Sometimes I Remember...
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118709)
Gainesville, Florida
June 27, 2021 10:35am CST
...that living in Florida is not always a bad thing. I often complain how much I hate the heat and humidity that is part of normal daily life here in the Sunshine State. Others call it paradise, but I wouldn't necessarily go that far. Besides the weather, there's also too many people living here. It is what it is. Besides, we do have Disney World. I guess that makes up for it. lol
But I digress. My girlfriend had a week off between semesters at the university, so we decided to plan a fun little trip down to the Florida Keys. It also turns out I had some sick time at work I had to burn up, so the timing worked out well. I got my second Covid shot this past Monday, and although I was only sick for a day from it, I took advantage to use up the rest of my sick time before I lost it. A week of rest and relaxation is exactly what I needed.
It was about an 8 hour drive for us to get from north Florida to the Keys down at the southern tip of Florida. We stayed at a nice little resort in Islemorada, and it almost seemed like we had the entire place to ourselves. Our days were filled with swimming, snorkeling, fishing, boating, and of course relaxing by the pool and beach. Nights were filled with adult beverages, star gazing, and other fun activities left unmentioned in order to protect the guilty. The view of the full moon was magical.
@LindaOH, I thought of you while there. How cool would it have been if you and hubby were in the Keys at the same time as us and we could all hang out at the pool and enjoy libations together while relaxing? That would have been fun.
Anyway, the week was too short and went by too fast, before I had to fly from Miami to Philadelphia for a paintball tournament this weekend. But I made the most of the vacation and enjoyed every second of it.
For all you US myLotters, have any of you been to the Florida Keys before?
Photo was our view from the bar, enjoying a couple of beers while we waited for lunch to arrive.
26 people like this
28 responses
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
The beach life in the Keys is so much different from what you may be used to up in New Jersey. It's an entirely different world down in the Keys. The locals there are in their own little world. They call themselves the Conch Republic, as if they were their own little island nation. And I see why. The attitude, way of life, and everything else is so different from what you would experience anywhere else.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
@NJChicaa You wouldn't ever want to leave. If the cost of real estate there wasn't so ridiculously high, I would be living there in a heartbeat.
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (116232)
• United States
27 Jun 21
@moffittjc I'm sure I would love it!
1 person likes this
@Chellezhere (5363)
• United States
27 Jun 21
Yes. When I was between the ages of two and four we lived in Miami. I am not sure how often we drove down to the Keys, but my mother, aunt, and grandparents always talked about the first time we went, when I said, "But, I don't want to go to Key West." I did not like living in Florida then, and hate it even more now. Why anyone would want to live there 24/7/365 is beyond me. But, I did like my visit the Cedar Keys. Have you ever visited there?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
Oh yes, I visit Cedar Key all the time. It's about a 45 minute drive from where I live. My buddy has a boat and we go fishing in the Gulf all the time. Sometimes I go to Cedar Key just to get some of their world famous clam chowder. Charming little place.
Do you still live in Florida now? I grew up in West Palm Beach, about an hour north of Miami. I hated living down there, although I did live right by the beach. Too many people. Too much congestion. Too much crime. Had to get out and move to north Florida just to keep my sanity. I agree with you, I hate that I live here 24/7/365. That's why I travel as much as I do, just to get out of this hellhole! lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
@Chellezhere I complain about living in Florida, but I actually do love it here. I do want to move eventually, but it's just so hard to give up the easy access to the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Disney World! LOL
2 people like this
@Chellezhere (5363)
• United States
27 Jun 21
@moffittjc There are a whole bunch of states that border the Atlantic. So, you could move to one of them and plan vacations around the Gulf and Disney World.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62616)
• United States
27 Jun 21
I was there right before the covid stuff hit. That water is so beautiful and indescribable. I love the stuffing out of it. A sunset cruise in Key West should be on everyone’s bucket list.
I’m an old-timer. I remember when you could go through Disney World in one day and maybe even have an E ticket left over. Now it seems Orlando is a suburb of Disney World. 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62616)
• United States
27 Jun 21
@moffittjc — I never took a sunset cruise when I was stationed in Hawaii, so I can only vouch for Key West.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
@FourWalls I'm sure you've seen some wonderful sunsets in Hawaii though!
One of the greatest things about places like Key West or Hawaii is that you can see both world class sunrises and sunsets all in the same day!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
Yes, Disney sure has changed a lot over the years, hasn't it?
Key West is a must for anyone visiting Florida, I think. I don't think there is any other place in the US that has sunsets as beautiful as Key West. Well, maybe Hawaii, But Key West sunsets rank right up there with Hawaii. lol
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43130)
• Staten Island, New York
28 Jun 21
I have never been to the Florida Keys. Heck, I haven't really been to Florida at all, not counting flying into the state to board a cruise ship. I don't remember if that was in Miami or Fort Lauterdale. Not sure how to spell that one.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 21
You were only one letter off from spelling it correctly! There should be a d where you put a t.
