Lover’s Key State Park and Katie “Gets it”

Katie’s last few days were jam packed with activities. One last request was a trip to the beach so one afternoon we drove over to Lover’s Key State Park beach access. We had been going to Bonita Beach on Little Hickory Island but wanted her to see the really neat dead trees that line the shoreline at Lover’s Key.

      

Right after we set up at Lover’s Key we spotted some dolphins just offshore working a school of fish. Seeing dolphins always makes a day to the beach just a little bit better. I tried my luck catching some bait for fishing but there was none to be had so I took the fishing gear back to the car. When I returned I suggested we walk the beach to see the trees at Lover’s Key beach.

Sea shells were abundant in the powdery white sand along this stretch of the Florida coastline. Exoskeletal remains of horseshoe crabs were also scattered along the beach. Missing this time were the brittle starfish that were plentiful the last visited this same beach two years ago. But the “exoskeletal” trees were still present and what great photographic opportunities they possess due to their artistic beauty… It really is hard to have a bad day at the beach!

We also played plenty of cornhole or beanbag toss, whatever you may call it. We also played several games of shuffleboard, attended a few pot locks, as well as an impromptu happy hour or two…  Katie spent about 16 days here and it was fun watching her become a part of this RV community.  She immersed herself in our lifestyle. and enjoyed getting to know many of our new winter friends.  When it was finally time to go back to her home in North Carolina she was very sad to leave us and all her new winter friends.. We were very glad she had the time to spend with us where she could really experience our lifestyle… If she never “got it” before as to why we chose this lifestyle for our early retirement she most certainly “gets it” now!!!

The time came to drop her off at the airport and bid her a fond farewell… Before Katie made the trip here she had to quit the job she loved as a Physical Therapy Assistant and is now about to embark on a new journey as she starts her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. I wish we were able to fund her schooling but unfortunately she will need to take on student loans.  She will have some debt after school but pursuing this dream of hers will open up a new lifetime adventure which we can’t wait to see unfold...