CHILLING IN FORIDA

Hey there, friends, family, acquaintances and the just curious. I am chilling in Florida. Out on the deck this AM with a cup of Java that tastes like cinnamon buns and soaking up some sun and a beautiful sunny Sunday morning. Coming from Wisconsin, it is such a treat to listen to the birds in the morning and to smell fresh mowed grass in February. I'm in northern Florida so there are some seasons, but not like in the Frozen Tundra. Winter is marked by a little more rain and some fall like temperatures. It seems funny to say, but I believe Winter here is one of my favorite seasons. 

The beaches are lovely this time of year. You can walk for miles and miles with just enough people out there surfing and flying kites and just enjoying the sand and surf to make it interesting, but not so many to be overwhelming. The surfers are bundled up in their wet suites and seem impervious to the chill of the water as they gather out beyond where the waves break chatting each other up and waiting for their next ride.

You see the most interesting things here. Sometimes it feels like the movie Clock Work Orange doing retirement. There was a woman the other day walking the beach with her raccoon on a leash. A couple of weeks ago there was a highland celebration on the beach and so there were people wandering about with bagpipes, in kilts and some dancing in the streets. 

I have a couple of little tea houses that I've found and love to frequent, both for their vegan earth mother atmosphere and for the neighborhoods where they are located. It is so much fun to drive into a neighborhood and watch as the dress and people and way of being totally changes. I am very fond of this one corner of the word where everyone seems to wear black, right down to their black converse high-tops, and they have lots of tattoos, and usually unruly hair, or no hair and they talk about the most interesting things like art, and politics and philosophy. 

Today I get to Skype with my people in Medellin, Columbia. A couple of delightful expats that I've connected with in creating on-line training.  I love the guys, their energy, their ideas and creativity. I sometimes have to pinch myself to make sure that I'm not dreaming as I get to do what I love, with people that I really like and admire, and make a living at it. I tell you what, life after 60 is getting better and better!

Well, time to put my feet up, have a cup of coffee and enjoy the morning. Wishing all of you the same kind of enjoyable day.

Hugs,
Betsy

Day 55: If I was a dog, I'd roll in it!!!

Spring has come to Wisconsin.  I am FINALLY able to get some sunlight - it has been gray since FOREVER!  This day is soooooooooooooo amazing!! If I were a dog I'd roll in it!

Day 39

Freezing rain this week. Not what I look forward to in April in Wisconsin.  I want to be out walking the trails and enjoying the early spring, not weathering gray skies and a frozen, icy, slushy world.  It's just tooooooo depressing!  WHERE IS THE SUN!!!!  If it doesn't come out soon, I'm headed back to Florida, and I may not come back.  Winters like this are enough to make me think twice.

Day 37

The bleak winter of our discontent is still going strong upon my return to Wisconsin.  IS THIS WINTER EVER GOING TO END!!!  It was hard for me not to turn around and go back to Florida.

Day 4

Here I am in the traditional Wisconsin meditational pose.  Through hours of purposeful shoveling I believe that I am either close to a heart attack or enlightenment.  Either way I happily close out the exercise dedicating whatever merit I have created through my actions to the enlightenment of all sentient beings.  Beginner mind tells me that each time is the first time...my back tells me otherwise.  It would be REALLY helpful if the rest of you could reach enlightenment as quickly as possible!  I thank you, in advance, for your compassionate cooperation!