From Sea to Shining Sea

This is me at Huegonot State Park ... see article below

As a result of some unfortunate health issues, I was forced to retire almost five years ago (at a very young age, I might add). About retirement, I often hear people say something like this: "Boy, I won't ever retire, I can't see myself sitting in a rocking chair wasting my life away. No sir, I'm going to work until I die!" To those folks I say ... ARE YOU NUTS?

Now I have to admit that it took my system about a year to get used to not working ... You know, waking up at 5:30 AM, always thinking that I had a meeting to go to, that kind of stuff. But once I convinced my internal clock that it was perfecting OK to sleep in to 8:00 or even 9:00 everything fell into place. Now I don't have to worry about being anyplace at a certain time or calling someone at specific time .... Hey, I'm retired. Well, that's not exactly true, I'm pretty certain that my doctors wouldn't be too exited about my newly acquired sense of freedom when I miss my doctors appointment with ... Hey, I'm retired. But all in all, this retirement thing is pretty good. And for all of you who insist on working until you're 80, good on ya! It just means more shuffleboard courts for me.

So this brings me to the real subject of today's little talk. What is that we do with our time? Well, since we have six married children spread all across this fine land, my wife and I travel a fair amount. While traveling, we like to visit local places of interest. When we do, I'll report on them. Now we're not rich or anything like that, so the places we visit are cheap, but interesting.

My first offering is one of the finest unknown beaches on the East coast of Florida. Just north of Jacksonville on Highway A1A, on the north side of the St Johns River is the Huegonot Memorial State Park. This beach is long with white sandy beaches and you can drive right to the water and park on the sand. But the best part of this park is the cove which is reserved for families. The beach is actually a peninsula that curves around forming a large lagoon with calm warm waters ... just right for moms with little children ... no big waves here. If you're looking for surf, just drive to the other side of the peninsula ... and voila!

On the down side, bathrooms are far and few between. Basically, there is only one location .. at the snack shop as you drive in. So plan ahead.

OK ... That's my report ... So, to those who ask "how do you like being retired?", I respond, "well, how do you like Saturday's?"