I wrote recently, on earlier blogposts, about scouting out possible lodging in extreme south Texas. I just didnt find anything that I loved. Then I flew out to Santa Clara, CA and back. (for consulting work) Next I visited Ft Wth, TX and the Cox family, followed by McAlester, OK and my brother Steve's family, then on to Searcy, ARK. and my storage unit and the Ellis Sloan family. After all that travel I drove down to Daphne, AL and visited Ken and Patty Reed. Lastly I drove about an hour over to Navarre, FL and visited Cam and Robin Prock.
Driving to Florida to find a Summer Home. My new adventure Plan is to Winter in Florida and Summer in Colorado. It's still in the formative stages but I'm working on it and started.
In Clearwater looking for lodging, I visited 13 locations. (actually calling eliminated 5 that were already rented.) I saw one that backed up to a freeway, where my 'sleeping room' had a window on the street and 2nd flr. Another was unfurnished and overpriced. Finally I drove out and met a Realtor who showed me an appt that 'could have' worked, but it was miles from the beach and in a less than desirable area. So i decided to grab some lunch and missed my turn taking me past a building with a sign out front; "Single Bedrooms for the price of a studio." I figured what the heck, they have rooms. maybe one is furnished? I stopped to ask. Turned out to be The Oaks of Clearwater. "Spectacular Senior Waterfront Living." (im old enough) I negotiated; a furnished, two bedroom Villa, WITH three meals a day in the cafeteria, all bills paid, for about what the other places were charging. The Oaks sits just over the bridge from the island and has killer views of the bay.
Update Wed 24 / Thanks Eve:
It's been a whirlwind and a lot of work doing the lodging search but I have a lease in hand and have moved in. Then today I got a call from my Aunt Nona asking some great questions: #1.) menu's? #2.) photos of my food? #3.) what is my new address?
Menus
