Thank you nice people with the houseboat made like a TANK

We are on vacation in Florida.  This is our favorite vacation.  No amusement park lines, no roller coasters, no crowds to panic about losing children... just a beach, ocean, some bicycles, and daily bike rides to the "Sugar Shack".  It is a little slow pace for the Dad in our familia, but right on the mark for the rest of us.  Morning walks on the beach, followed by a big breakfast, followed by some beach play or a bike ride, then lunch and a leisurely afternoon of checkers or Rummikub games.  Evening bike ride or beach play... fresh seafood from the seafood market for dinner, to the beach for crab hunting at dark (we set them free, but the sport of catching the fast little guys is a blast). 

Since our honeymoon, I have known that John is a speed tourist.  He wants to see and do as much as he can and likes for every moment to be productive.  It is sometimes exhausting to live it with him.  He cannot sit still, and it really bugs him to see others sitting around.  The beach allows him to go as much as he wants, and allows some to go and some to hang back with mom.  It is perfect.  Honestly, beach vacations and snow ski trips are what we do best with.

Our Boating Adventure...

While at the beach, we decided to rent a pontoon boat yesterday for a little snorkel outing. It seemed easy enough. There is a small island off the coast, where the boat doesn't actually get out of the bay where the waves would be too big for a small boat. We packed a picnic, rented a boat, and planned for a afternoon of snorkeling and seashell gathering at Seashell Island. We barely got the boat anchored, and the thunder began to errupt. There were many other boats where we were and everyone seemed to be going about their snorkeling too, so we just watched the dark clouds roll in, and the waves get bigger, hoping it would be one of those quick storms.  The storm took a while to come in, and therefore, took a while to go past.  We were all huddled under the 24 inch round table on our pontoon boat, trying to shield ourselves from the rain and wind, meanwhile the small boat was rocking with the large waves. 

We noticed a boat next to us was fairing much better than ours.  It was on first sight a houseboat, but as I looked closer, it could have been a army tank on a boat.  It was a serious heavy duty vessell, and was barely moving from the wind and waves that were rocking us severly.  We later learned that the man made the boat himself out of " marine grade aluminum". I have no idea what marine grade aluminum is, but I think it must be what tanks are made of -- that is what it looked like.

As we were huddled in our pontoon, a crowd of people rushed past, in route to this house boat.  Someone said the house boat was letting people inside the boat.  We joined the crowd, out of worry for a couple of terrified children we had by now.  We hesitated to go in, and these people absolutely insisted.  They were the nicest people, and they had close to 50 strangers in their boat during the storm.  Not only did they invite people in, but insisted people all find a place to sit, offering beds and bunks to people who were all soaking wet.  One of my children fell asleep sitting on a chair, and the woman tried to encourage me to put him in a bed.  When the storm passed, the men in the crowd helped to push the tank off from the beach, and proceeded to go up the beach to help all boats get out of the sand.  It was a exhibition of humanity at its' best. 

 

Nobody exchanged names or numbers, but we were all in it together... and then we all went on our way.  As we departed, I really wished I had gotten the address of this couple that took so many in, so that I could send them a nice note or nominate them for a medal or something.  They were really our safe harbor in the storm...  So, to say the least, our quiet day of snorkeling and seashells was a little more exciting than we intended, but we all had a good time in the end.  We had a little time after the storm to snorkel away, and we were all relieved to be on land at the end of the day.  Still... the beach is better than the crowds anyday in my book. 

... Again... Thank you nice people with the houseboat made like a tank... wherever you are... you are so so kind to take all of  the clueless tourists in during the storm. 

Amusement Parks & Childhood Trauma

John and I are a nightmare combination for amusement park scenes.  He has childhood trauma from a sister who covered his eyes while on the big roller coaster at Disney as a child, so he avoids anything resembling a roller coaster -- even the smaller ones.  I have a childhood memory of getting lost at the circus in Tulsa.  It was probably 15 minutes, but in my mind it was hours.  I remember that I got so upset that I vomited.  Therefore, I have a deathly fear of losing one of my children in a crowd.  To make that worse, John is a speed walker, and just assumes that he can will everyone into walking at his pace by continuing to let us fall behind.  Our children are too big to carry, yet we still have small ones that tend to doddle when walking.  Once... John was walking ahead with 2 children, and I was bringing up the rear with the other 2.  We lost sight of him in the crowd, and then we came to a fork in the path, where we could have gone one of 3 directions.  I had no idea which way he went, and I began to panic about not knowing for sure that he had the other 2 children.  If he would leave me and my 2 behind, how could I be sure that he wouldn't also leave one behind if he was between he and I.  It was only 5 minutes until we connected with him, but it seemed like longer, and I was so upset when we did connect.  It was probably over reaction on my part, but I just panic when I don't know for certain that they are all safe.... Thus... the beach is best.  We do go  to the parks and such, but it is usually stressful for both parents.

 

We love our vacation time, and it is really about time together... no matter where we are.  I am thankful that we can take the time.