It's Warm and the Sun Is Shining

Nile · It's Warm and the Sun Is Shining

I have been offline for a few days. I have finally relocated. Instead of being in the "Windy City" of Chicago, I am now a proud resident of sunny Florida. My wife and I just moved to a town called Land O'Lakes, which is about 20 miles northeast of Tampa, in a resort. We have all the amenities. A hot tub, swimming pool, dances on Friday nights, lake (very small), lots of animals. There are two alligators in the lake, red-crested sandhill cranes, small grey squirrels, crows, blue herons, snakes (of course), many different kinds of birds, seagulls, probably an occasional armadillo.The plantlife is just as cool. There is a palm tree in our front yard, pin-oaks, bamboo trees, banana palms, hanging moss, many ferns, and some I don't even know yet what they are. The pool, rec room, hot tub are all open 24/7. The gates never close, you come and go whenever you want. There is a wide screen TV in the rec room. Lots of seafood, barbecue, shopping abounds in this area.

Here are some pictures........

Here's the small lake, with many lily pads. People actually live on the boats. They can't go anywhere. The small lake is isolated. The boats don't even go out. Just the thought of livving on a boat, I guess.

One of the many Chameleons or lizards.

A Blue Heron

This is the palm tree in our front yard

The tenting area is set up in a circle with a firepit in the center.

Here are some red-crested sandhill cranes. They are about 4 feet tall and they wander aimlessly.

The hanging moss is all over. kind of spooky.
Hanging moss is airborne until it finds a place to land, then it starts growing there. Some of the moss hangs 6 feet long.

This is one of the many areas that you can stroll. Lit up all night.

The park is rather small, about 20 acres with 35 units either trailers or cabins. Today it was 85 degrees F, which is about 30 degrees centigrade.
No more snow, no more overcoats, no more boots, no more hats, snow shovels.....no, snow blowers .......no.

Mr.Blunden

Looks wonderful. Don't suppose you'd care to swap for a small bungalow in Yorkshire would you. It doesn't have quite the same exotic wildlife, just the odd frog by the garden pond, and occasionally you glimpse next doors cat ...

keesie25

It seems the right place to be Nile. I can imagine sitting there outside, letting the models dry in the sun, all other folks dropping by to see your achievements, giving you small parcels now and then, containing old models they found in their attic before they moved there. And all sitting round the fire at night, telling all the stories and memories from their forgotten models. And then you place their old, and now restored model on the table.
Paradise I would call it.

Stuart · Florida

Enjoy your new lifestyle Nile.

Nile

It truly is a wonderful place to be. I got up 5:00 AM, could not sleep anymore. Went for a walk, took a shower, so quiet, dark. no wind, just still. Kind of early in the season for snowbirds. Sort of sparse people right now. There will probably be another 10 trailers by then. The people here now are mostly people that are here year round.

More pictures........

Here is the inside of the recreation room. Open 24/7. Can't sleep?

Here I am infront of my trailer, the deck, the car. There is a porch swing that my wife and I sit to soak up the atmosphere.

Guzzi Gadgy

looks very nice, are you there full time now. By the way we call that type of boat a "house boat"

Ian

sandie seward

Looks idyillic, Nile, mind you the sun is shining here today, quite warmish as well and it's even better because having kept a hospital appointment with my Oncologist this morning, he told me that my X-Ray results are "clear", and everything is looking good. I do have to continue with the drugs I am taking including those flipping blood-thinning injections, but otherwise everythings hunky-dory, and dare I say it, I can start really looking to the future again now.

Old Tom

It looks brilliant Nile - I'm only a BIT jealous!

And well done Sandie - great news!

It's a good news day!

vincent ryder

vincent ryder

Here's where I'm heading on Saturday until the end of March. It's my condo in Yuma, Arizona. My place in on the left, opposite the two palm trees, with the splash of red in front. That's bougainvillea shrubs. The trees are citrus, orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime. The golf course is just steps away at the bottom of the picture. It's a 3,600 mile trip so I'll be about six days on the road. It's right diagonally across the USA from Nova Scotia. Some of it is along what used to be Route 66. There isn't much of it left now, replaced by the interstate system. It sure beats shoveling snow in N.S. !

Mark G

What a relaxing picturesque place to be Nile!! Good on you! You just go right ahead and enjoy the good life!!

And why not??!!

Great news Sandie!!

And have a good few months Vincent!

Guzzi Gadgy

Sandie

Ian

Corgi kid

Duncan

Glad to hear the move is for the better Nile. I hope you are happy there for many many years.