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul 21
@lovebuglena Yes, I was very impressed. I've seen some very interesting spellings of the city's name over the years.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43130)
• Staten Island, New York
5 Jul 21
@moffittjc LOL. Close enough. At least I remembered the U.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (158162)
• United States
28 Jun 21
I AM SO JEALOUS! Yes, you could have hung out with this old, wrinkled couple! Did you go anywhere besides Islamorada? Did you have any luck fishing? My husband took a boat out fishing the last time we were there and caught quite a few fish. He went with one of the charter boats. How did the paintball tournament go?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 21
We only stayed on Islamorada. We thought about going to Key West for a day, but we were so relaxed where we were that we decided to forego any trips to other keys. We did take a charter boat out one day to fish, but didn't really catch much. At least nothing worth keeping.
The paintball tournament was horrible. We just couldn't get it together. It was our worst performance in the four years I have been with the team. I should have just skipped the tournament and stayed on vacation! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 21
@LindaOHio I've learned to take the punches with humbleness and humility. If we never fail, we can never grow.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (158162)
• United States
4 Jul 21
@moffittjc I'm so sorry your team didn't do well at the tournament. Shake it off; and just do better in the next one! Have a great 4th!
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
11 Jul 21
I have been to Florida many times. In fact, I have family there. I even lived there once, in Jacksonville (although I was like two years old or something). But I have never been to the Keys. One of these days I want to go, and one day I will. I hear it is very nice there.
As for Florida in general I have always thought of it as a nice place to visit but never a place I'd want to live. That heat, you know. But I wouldn't mind Florida's winter months and have always said if I ever take on the RV lifestyle one day, Florida is a place I'd head to in the colder months.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul 21
You and every other American (and Canadian) want to come to Florida in the winter. Our year-round population is about 20 million, but in the winter I think it swells to something like 120 million people. Okay, I'm probably exaggerating a little bit, but it sure feels that way. Our roads are clogged, our stores are overcrowded, and it's impossible to get seated in a restaurant. I hate the heat too, but the plus side of summer here is that everyone leaves the state and goes somewhere else. For that alone, it's almost nice to be here in the summer. I have the whole place to myself! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Jul 21
@porwest My retirement goal is to buy a minimum of 10 acres (more if possible) somewhere out away from town where I can live in peace and quiet without all the idiots around.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
13 Jul 21
@moffittjc I can definitely imagine. Having that many people around me all the time would be more than disconcerting and irritating. It is bad enough when Aldi is loaded to the hilt.
1 person likes this
@kareng (55461)
• United States
28 Jun 21
We were heading down there after a symposium in Ft. Lauderdale ended that we turned into a vacation but before we made it all the way down into the Keys, my hubby got called in to work so we had to head back home. Several inmates had escaped so everyone was called in to work. It was sad!!
We will try again one day.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 21
@kareng Atta girl! I like your optimism.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 21
Oh wow, that really stinks that your trip to the Keys was cut short. I do hope you get another chance someday.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Jun 21
There are no gators or crocs in that water. Fish, yes, but gators and crocs no.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 21
@rebelann Not in the little cove you see in the photo. But there are beach area in the background of the photo (you can't really see them) where people can swim.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86962)
• United States
28 Jun 21
I have never had any desire to go to Florida not even for a visit
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86962)
• United States
4 Jul 21
@moffittjc I doubt that will ever happen
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 21
@RebeccasFarm You can experience Florida vicariously through me! LOL
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 21
You gotta try it at least once!
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29355)
• Eugene, Oregon
27 Jun 21
That sounds so idyllic. What a great week!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
If I could afford the real estate, I would live full-time in the Keys. I should have grabbed up some property after the last hurricane went through there and everything was dirt cheap!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Jul 21
@JamesHxstatic Well, hindsight is 20/20 as they say. Maybe there'll be a next time, although I don't want to see any more hurricanes destroy the Keys.
@JamesHxstatic (29355)
• Eugene, Oregon
27 Jun 21
@moffittjc Darn those shoulda, woulda, couldas, I have many too.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129640)
• Israel
28 Jun 21
@moffittjc
I love how you displayed them so we could see that one is corona light and the other corona extra. It sounds like lots of fun you guys had. So was the paintball tournament part of your vacation days? I have been to West Palm. I have family that lives there and one of the daughters had her Bat Mitzva and I came from Israel for it. Too bad Linda and her husband could not join you. It was terrible about the building that collapsed near Miami.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 21
I had the Corona Extra, and my girlfriend had the Corona Light.
I grew up in West Palm Beach. It used to be a really nice place. Now it's too overcrowded.
