Candy Jars

I am totally blessed. I live in a candy jar full of delectable treats for my eyes. Everywhere I turn there is something gorgeous for them to feast on. Early morning calm river waters, with gulls and egrets fishing for breakfast and dolphins cruising toward the gulf, greet Scully and me each day. The sand is usually fresh and our footprints are the first. I love that. By mid morning the summer heat haze has set in. Everything is foggy and visibility limited, but shells hiding in the shallow water are waiting to become some child's treasure and ghost crabs dart about oblivious to scorching temperatures. The pure stillness of it all makes this the perfect time to be on the beach. It makes the cool gulf water feel like heaven and your skin taste like a salty delicacy. When you are sure that it doesn't get any better, dusk falls, breezes start to cool the earth and the sun turns to orange and gold over the sprawling salt marshes. The sky blends into the water and slowly night leaves only shadows of trees and stars lighting the waves and sand. Yep, the Lord made a world full of eye candy and lucky me, this jar is overflowing.

Scully's morning walk/wade evolved into a swimming, bird and crab chase this morning. While she played, my mind wandered. There are so many interesting people and things in our "new life." I should definitely write about some of them. The people we meet must have interesting stories that I don't know, but they also have the stories I imagine. So realize, most of what I say about these characters comes from my mind as much as their life.

I love rural north Florida. It is a little bit modern and a little bit stuck in a time warp of yesteryear. Living in a campground makes this even more true. We are not tourists moving from spot to spot around the country; that would be fun, too. We are more like part local, part voyeur. So watching all the passing tourists and weekend campers provides a world of entertainment. Watching all the locals provides even more. Here in the campground, there is about an equal mix of people passing through, people here for a vacation month or week or repeated weekends and permanent residents.

One Night Stands

The one-night buses come in late. They do not un-hook the car. They rarely leave the bus. Occasionally, someone comes out to empty the tanks and walk the dogs. That's it. They may speak as they hurry back into their huge buses and they are nice enough, just busy. Busy and waiting for morning so they can be on their way. The overnight bus travellers don't always dress like campers. The men are coordinated and the women have their make-up done. No one ever knows much about them. We watch them pull in and hear the diesel motors warming up before they leave. They are like shadows passing in the night, keeping all their stories behind the dark tinted bus windows. Still, I wonder where they are going because, I know, there is some idyllic campground they are heading to or from.

Other campers stop for one night and go to the complete opposite extreme. Whether in a luxury bus or pop-up, these guys are going to get everything possible out of their stay. Arriving in the early afternoon, these campers start getting their site ready immediately. First, they put a rope out for the dog and hook up the water, sewer and cable. Internet is wifi. Next the awning comes out. Now realize, these are things everyone would do. It is the only sensible way to operate. It is what comes next that is amazing. The outdoor rug comes out and the chairs are arranged in a conversational circle. Don't forget the plant. Now, someone gets the ladder and the cute little awning lights are strung around the awning. I really do like these and keep thinking about getting some, but you have to take them down to close the awning in a storm. That is a lot of work and this is Florida--storm central. Next they add the nice little wind chimes that sound so pleasant in the coastal breezes.

Most campers have pick up trucks although suvs work well, too. They need them to pull the campers. They also carry the grills, floats, fishing poles, etc. Jet skis come on a trailer and bikes are mostly tied to the camper. These overnighters get them all unpacked. They gather wood (in our case pine cones and twigs) for the campfire. Then it is time to head for the pier to catch dinner or at least enjoy trying. When that is done, the pool is a nice place to cool off. After a hardy meal, they light the campfire and delight in the view. These campers are fun and friendly. They will talk to you and talk to your dog as they walk their's. They want to tell you where they've been and where they are going. I like them for the most part. They just confuse me. After all this, they are spending one night. They are up before the sun, breaking camp and packing all that stuff so they are ready to leave by eight or nine. There have been a few that really go above and beyond. One unloaded a small chest freezer for one night. The other outlined their campsite with light-up pink flamingoes. One night, I don't get it.