Florida Forever

We were kids in the 1960’s Florida sunshine, we lived in cutoffs and bathing suit tops and ran to each other’s houses through white sugar sand trails, only stopping to pluck sharp sandspurs out of tanned bare feet. Snakes were common, even poisonous ones – and the scientists and educators that filled our college town neighborhood bristled over the notion that something needed to be done about them. Nature was not to be altered.

Yet, our entire world was under construction – and all the new houses brought fresh kids to join our pack. We built forts and tree houses using the construction materials left behind at the end of the day. We rode our bikes to the corner store, ate pomegranates and watermelon, practiced cheerleading, twirling and stunts in the backyard grass and walked to school and back.

Summers stretched endlessly. We did our best to ignore concerns about impending doom with Cuba. Even as we dared tiptoe, fascinated, into our neighbors bomb shelter – who could live there? Why would you want to?

We grew up – going on dates in cool cars with cool boys. Sipping lemon cokes and picking at strawberry pie and zipping off to the lake or the beach to surf or water ski. Someone always had a boat and we could get out on the water, hurrying to feel the rush of the wind to cool down that sunburn.

After college, many of us returned to Florida – maybe not that small town, but Florida nevertheless. Paradise? We thought so.

I still do. While many lament the loss of Old Florida, I see it the same – only cloaked in a few more amenities. (Lush, edible landscaping, gorgeous houses, fabulous shopping, exciting restaurants, world class cultural attractions, great walk-to schools, sparkling grocery stores and fresh food markets.) We’re an international all age, everyone’s welcome community.

That white sugar sand? It’s still there at all the parks and beaches that surround us. Hike, camp, enjoy. The boating? Take your choice of dry storage or wet water slips – rent a boat or keep your own and launch it from the nearby boat launches. Sightsee below water (mini-lobster season just happened) or on water Intracoastal or seaside. Picnic at the sand bars. Take nature cruises--participate in funfests to the Florida Keys or nearby islands of the Bahamas. Roam destinations from tropical, exotic Miami north to Spanish moss-draped Southern charm.

Weather worries? Remember your own floods and winter storm surges, tornadoes, crackling ice storms and windy power outages as you shake your heads at our weather. We’re getting prepared - generated up at gas stations and grocery stores, trimming trees and burying power lines. And I’ll be trying that tropical mojito and applying sunscreen while you try on that new parka.

Come visit! You just might want to stay.

Want more about tropical locations, beaches, boating and the State of Florida? Visit professional writer and publicist, Leslie McKerns at McKerns Development http://www.freewebs.com/mckernsdevelopment/

Tropical beaches, boating destinations, hurricane season, State of Florida, what to do and where to go in Florida, McKerns Development, Old Florida, South Florida destinations,