Dear Friends,
I'm still in Hobe Sound enjoying what SE Florida has to offer. For the foreseeable future this travelogue won't be about travel as much as life in Hobe Sound. I've discovered one of Martin County's secrets. Today, I was told that the helicopter that over-flies my motor home every other day is ferrying Tiger Woods to and from his property on Jupiter Island and the private country club across the highway from where I buy fresh seafood. It's just silly local scuttlebutt, but I thought it was pretty cool. I love it when Tiger is introduced on the first tee of any tournament, "and from Hobe Sound, Florida, Tiger Woods". The country club sits behind very tall hedges and trees, so driving by on Hwy 1 you can't really see anything much at all. The club was originally designed and built by Greg Norman, but has changed hands in more recent times. Anyway, that's where Tiger does his fitness training on cool early mornings.
Living around billionaires has its benefits even though there is no direct contact with the species. They live somewhat cloistered lives behind their fences and hedges. You won't see Bill Gates doing the grocery shopping at the Hobe Sound Publix because their house keepers do that chore. What we get to see are their toys, but only those toys too big to be hidden from view. In the protected inlets of Jupiter and St. Lucie and all along the Intercoastal Waterway there are, indeed, mega toys to be seen. Now and again you even have to stop at a draw bridge so really large sail or power boats can continue on their journey's way. When out on the water going to lunch in Manatee Pocket in St. Lucie or over at Jupiter Inlet you can't help but see how the other half plays. (I've not been to Palm Beach Inlet, yet, but I'm told the further south one goes the bigger the boats get.) Seems that everywhere you look in this area of Florida you see a baker's dozen of sport fishing yachts lined up in a row in the various marinas. I'd guess the majority of them to be in the 65-90 foot range. They stand like maritime soldiers guarding Florida's coastal inlets with their tuna towers stretching for the sky. During the day the only life you'll see aboard those vessels are the day crews keeping up with the bright work and continuously washing down with fresh water. They are made to wear their boat's colors while on duty, so they can be identified even when not aboard their owner's boats. We're talking about fishing boats and not live-aboard yachts. Made to take the heaviest storm seas they might encounter on their fishing trips they are a sight to behold. And they all share some common characteristics; long windowless fore decks stretched out front of their salons and tuna towers. I assume they are built to take the brunt of the biggest Atlantic swells coming and going from the Bahamas. Boats that I lust after and wonder if I can afford bear little physical resemblance to the mega fishing machines and Bahama runners seen in all the backyards along the Intracoastal. It's amazing and I can't help but wonder what those people do for a living. I'm sure they are a mix of stock and commodities trading professionals, entrepreneurs and inherited money along with all the other kinds of big businesses we see and don't think about everyday. I go to Home Depot when I need lightbulbs, but I never think about who started Home Depot. Now I know where they live, at least during the winter season. I saw a house last month that belongs to Mr. and Mrs. Walgreen. Hard to call it a house, though. It was more like a Mediterranean brick and tile roof styled compound or resort. Hard to believe just one family lives there. Their boat was equally impressive if you're into boats. I can't help but wonder what kind of airplane they've surely got at the Stuart Airport. Life is wonderful, but it seems just a little more wonderful for those who live life to the hilt. The lifestyle standard to which we all aspire is different for each of us. That's a good thing, too. After all, quality of life isn't really about toys or houses. It's about our individual happiness and peace of mind, right? I admire, but don't envy.
We mere mortals do get to enjoy the ancillary benefits of living in the proximity of billionaires, though. It takes the hyper rich people of Jupiter Island to attract certain kinds of businesses that this otherwise mostly lower/middle class community could never support. I've never lived anywhere like this before. It is unique.
There is much to do here on a daily basis. And it's always fun learning about a place and getting to feel like a local. I discovered a Chinese restaurant today that serves very authentic dishes fresh from the wok versus the all you can eat Chinese buffets one normally sees today. The Moo Shu Pork I took home was spectacular and there was enough food to feed at least two to three people. It was $8.42. So, to this point I've got never frozen seafood, BBQ ribs/brisket and now Chinese covered. Their were 12 inch flames shooting out from under the chef's wok tonight and being fresh off the boat from Taiwan their English was broken at best. I love places where they cook in front of the customers, don't you? It beats the crap out of having food shoved into my car at a drive up window and this food is a bargain by comparison, besides.
A good friend over in Tarpon Springs told me once, "the best things in life are really best when shared". This might not be the first time I've quoted 'ole Fitz, but I have taken his sentiment to heart. In fact, this is the primary reason I've elected to delay my departure from Florida this summer. I've been doing some dating of late meeting ladies off a few dating sites and trying to find that special one. So far I've struck out, but I'm only looking for one or at least that's what I tell myself. I don't see myself as a player, but some of the women might, all things considered. I'm not certain I agree with the whole online dating process, though. There is just something a little demeaning when shopping for human beings like so much window dressing at the mall. My new neighbors in this RV park are telling me I should just go to Montana and let the chips fall where they may. It's probably good advice, but what the hell. I'm single again and I want to enjoy life. In other words, I'm not quite ready to give up on the game just yet. Do they still call it the battle of the sexes?
I don't want to make anything out of it, but I got word last week that my ex-wife, Beverly, has just gotten remarried on July 4th. It was great news that she's found happiness again and really doubly so since she's married my best friend and fishing buddy from Arkansas, Mike. So, it is now Mike and Beverly and I couldn't be happier for them. Now to figure out what to send them as a wedding gift, hmm. Someone here suggested a mafia gesture which is to send a dead fish, but that's not how I'm feeling about their marriage. I'm actually happy for them both and wish for them nothing but the best life has to offer.
Best, John
