Wow. Yesterday was a stormy day! Lightning and thunder storms rolling through right on through the night. So I guess it was kind of a good thing since I was not wishing I was at the beach or out on my bike while I was cleaning and packing.
We are just about ready for an early departure tomorrow morning (Saturday). We are getting tired of the long drive and have been talking about getting a small car to leave down here. Of course we are not crazy about air flights these days, but at least it is over within one day...usually.
I am anxious to get back to see the grand kids. The librarian where I volunteer has already asked me to come in on Tuesday. I doubt that will happen since we won't be home until Monday afternoon, but it is nice to have something that makes me feel useful.
I will miss our Florida life style though. Life seems simpler here. Among the things I will miss (in no particular order):
1. Sunshine. In spite of the fact that we call it the Sunshine State, Florida is actually not the sunniest place in the country. However, it has VT's average number of sunny days beat by miles.
2. The evenness of daylight hours. I like that daylight varies only from ten to fourteen hours, if that.
In VT, we will be heading into those days of 18 hours of sunlight. Frankly, the sun coming up at 4:30 a.m. is a waste of sunshine, pure and simple.
3. Our friends on the beach and in the park. On the other hand, there will be friends and family at home.
4. The proximity to the stores, restaurants, recreation. Everything I like within walking distance or a short ride.
a. Hot take out pizza.
b. Fresh bagels on Saturday mornings.
5. Flat bike paths and miles of them.
6. Lemons. Yes, I can buy lemons in VT but they are not as juicy.
7. Palm trees and blooming plants.
8. No need to put on socks.
9. Colors, so many colors.
10. The hair salon.
11. Honestly, the high toilets. I know from experience that I will hurt myself the first time I use the low toilet at home.
12. The Italian deli
and Pop's for lunch.
We are just about ready for an early departure tomorrow morning (Saturday). We are getting tired of the long drive and have been talking about getting a small car to leave down here. Of course we are not crazy about air flights these days, but at least it is over within one day...usually.
I am anxious to get back to see the grand kids. The librarian where I volunteer has already asked me to come in on Tuesday. I doubt that will happen since we won't be home until Monday afternoon, but it is nice to have something that makes me feel useful.
I will miss our Florida life style though. Life seems simpler here. Among the things I will miss (in no particular order):
1. Sunshine. In spite of the fact that we call it the Sunshine State, Florida is actually not the sunniest place in the country. However, it has VT's average number of sunny days beat by miles.
2. The evenness of daylight hours. I like that daylight varies only from ten to fourteen hours, if that.
In VT, we will be heading into those days of 18 hours of sunlight. Frankly, the sun coming up at 4:30 a.m. is a waste of sunshine, pure and simple.
3. Our friends on the beach and in the park. On the other hand, there will be friends and family at home.
4. The proximity to the stores, restaurants, recreation. Everything I like within walking distance or a short ride.
a. Hot take out pizza.
b. Fresh bagels on Saturday mornings.
5. Flat bike paths and miles of them.
6. Lemons. Yes, I can buy lemons in VT but they are not as juicy.
7. Palm trees and blooming plants.
8. No need to put on socks.
9. Colors, so many colors.
10. The hair salon.
11. Honestly, the high toilets. I know from experience that I will hurt myself the first time I use the low toilet at home.
12. The Italian deli
and Pop's for lunch.
Have a safe drive home and I hope you miss all the traffic.
ReplyDeleteNo such luck. Although we did get off I95 and drive through the low country of SC--much nicer than sitting in stop and go traffic.
DeleteHave a safe trip back to VT.
ReplyDeleteYou may miss Florida for a bit... but hey, viva la difference (or something like that). It's wonderful that you get to spend time in both places, yes?
ReplyDeleteYes, the best of both worlds, as they say.
DeleteAh, those things you'll miss sound sooo nice. Take it easy on the roads and enjoy your trip back.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Muff
Have a safe trip home. I bet those grands are going to be really glad to see you. Between Vermont and Florida you do have the best of both!
ReplyDelete... and the weather is finally beginning feel a little springlike up here in the north. Safe trip.
ReplyDeleteSafe trip, Olga! VT should be budding soon!
ReplyDeleteHave a safe trip to Vermont. Vermont has such rich history with beautiful colored leaves in fall.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, the library certainly doesn't plan to give you much time to settle in.
ReplyDeleteAll good reasons to regret leaving Florida. Flat bike and walking paths are what I miss the most.
Have a safe and pleasant trip home.
Enjoy your trip to Vermont. David and I will spend 3 nights in Miami in August. Looking forwrd to it.
ReplyDeleteHappy motoring. Its a long drive, but I will take driving over the harassment of flying any time. Make it a journey rather than an ordeal.
ReplyDeleteYour observations regarding the variation in the amount of sunlight amused me. All places on Earth get exactly 6 months of night and 6 months of daylight per year, alas the distribution does suffer from planetary inclination. However, at approximately 23 and 1/2 degrees of axial tilt, we are better off than Uranus. From Wikipedia:
"Uranus has an axial tilt of 97.77 degrees, so its axis of rotation is approximately parallel with the plane of the Solar System. This gives it seasonal changes completely unlike those of the other major planets. Other planets can be visualized to rotate like tilted spinning tops on the plane of the Solar System, while Uranus rotates more like a tilted rolling ball. Near the time of Uranian solstices, one pole faces the Sun continuously while the other pole faces away. Only a narrow strip around the equator experiences a rapid day-night cycle, but with the Sun very low over the horizon as in the Earth's polar regions. At the other side of Uranus's orbit the orientation of the poles towards the Sun is reversed. Each pole gets around 42 years of continuous sunlight, followed by 42 years of darkness. Near the time of the equinoxes, the Sun faces the equator of Uranus giving a period of day-night cycles similar to those seen on most of the other planets."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranus
Whatever! I am definitely NOT going to Uranus any time some. youdid make me laugh, though.
DeleteI hope the drive was uneventful and that All is well.
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky to be able to enjoy the best of both worlds. I love my mild winters in coastal Texas. Most days I can wear my flip-flops! But the summer is going to be an inferno.
ReplyDeleteGosh! Florida sounds like heaven. I'll bet there's less traffic there than Hawaii too. Still, Vermont is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMuch fun! I'm happy our snow has gone. I love the change in seasons!
ReplyDeleteCheers from Cottage Country!