Great news Sandie - really pleased for you.

Nile

Vincent, the place here is not so much concrete and brick. It is more rustic but any method to keep away from the snow shovel is good. I am very close to nature here. So relaxing.
The person that had this trailer before me (he is a very dear friend) is a single man and he had left quite a bit of stuff here, the pots & pans, a slow cooker, gas grill, outside table, even the silverware and plates. The story goes that he got into a tiff with the neighbors (who are also good friends) about their dog. From what I hear he is like a schizophrenic. one day he is OK and the next he isn't. He knows the dog and the dog knows him; they were friends. He was at the store nearby and the dog was in their car, with the window down a couple of inches so he stuck his fingers in the window to pet it and the dog nipped him good. He had to have a couple of stitches. As far as I know it you NEVER, EVER do that. He wanted them to reimburse him for the doctor bill. An argument ensued thereby the feud, so he got ticked off and sold the trailer. I hope I don't have problems with the dog. The people with the dog and neighbors and the man I knew from the resort up north near Chicago.

Andrew

vincent ryder

vincent ryder

sandie seward

And here am I getting "excited" about a "short" trip to Bath tomorrow!!!!

M25, M4, god no comparison to "Route 66" is it.

sandie seward

I have just taken a closer look at the photos, Nile, and, excuse me, but are you actually not wearing any trousers in that shot????

Looks like bare leggies time......

Nile

Oops, Sandie you caught me. There is more to that story and subject but I am not sure it is fit for the Forum.

sandie seward

Oh come on, do tell!!!!

Nile

I am sure I will get some backlash from it because someone won't like it but here goes............I am a naturist, have been since my teens. The thought in the U.S. very Victorian, but in the rest of the world, Europe, U.K., Scandinavia, Denmark, The Netherlands, much more common.

sandie seward

Good on you, Nile, nothing wrong with that, if our country was a bit warmer I think I would be tempted as well. Thank you for sharing with us.

Nile

Woke up at 5:30 AM could not get back to sleep, decided to go for a walk, so still; quiet, gentle breeze, palm trees swaying, said hello to the 'gator, took a shower, sat down at the computer, fixed a drink----- ahhhhhhhhh, will this ever become hum-drum? My ohhhhh my........

Andrew

I've got a bit of the picture here - walking up to an alligator with no trousers on - that takes some guts.

sandie seward

MISTER C

Nowt wrong with you walking up to a gator........it's when the gator starts walking up to you

mind you can always throw some "poo" at it

as there is always some at hand

Nile

Hahahahahaha. Great stuff. The gators are not big. They are only about 4 feet long. The story goes is that the adult mother brings her young from the lagoon I just found which is a bit more rustic, overgrown, no humans to scare the gators, and lets then grow up over here. When the gators reach a size that is pretty big, the state wildlife agency is called and they take him out. Then he goes to a preserve where he won't hurt anybody. I saw one we have and he is about just that......4 feet long. I was recently told by a more knowledgable chap that we have 4 gators in this lagoon. The bites can be nasty though even at 4 feet long. I would imagine they could easily snap off a finger. (or other parts)

Nile

I made a new friend today. He is big like 18 inches long.

Guzzi Gadgy

It's Victor

must be on holiday

Ian

sandie seward

"I don't beleeeve it!"

Guzzi Gadgy

Ian

vincent ryder

Nile, think yourself lucky that you aren't in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. It's hissing with rain and miserable. It has been all day. Hopefully it'll be better tomorrow on route to Terra Haute, In. It's about 600 miles. I hope to be in Yuma on Sunday. I had thought of going via Denver but they have snow there so that's a no go. I'll stick to the usual route Oklahoma City, Amarillo Tx. Tucumcarrie, NM, Flagstaff, Phoenix and Yuma.
Best wishes to all.

Nile

Vincent, I have kind of kep up with your giant travel trip and I have been to some of the areas you are passing through. From cold, to warm, then finally to hot. Yuma can be a very hot place. As I remember it they have a historic prison facility there that all gunfighters were sent to during Old West days. That must be something to see. I also believe that out there you have scorpions, sidewinders, westerns, tarrantulas and coyotes. Lots of very interesting life.

Nile

I met some more friends today. They are BIG vultures.

vincent ryder

Nile

A first in my life today. Today, I picked my own tangerine from a tree, peeled it and ate it. I have never even seen a tree ripened tangerine let alone eat a tree ripened one.

