Sunday Church Service Observations

Over the years we have attended Sunday Mass in Italy (including St. Peters), the Bahamas, Canada and many of the US states. Oberserving who attends is quite amazing and different. In Italy the attendees were dominated by and fewer young people, many older women and few old men and families.

In the Bahamas there were again many old women and many young women in their teens. We observed very few young men.

In the states we again found church services dominated by the old with men and women about equal in attendance. The most surprising observation was the make-up of the attendees at the Church of Guadalupe in Fellsmere, Florida. Never have we seen more young people both single and with families or more young single men that single women. Cultures in countries obviously vary but significant is how different cultures in the states display different church attendance patterns. This one is for some Jesuit to research.

Our favorite churches are St Basils in Ft Lauderdale, St Francis DeSales in Abaco, Bahama and the Church of Gaudelupe in Fellsmere, FL.

So Much to Do & See

We really forgot how much the Vero/Sebastian areas have to offer. While the weather is cooler than Fort Lauderdale there are a ton of things to do and see. Pawn shops and boat shops, county parks and state parks, Intercoastal and river beauty. It' s all here. Fran's doing water aerobics and Bob joins Jim at Mickey D's for mud every am.

Sunshine Travel Park, Vero beach

The park here in Vero is quite nice and full of organized daily activities. Last night we attended a Valentine's Dance and earlier in the week a Jamb Session. We may be the youngest couple in the park but the travelers here certainly don't let age get in their way. Many of the folks actually spend six months here and have permanent pad that they maintain yet rent.

We have some great neighbors..John from Maine, Helmut from New York and my coffee buddy at Mickey D's, Jimmy from Rehoboth DE. We are a little farther from the water than I'd prefer but the park has so much to offer you can do more things here.

We were visited Friday by old time buddy Jo Bear who drove up from Stewart. We did a grill out then headed to the Legion for the afternoon. It was my first day this winter at being a bad boy. Oh, I'll never learn.

Looking forward to getting on the new boat and some fishing. We'll have the grandkids to tags along.

The Wheels on the Bus

The wheels keep going round and round. Busy and active are key words this winter. It seems we just never stop. We already took day day trips to Ft. Pierce dock, state park and downtown, Sebastian, Wabasso, and the Vero Beach Marina. Park activities we participated in include water aerobics, exercise, jam sessions and sing alongs (Bob not thrilled) but surviving. Our plans include a day at Sebastian State Park and dinner with Denis and Carol. The weather is holing up but mornings are a bit chilly and not as warm as Ft Lauderdale. All is good except Bob's bad tooth.

The wheels on our bus go round and round.

What a Great January

Our one month stay in Fort Lauderdale was terrific. Great weather, a well located RV Resort, an array of friends and cousins within 8 miles all made for a fun month. We even completed a project of buying a small fishing boat for use here and up north. We had visits from Dave Hurd, Shirley Capin, Ed and Carol Manson, Norm & Phyllis Namey, Lori and George Cook and Doug and Zary Decker. We dined in Irish Pubs, dock-side restaurants and fast food establishments (Chick Fillet was the best). We cooked for ourselves and friends and ate in their homes. We never got to see cousin Ida's condo though. We did manage to lunch with her in Boca.

We toured Miami and Biscayne Bay and found the areas breath-taking (for more than one reason). We traveled to Fort Myers and Cape Coral. We shopped at flea markets and the Saw Grass Mall, boat supply houses and Bealls.

Today we sit in Vero Beach at an RV park we stayed at on two previous trips to L. It's near Sebastian State Park and the Vero Beach Municipal Marina. Two friends and yacht club members are at Vero and the beach and fishing is at Sebastian so we should manage to keep entertained, especially since Carmen and Irene arrive today. They will join us for the net two months and they are fun friends and neighbors.

Busy as Bees

This has been a real busy month for us. Since Monday we have taken a water taxi ride on the New River and ICW, dined at the 15st Street Fisheries with Norm and Phyllis Namey, dined with Ed and Carol Manson at our RV, shopped for and purchased an 18' Century Center Console fising boat, explored new areas in Broward County and got a first class tour of Bob's almamater Nova Southeastern University. Time has passed quickly and we are expecting visits from the Cook and Decker families before we head to Vero Beach.

Fine Time on the West Coast

We had a grand old time visiting the Deckers in Cape Coral and the Cooks in Ft Myers. We even managed to get both families together for lunch and a night on the town.

We'll be back in Naples in March and look forward to some exciting times.

Did you know George Cook is a well known bag-piper?

A Great Decision

We have for many years tried to make a good winter plan. This year we hit the jack-pot. Coming to Fort Lauderdale in January where the thermometer has consistently been in the 70s was a winning decision.

In addition to good weather, we have made contact with a group of friends and family members that have enriched our experience. Of course, we do spend time looking for a small center console fishing boat to use in FL and then back in the Chesapeake Bay.

We use Face Book to keep abreast of the activities of others we know and care about. Love this stuff. Bye.

Fran at the Beach in Dania Beach

Following some sand we were invited to former WVW Superintendent Norm and wife Phylli's for a roast beef dinner at their beautiful condo in Pompano Beach. It was a terrific evening.

Old Friends Reunite in Old Familiar Places

Fort Lauderdale is everything we expected so far. We've already contacted boating friends, work friends, cousins and university friends. All seemed as excited as we to make contact and plans for get-togethers. Today it was shopping at Pompano Beach Flea Market then a visit from university mentor Ed Manson. It's been 7 years since our last contact but nothing has changed and we had a great time and made plans for a university tour and dinner Italiano. We were invited to Norm and Phyllis Namey's for dinner tomorrow evening. Norm has been a close friend and colleague for many years. It should be real fun. We've began our search for an 17-21' center console fishing boat. We hope to get one before we leave south Florida and use it for the next three months. The diet is going fairly well. Miss the bread and pasta and everything white. I'm turning green. Fran continues her exercise regimen and sneaks snacks like mad. Need to rest. Tomorrow is a busy day.

A Day at The Beach

The weather in Ft Lauderdale is pleasant and much better than Exeter. Yesterday we walked the beach in Dania Beach which is 3 miles from our RV Park. We also made it to the public fishing pier where we expect to do some fishing. Of course there were the usual shopping experiences and the resultant good dinner meal. Today it's a road trip to the unknown locale.

Fort Lauderdale in Our Scope

Tomorrow we head to Fort Lauderdale's North Coast RV Park and Marina for the remainder of January. We're really looking forward to park as we have never RV'd in Fort Lauderdale and have a whole lot of family & friends in the area we plan to play with.

We spent the last two nights at East Haven RV Resort in Winter Haven. What a fun spot. We stayed aat East Haven for 9 years and were met by many old friends. Monday night were were invited to a new restaurant by our buddie Don Lemay (Michigan), Steve and Connie Zellner (Wisconsin) and Bob & Elaine Larry (Rochester). The calves liver was delicious. By the way, the diet has started. We fully charged our batteries, checked all systems and installed a new main cabin TV.

Keep in touch. We'll be posting on this BLOG site.

Now It's The RV

This winter we will live in our RV, a 2005 Newmar Scottsdale in Florida. Sin Velas is on the hard at Edwards Boat Yard off the Chesapeake bay. Today, Sunday 2 Jan 2011, we left home at 0600 hrs and headed south on I 81, I 83, US 15, I 270, I485 and finally I 95 and drove to Florence, SC. We are now resting comfortably in a Super 8 Motel and tomorrow head to Winter Haven, FL. Let the heat begin.