Some families have lake cottages, my family had a Florida cottage – that’s what my son called it. No surprise, from his first trip at 10 months old, he averaged 3 trips each year to the sunny shores of Florida’s Gulf Coast up until he was 12 years old.
Our beach vacations have changed for us over the years. When my son was young, he was happy to go to the beach, splash in the shallow waves build sandcastles and search for shells. When he got older, he loved the Tampa Aquarium where he enjoyed seeing massive grouper fish in the tanks, and the sea creature petting station, where you could feel starfish and mollusks. He preferred SeaWorld to Disney Land. We graduated to sporting events, enjoying a true Canadian Florida experience, watching a grapefruit league baseball game at Dunedin, and scoring great tickets for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The one constant was the fishing.
When my parents sold their Florida cottage last year, it felt like our Florida excursions were over. But it didn’t take long before they decided to go and rent a place for a few weeks. My son and I spent a week with them, and as in the past, went fishing with his grandfather. However, instead of going three times a day, we only went three times the whole week. The other time we spent playing tennis, wave crashing, and football throwing. And for the first time in a long time, we just spent time doing nothing, relaxing. Ok, for me, reading, for my parents, napping, for my son, playing on his device.
No matter, I’m just so happy we can still spend time together, enjoying a place we know so well, and adapting to it as we change. And, hopefully, we will get back to the sunny shores of Florida’s Gulf Coast!
About Me
Trying to live a simple life. This is where you will find photos, recipes and thoughts about life, family, healthy living. When I’m not working, I am in the kitchen whipping up healthy vegetarian feasts and other meat-based food as well! I love my vegetable garden, playing tennis, making healthy choices, and simply enjoying life.