MISTER C

Nice one that Nile........fresh tangerine.......smell them miles away.........whats them vultures taste like ? and will you be having one for christmas dinner

sandie seward

Those vultures remind me of a group of ambulance-chasing lawyers......waiting to home in on their next victim!

Nile

Ah yes, ambulance chasers. "Ya got to make a shilling wherever you can.

Maybe the vultures look like some of those enterprising carollers.

vincent ryder

vincent ryder

Nile

I don't know if my constant reporting of my adventures in this new land are boring anyone, excuse me if they are or tell me to cool it but I am so exuberant of these experiences that I just got to tell somebody. So many new things. Today we went to Clearwater which is West of Tampa on the other side of a big bay from Tampa. We went to a place I have heard of from other people called Frenchy's. It is a small restaurant in Clearwater with only about 6 booths and 4 tables. Usually they have a waiting list. We went at about 12:00 noon and got right in. I had a grouper sandwich and my wife had Mahi-Mahi. Quite good. They have a fleet of boats and they catch their own fish, never frozen. Then went to a farmer's market and got some produce. I really did not expect this type of market. The market happened to be right across the street from the word heaquarters of the Church of Scientology I have read of that religion and wanted to see what kind of stuff they were selling but it wasn't the Scientology that was running the market, but bought some great fresh produce anyway. If anyone has read about that church it is a hoot. People running all over with white shirts or blouses, ties and black pants. Then had some Thai food for dinner. And the adventures go on. Stay tuned for more adventures or should I say misadventures.

sandie seward

Nile, your posts certainly don't bore me, and as for the so-called "church" of Scientology, well, I could tell you a story about that so-called "religion"!

Corgi kid

sandie seward

Nile

Yes Scientology, interesting religion. I have done a fair amount of reading about that sect and it is, to me, a mess. What beliefs!!!. Tom Cruise, while I think of him as a good actor except "The War Of The Worlds" was one of the worst movies I have ever seen, I just find it so hard to believe he can believe that malarkey. Tom isn't alone though. There is John Travolta, Lisa Marie Presley, Priscella Presley, Kirstie Alley, Greta Van Sustern (A news person like Rush Limbaugh, Geraldo Rivera, and Dr. Phil) and a lot of others.
Sandie, I would love to hear of your story about the church. It must involve the E-meter or something similar to it.

Nothing new to report about my meanderings except today I went to Tarpon Springs where the sponge divers and all the Greek restaurants are in the area. If I did not know I would think I was in Greece. Just like Greece. Souvlaki, Greek salad, baklava, dolmades......

sandie seward

Really Nile, my "brush" with Scientology isn't really that exciting.

Like most religions, they try to find people who are at a low point in their lives, show them some fake "kindness", and attempt to "show" the individual a new "path" and say that their current lifestyle is "wrong" and it is that which is making them unhappy.

I was walking along Tottenham Court Road in London years ago, when I passed by their British Headquarters. My head was rather messed up at the time due to my addiction to "speed" (amphetimins).

They took me inside and gave me coffee, and I filled out a questionaire for them. I was shown around the place even taken to the "Inner Temple".

I have to admit, I was almost taken in by them, and came close to becoming a member.

Thankfully, I didn't, and, once I had got clear of the drugs, I realised that I had had a lucky escape!

Nile

Yes, Sandie you are lucky indeed.

I haven't "reported in" about my experiences here in Florida so here goes. I have met some very interesting people here in the park. I can give a synopsis on that some day. But nevertheless I have eaten tree ripened tangelos, there are several pineapple trees, several banana trees here so I am in suspense about that. Today I worked with the owner and other people in here to get ready for a a group called the "Hashers". It is a large group that are runners (joggers). It is an international group. They pitch tents, drink, drink, drink, then jog almost as much as they drink, have a dance socialize, eat plenty of food and have a campfire. There are lots of people. We painted, weedwhacked, emptied lots of trash, washed tables, cleaned kitchen equipment, strung lights, erected an elevated gazebo, lots of chores with more chores tomorrow. They describe themselves as a group of drinkers with a running problem.

sandie seward

Guzzi Gadgy

I once joined Athletics Annon. If you feel you can't resist it and need to go for a run, they come around and take you for a drink

Ian

Nile

Here is a picture of my little friend. I don't pet him. He doesn't understand the affection. This was in the morning when he was getting some sun.

Stuart · Ali gator

He sure is a snappy dresser...........Sorry but its my best Aligator joke

It's Warm and the Sun Is Shining

Florida

Ali gator