The paintball tournament was not part of my vacation. Unfortunately, I had to cut my vacation short to go play in the tournament. And considering how badly our team did, I should have just skipped the tournament and stayed on vacation.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129640)
• Israel
4 Jul 21
@moffittjc
What is the corona extra and what is the light? Does that mean you had it so bad and she had a mild case of it? I was only there one time and have never been to Florida before that. it was in the beginning of my moving to Israel. Is that why you live where you are because it was overcrowded there and now it is not so where you live now? I am sorry that your team did badly and you had to cut your vacation short to play in the tournament.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129640)
• Israel
8 Jul 21
@moffittjc
I am glad for you. So you were making a joke when you said that I take it?
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
I hope that one day you can make a trip to the Keys. It's a wonderful experience.
I've been hearing a lot from myLotters all over the country about how they like seeing what Desantis is doing as governor. Of course, not everyone likes him (especially democrats), but he has really handled everything well since taking office. People and businesses are definitely fleeing places like California and New York and relocating to Florida.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Jul 21
@CarolDM People are watching him closely right now, as his name keeps getting tossed around as a potential presidential candidate in 2024.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203451)
• Nashville, Tennessee
27 Jun 21
@moffittjc Of course they do not like him. He is a shining example of what all should be doing.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54407)
• United States
2 Jul 21
Key West is one of my favorite places ever! i have a friend who lives on one of the smaller Keys (he always sends pictures when it is nice in January - i always send him pictures of hurricanes on the Satellite (payback and karma both being not nice)!
But, taking time for you - that is always worth it!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 21
My buddy had a house on Cudjoe Key, but lost it when hurricane Irma tore through there in 2017. Pretty much wiped out Cudjoe Key as the eye passed directly overhead.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 21
@DocAndersen Very jealous, apparently.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54407)
• United States
4 Jul 21
@moffittjc that is the bad part about living in paradise. Sometimes, the world is jealous!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 21
It really is a paradise. Very beautiful islands.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 21
@Nevena83 Just like any place people live, there are pros and cons. I'm sure there are things the locals don't like about living there, I just don't know what they are.
1 person likes this
@Nevena83 (65280)
• Serbia
4 Jul 21
@moffittjc I always wondered if people who live in such places always enjoy it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
Marco Island is a beautiful place. I've been there many times, although it's been more than 5 years since I was last there. It's about a 5 hour drive from where I live. I love the beaches there. The beaches on the west coast of Florida are so much nicer than the beaches on the east coast.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48598)
• Canada
27 Jun 21
@moffittjc My Dad's Michigan cousins, who own a large contracting company, all had places down there.
There are very few of them alive still, his generation is aging and we are losing members. They used to talk about having alot of fun together and I remember my mother used to say how beautiful it was there.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
@Juliaacv If you don't mind a hurricane or two coming through every so many years, the Florida Keys are definitely a paradise.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 21
I can totally understand why you feel it was one of your best vacations in the states. And I agree with you!
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (49241)
• United States
27 Jun 21
I’ve never made it to the Keys . We have always wanted to go there.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (49241)
• United States
27 Jun 21
@moffittjc we’re three hours from a beach. We have to go another hour out to an island to swim in nice water. I can’t even imagine swimming in the Mississippi coast. YUCK 
I meant to ask if you were still seeing Cinderella ? When you mentioned your girlfriend 
I meant to ask if you were still seeing Cinderella ? When you mentioned your girlfriend 1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
@Tampa_girl7 I definitely think she is a Cinderella, but she is not the Cinderella that I dated before. That one actually worked for Disney and played Cinderella.
I know what you mean about the coastal area up there. I wouldn't want to swim in that water either!
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
I'd recommend everyone visit there at least once in their lifetime.
You're not too far from the beaches where you live, right? I mean, they're no Florida Keys, but it's still nice being accessible to a beach!
1 person likes this
@CCarolyn (59)
• United States
27 Jun 21
I'm from NJ. We drove to Florida once to visit my inlaws. I wanted to do some sightseeing, however my inlaws liked to hang at home and have conversation. The only places we went were out to dinner. I was so disappointed. Needless to say I haven't went back again.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
Where in Florida did your inlaws live?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
@CCarolyn Oh yes, right next to Punta Gorda, and just north of Cape Coral and Ft. Meyers. Beautiful place. You missed out on some world-class sightseeing. The beaches in the area are amazing. And you were so close to Sanibel Island, one of the best places in the world for finding seashells!
I hope you get another chance to visit Florida again someday.
1 person likes this
@Butterfingers (66585)
• India
27 Jun 21
Glad you got the second shot and relaxed well after that and enjoyed too
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
I was really nervous that I was gong to be sick for three days again, like I was after the first shot. But thankfully it only lasted a day, and then I was feeling great again.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118709)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 21
I'm sure you have places in Indonesia that are just as beautiful.
1 person likes this
