Harmony in Vero Beach

Velcro Beach

I am so content I could purr. We're moored in a field that can handle about 120 boats or more, in a lovely protected area off the ICW. We have a resident osprey that sits on a dead branch about 20 yards from our boat. Its sweet whistle delies the fierce predator that it is. The pelicans entertain us daily with their clumsy splashes for fish and a stunning white egret adds a note of grace to the rich green of the mangrove island next to us. Too bad its "hacking cough" call is the opposite of its elegance. The weather has gotten warmer so we can get out of bed and put on just a sweatshirt. No more stocking cap, two sweatshirts and a wool scarf! On the map it is Vero Beach, about 70 miles north of West Palm Beach but to the boaters it is "velcro beach". No wonder boaters stay here for the whole winter! It is inexpensive and there are services that are amazing. The Marina is in a grove of old oaks with their Spanish moss waving gently in the breezes.

We are a five minute dinghy ride from the dock and then a 15 minute free (!) bus ride from an excellent shopping area. There is everything from a West Marine to a TJMaxx. There is even a crafts store so I can get a few simple art supplies! The bus requests a donation and I wish people would be more generous. Most people just take advantage of the free ride. It is even possible to transfor to another free bus route and go to a Sam's Club or Walmart, for instance. When you are boat bound, good shopping is such a treat.

It is so easy to make friends here! For two nights we've been rafted up with Bravo 2, another catamaran. They left this morning, anxious to get farther south because they are taking advantage of every weather window to get over to the islands. Eventually they are going down the Windward chain and then over to the Azores! I am really in awe of Wendy and Graham. That is an ambitious plan for any couple sailing alone. They will miss the festivities this week. Lew and I are looking forward to Thanksgiving here. Last year 150 boaters participated in a pot luck dinner. There is a sign up sheet at the lounge, near the showers and laundry room. I actually brought a few canned goods so I could participate in whatever happened to be the festivities for this holiday. For the December holidays we will be back in NJ.

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For those of you who know what a hellish trip most of last winter's adventures were, the news of this experience couldn't be better. Sure, we've had a few nasty situations but they don't last long and they don't seem to be as dire as last year. Most of this experience has been terrific in some way. The fun of it is that the good things are as unpredictable as the scary parts last year. Now if I can just get to a point where I actually do more art than a few (very satisfying) drawings, I will really be a happy camper. (Lew seems pretty happy, too, now that his stomach problems have abated.)

Please let us know what is happening in your life, snow and all!