Florida's Sun Coast...

I've been very fortunate in my travels. My wife and I make it a point to go somewhere each year, to relax and unwind, to explore and to broaden our horizons. Even in lean years, we would manage a long weekend to drive to the coast or a quick getaway to see the drag boat races in the Texas Hill Country.

When we lived in the Dallas Metroplex, we learned how to be local tourists. There were so many things to do. From the art museums and galleries to the zoos, parks and arboretum, there was always something to explore. We enjoyed musicals at Fair Park and the holiday Pops with the Dallas Symphony. We learned to enjoy what we had around us.

And then we moved to the Sun Coast. The area south of Tampa from Bradenton through Sarasota and down to Venice is a great place to vacation, especially if you can do it year-round.

The most obvious draw is the beach. Siesta Key Beach has been named the number one beach in America, and deservedly so. The sand is soft and clean, the water is clear and mostly gentle, and the beach is big and well maintained. Even on crowded Summer weekends, the beach doesn't feel crowded. We love to walk along and look for sand dollars, although this isn't the best shelling beach around. Siesta Key Beach is the best, in my opinion, but by no means the only one around. Turtle Beach is nice and is less crowded.

Up the coast, in Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria Island, there are nice beaches that are much quieter. And a trip down to Venice will lead you to Caspersen Beach, where with just a little luck you'll find million-year-old fossilized shark's teeth.

Sarasota has a knack for holding street festivals. We've been to three different art festivals in downtown Sarasota, including one dedicated to chalk art on the streets - the theme this year was the circus. In addition, the Ringling museum is renowned for world-class art. Add in the galleries around town and there is enough to keep any art lover busy.  The weekly farmer's markets in Sarasota and Bradenton feel like street parties.

Downtown, there is Main street. For several blocks from Washington to past Pineapple there are funky little shops and restaurants that are a lot of fun to look in. We enjoy claiming downtown Sarasota as our home town. That's how it felt the very first time we wandered downtown.

The weather here is beautiful. Year round, it's nice to drive around town with the windows down. It gets warm, but not unbearably hot. And the Winter is quite pleasant. Even when the Gulf is too cool for swimming, the beach is inviting. Or if that's not your thing, a walk in the park with your sweetie could be just the thing. I know it is for me.

Sure, there is a lot for Tampa/Clearwater/St. Pete to offer. And Fort Myers, Sanibel and Naples are also beautiful. The entire Gulf Coast of Florida has something to offer everyone. But the Sun Coast has just the right mix of laid-back sophistication for me.

Want what you have, Part II

Way back when I started this blog, I wrote about the happiness that is there for free for folks who are able to be happy with what they have. That's a philosophy I've tried to follow ever since Jimmy Buffett made it a theme in Where's Joe Merchant (I highly recommend it - I think I've read it four times). I've even thought about working it into my next tattoo. But, for every rule, there's an exception.

Eleven years ago when we got married on Hillsboro Beach, just North of Fort Lauderdale, we decided that we wanted to move to Florida. We've had many happy years in Texas, and we didn't *have* to live in Florida to be happy. But in a classic case of wanting something other than what you have - I found a job, and we moved to the Sun Coast. We've been here six weeks now, and we've been to seven different beaches (no repeats, so far). Right now we live about 12 miles from one of them, and it's nice knowing we can go walk on the sand and watch the sun set after work.

I think that "want what you have" still applies, even when you change up what you have. Even considering that the New hasn't worn off yet, I am happy with my job. The work is interesting and challenging, and I work with good people. We found a very nice apartment near the water with some beautiful views. Everyone is still happy and healthy and fed and clothed. I'm excited for my kids and my folks to come visit, but aside from that, I think I have everything I need, right here.

There's still a lot to do. Even though we got here in time for Spring Training, with a new job it was just too difficult to enjoy much of it. We haven't been more than a hundred miles from our apartment yet, and even though we've kept busy, there are places we want to see across the state.

I know lots of people that wish they were somewhere other than where they were. Most of them will never get the chance to live where they want. Many of them won't even get to visit their dream place. I'm a lucky soul, and I know it.

Want what you have...

This is the secret to happiness. Of course, knowing it and living it are two different things.

I've never spent much of my life looking back. Sure, there are some things I'd do differently, but I don't dwell on them. And anyway they are mostly non-specific things, like I wish I'd done better in school...stuff like that.

I've also been able to do some things that I wouldn't change for anything. I've been to exciting places - Hawaii, the USVI, Germany and Mexico. I'd like to take my wife back to some of the places I got to go before I knew her. On the other hand, comparing trips I made with her and trips I made without her, the times with her are the most memorable. Not that I didn't enjoy trips with my family, but with those my memories are more about me. Trips with my wife have left me with memories about us.

One thing about trips I've taken with my wife: we've had some exceptional times in some relatively ordinary places. I remember driving along the Gulf Coast from New Orleans into Mississippi. We didn't really do much except drive and look at the houses along the beach. I won't ever forget it though.

We were able to turn a work trip to Florida into a vacation / wedding / honeymoon. We flew into Tampa, then drove to Ft. Lauderdale. I worked a few days in each place, then we got married (Tuesday, after work). We took the rest of the week for a honeymoon. We drove to the Keys. I have fond memories of an ordinary gas station / convenience store just across the bridge on Key Largo. It started pouring just as we got out of the car. I remember the little stand that sold Cuban sandwiches (and only Cuban sandwiches) out in front of the Publix grocery. We stayed in some truly memorable hotels.

Our wedding day was unlike anyone else's that we know. I worked that day. At lunch I took her to have her nails done. After work I went and picked up a bouquet for her (ordered it myself and I have to say, I was impressed). Then we drove together to Hillsboro Beach and got married on the beach - barefoot. Afterward we stopped at Outback Steakhouse on the way back to the hotel. (We had a tough time finding a place to eat, and almost settled on something like Burger King.) We celebrated with half a bottle of wine, and fell asleep early. We were both exhausted. And I wouldn't change a thing.

We have had similar times at other places (though we only got married the one time). One weekend we headed for a Trading Days sort of thing in a small town in central Texas, and ended up 8 hours later on the beach in Matagorda. We spent the night in Port LaVaca, had Church's Chicken for dinner, and got up the next morning and headed south to Port Aransas. Early that afternoon, we decided we'd better head home. In the end, we just drove a big circle. These are the memories I'm happiest about.

But I'm getting off track. My point is that happiness is in our hands. I could have the attitude that it takes a million dollar boat, a Learjet and a private island, and then I'd be happy. These things aren't likely. Or I could be happy with things that are a little more in my reach. Even if the million dollar boat was a possibility, given enough hard work, sacrifice and luck, I'd still have to spend all the time and energy necessary to obtain it. That doesn't seem very productive to me. I'm not saying I shouldn't aspire to greater things - I do. And I have my own Bucket List, parts of which are not really attainable. But my happiness doesn't depend on these.

Of course, there are some for whom the challenge is the reward. There are folks who find happiness not in owning something, but in obtaining it. Overcoming the challenges and the barriers does certainly provide satisfaction. And to those people, I raise my glass. Because for them, the challenge is the desire, and it's within their reach.

When we can learn to want the things we have, we'll have the things we want. And once in a while, something will come along and surprise us.