Hurricane Season in the Marina 2020
What am I grateful for? That we have not had a hurricane.
2020 has presented us with unprecedented circumstances, situations and conditions. The world has been turned upside down by this virus called COVID-19. We have been in 3 marinas during COVID. Our first was in Port Canaveral, where we watched the cruise industry close down, the second was in Key West - where it is no longer the great, fun town, it’s city and county government had the most stringent requirements in Florida, and over 250 businesses closed in the Keys. Then we came North to Fort Myers for hurricane season. Our friends came to welcome us on A dock, and we have not seen them since. We spend a lot of time out doors in the “fresh” air. We have been sailing, we have been running, and doing Pilates. With little social interaction we have worked hard on Simplicity and continue to make improvements. It is the beginning of November and we are seeing more boats arrive from the Northern States, the election is going to happen tomorrow, and some people seem to be exhausted. Noticeably, the Canadians are absent. We are seeing more Illinois, Ohio and Michigan license plates.
Where is the good in all this? Last night we met an older gentleman, his attire was a t-shirt proudly displaying “Sail Naked” front and back, nice khaki shorts and he wore his US Navy ball cap. He was out for his second walk to the Luminary for the day. He was 89 years old, drinking his Starbuck’s coffee drink, and was strolling the streets of Fort Myers, no mask for him. His words came slowly, but he was thrilled to have a conversation, with people. He had lived in the NE and served us in the US Navy. His engineering career took him to Puerto Rico and he had some wonderful memories he shared. His daughter tells him he can afford to live in Campo Felice, a retirement community in downtown, and he says ok, I don’t see the money or the bills. He had owned 6 sailboats, in his life, and he said he has had a good life. He never shared his name, I will just remember him as “Sail Naked”! Thank you, for stopping to chat dear sir, you were a delight!