportunity and I intend to get stronger every day. I have eagerly anticipated the day that I could swim at the slightest whim. 🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️ Not in any of the pools have I had to clamber for a lane to myself.


     To all my Facebook friends. I am no longer using FB Messenger. I see that I have many messages but I am not going to re-install it. So communicate with me either by email, text, an old fashioned phone call, or Messages, please.

12 October
     Tonight we were enthralled, grinning the entire time, during Peter Noone and Herman’s Hermits performance. It was so much fun to know every song and to sing along (quietly).

15 October
     Our bedroom suit that we ordered in March was delivered today and 2 of the 5 crates were in splinters.  They HOPE they can get replacements to us by Christmas.

     Both of us deplore shopping but we have been in the trenches and have certainly boosted Ocala’s economy. And sadly, we ain’t through yet. Overheard a man complaining in an interior design studio, “it costs as much to furnish and decorate this #@%* house as it did to buy it!” I wholeheartedly agree.






     We aren’t novices to moving. Several times during my “singlehood” I moved all alone and by myself but all of our moves combined were never as burdensome, complicated, thorny, and problematic as this one has been and continues to be. That must mean that moving is for the youthful.

25 October
It seems that Pickle Ball is what old folks migrate to—many of whom used to play tennis.  It’s been many moons since I was a tennis player so I was game to give Pickle Ball a whirl. Bill and I have taken a couple of lessons and it is SO much fun to run and pick up the ball because my paddle has great difficulty “connecting”. All of the players, even the Hot Dawgs, were so welcoming, friendly, and patient with us. We love it but I haven’t been to the courts many times because there are so many other things I want to do so I need to finish trying them all out so I can prioritize. I did peek in on the ballet and everyone there welcomed me with outstretched arms. They’ll never confuse me with Pavlova!

     Today we ordered our sofa and were told to expect delivery in four months! :-(   We’re so empty that we echo.

26 October
We take any and every opportunity to celebrate everything! Today is our son, Andy’s 48th birthday as well as the 21st anniversary of our first date. We went to a lovely French restaurant owned by a couple from France and as was our last experience here, there, food and presentation were spectacular. We each ordered their filet mignon and it very well may beat out our favorite filet restaurant in Brunswick. They were so tender and delectable. A duo entertained us through our long and drawn out dining experience. Both sang and each played an instrument—guitar and flute. Their voices and their instrumentation blended impeccably.

30 October
     Today Bill drove to Jacksonville to bring another load of our carnage home. I think this is the 5th trip with the car packed to the gills. How in the world did we collect so much junque??? He hopes to be home tomorrow and he’s gotta be because we have a very fun thing to do on the 1st but you’ll need to wait another month to find out what that is and see photos.

31 October
     Friends have asked if we miss the boat. I miss our mattress!!! I think of Kindred Spirit III  often but am dumbfounded that I don’t pine for rocking at anchor and cruising the waterways. I thought I’d shed copious tears every day…that may transpire when she sells and leaves us standing on the shore as the new owners steam away from us.

     There are just SO many things to do here that, so far, there is hardly time to taste them all. I’m up before dawn, hit the deck running with no extraneous time during the day, and long for the sun to set so I can hit the hay. 

     Neither of us are sleeping well. It takes forever to fall asleep and then our thoughts awaken us despite the list we made before bedtime— sometimes it may be 1 AM or 3 AM and we’re up and at ‘em for the endurance.

     What brings me more joy than having enough room so that we don’t have to pat each others’ fannies when we need to pass or having a dishwasher and a washer and dryer that who-knows-who didn’t just washed their car mats and dog beds, is watching Bill playing in his garage. That poor baby has languished and yearned for years for a garage that he could outfit and begin his old car collection. In the middle of the night, if he’s not beside me, I know exactly where he is…and I’m right. For instance, he was showing me a little shim that looked like a domino sans spots, that he made for a shelf and explained to me how and where it would fit. All I could come up with was, “Billy, that’s such a clever idea and perfectly constructed.” After all these years, what should I expect from an engineer? It’s his attention to detail with everything that is such a superb gift. When I enter a room in the dark, the light switch is exactly where I’d expect it to be. Outlets are numerous and well placed. I can’t begin to enumerate all the things he thought of that would’ve never crossed my mind till we’d have closed and then it’d be “too dadgum bad!!!” I used to kid him about his obsession with minutia but now I praise him for it. Opposites certainly do attract.

     Thanks to you all for hanging in there with us all these years.

Bill and Laura
Larkhill
Ocala, FL