Weather Report

It's been awhile now since we've arrived in this little Floridian town.  J has miraculously and fantasmazingly been on leave this entire time (he started work yesterday), and my mom and sister have each been to visit. So we have had a nice big team out on expedition, seeing what we've got here.   Supposedly, this is the "Sunshine State".   I personally was looking forward to this promise more than just about anything, as we all know that my teeth start chattering around 70 degrees.  Of course, when my mom first arrived there was this:

Buckets- no. Barrels.  Barrels of water dumping from the sky- all day! Sapling-uprooting wind! Blazing lightning! Crashing waves! Ooh! Aahh!Because it was a hurricane watch, we went to the beach of course! To watch!

It was so windy the sand came at us like needles and sent our hair leaping in all directions, trying to escape.
It was kinda fun.  But not very sunny.
But then the rain moved on like a rock band leaves a hotel room; having made a lot of noise and fairly trashed the place.  The day we woke up to clear skies, Little One walked out the front door and declared, "Ooooh, Mommy.  Someone made a big big MESS!"   Tree branches, sand piles, and palm fronds everywhere.  But it compensated us for its battery by leaving cool, gentle air and clear sunshine.  We took that compensatory check and spent it at the beach! I'll tell you all about it later.
We've also been hanging around downtown, exploring the historic district, and driving through National parks.
So far, here's what we've got on our new digs:

* People here are nice.  No, seriously.  Really nice.  Awhile ago I was slightly lost, slightly distracted, and well...just being myself, and I seriously cut off another driver while trying to pull into a gas station. After a good scolding from my mother, I walked over to apologize and she was all, "Gosh.  Well it's ok! You just sur-prah-sed me a little, that's all!" Big smile.
In DC? I would have been lucky if all she'd aimed at me was a certain finger, much less a big old grin.  I was pretty suspicious that she might have been on drugs or suffering from a recent lobotomy.
But no.
*When J and I walked Little One to school the first day (three whole blocks), people pulled over to ask if we needed help, or a ride, or gosh just anything a'tall!
*When Little One's curiosity got the best of Her in an antique shop, the owner did not glare or ask Her to keep Her hands off the expensive breakable stuff.  He chuckled. And patted Her on the head.  And said, "Aw, you like that thing doncha honey? Lord! She's cute!"
*Our neighbors have already introduced themselves and offered to make us a good Southern meal, and to teach me to fry things.
*J and I admired some plants at a market. After being flirted with by Miss and Little One, and learning that J is in the navy, they insisted- "Sweetie now I am in-SIS-tin'"- that we buy them for a third of the already cheap price. 
*When Little One and I asked a waiter to direct us to the ladies room, he escorted us there personally.  And waited until we were done, to escort us back to the table, lest we get lost and become damsels in distress.
Yes, the locals here seem to err a bit on the too nice side; something we recall from our previous encounter with the South.  And everyone wants to talk talk talk to you everywhere you go.
I. Love. It.  I love getting "honey"ed and "darlin"ed and "sweetie"ed.  I love waving at everyone without getting that DC finger in return. I like that no one gets huffy if you chat with the check-out girl, because they are already chatting the the person behind them in line.  Kumbaya, people. That's what I say.
Another thing about this town is that there really is more to it than I thought there would be. My mom and I took a Thai cooking class.  The historic district has great little shops, tons of character, a fun outdoor market each weekend, and the best vegan restaurant I've ever been to.  We belong to a co-op choc full of stuff Little One can eat, that offers great, free yoga classes every week. There are a lot of small local businesses and holes in the wall that turn out to be gems.  There are playgrounds everywhere and the water is never more than a few minutes away.  Traffic is virtually non-existent and even downtown you can always park right where you are going, as soon as you get there.
I might actually be hallucinating this whole thing.  If I am, though, don't wake me up!
Despite all those days of rain, and even if it rained all the time, I totally am feeling the motto around here.  It's not just about the weather, Peanuts. It's a state of mind!  It's the local ambiance!
When we went to the DMV (where we waited in line for exactly ZERO minutes) to register our car here, they let me choose between several little slogans for my new license plate.  I knew right away which one I wanted.