Happy New Year Darlings: We have fallen utterly in love with Saratoga, Fla. It is on the gulf coast of Florida about half way down. It has five keys that hug the coast, surrounding you with waterways and sandy beaches. Siesta Key has the purest and whitest sand in the world. The city of Venice is an island just south of us. Drawbridges of all type take you from one island to the next. The drawbridge closest to my resort is a sideways one. The road picks up and turns perpendicular, boat goes by, and back. The foliage is much more lush and varied than the west coast. We have every type of palm mixed with huge banyans and laurels and moss.
Culturally, this area is fabulous, especially since its culture is based in fantasy. John Ringling made his home here, and the infamous Ringling Estate houses a museum with a renowned art collection, his opulent home, a miniature and real size circus, and a theatre that was brought over from Venice, Italy and reconstructed here, all on Sarasota Bay. I have become a member of the museum, and roam its grounds and buildings regularly with Carolina, now my service dog. It is an incredible place.
The outdoor resort we call home is like Club Med but with older people. Everyone has a bicycle; sports, activities and community make this group the happiest I have seen. We have every amenity of a senior Disneyland. The grounds are sprawling with lush palms, Olympic pool, tennis courts, volleyball, golf and every outdoor and indoor activity you can think of. I have resumed my clogging classes here and plan to take up playing the dulcimer. Not that we’re really looking for a deal, but it costs $27 a day if you stay for 6 months! This will be our winter spot -- and during the spring and summer we will travel.
Wiley, a big stuffed coyote who needed a date, took us out for New Years Eve. Here’s a photo of the 3 of us, and of Wiley solo. Someone taped a goblet to in his hand so he doesn’t keep dropping his glass!
Jaz will be visiting soon for a week, then on 1/25 we move south to Naples which is Santa Barbara’s twin city to meet up with good friends we met in Sedona, then to Fort Lauderdale to see Carolina’s twin, Pampa, and our other dear friends – and the iguana you see in the photos. They took a photo of it the other day. I can’t wait to meet it. The dog in the photo is Pampa, Carolina’s twin. Speaking of unusual animals, our resort sits on the Bay and we have canoes to take out. A sign says ‘Beware of the Alligators”. This is not a joke. Hmmmm!
What an incredible life. Love and Happy Blue Full Moon Eclipse New Year to all! Oh, my, what a magical life!
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