I am enjoying our view of the Atlantic Ocean from our 6th floor condo. It’s been a welcome change of scenery even though just a few hundred miles from home. I can monitor what’s going on at my house thanks to the Ring cameras. A neighbor is watering our plants, deliveries have been made, and my son is staying the night without his kids to make use of the pool. Everybody needs a change from the routine.

We ventured outside only twice yesterday, considering the windy conditions. First, we stocked up on groceries and then later took an Uber to The Breakers Hotel. Plans were for dinner at Flagler’s Steakhouse but we found that it was separate from the hotel and not as desirable as the Seafood Bar. We sat side-by-side on a comfy love seat with a view of the turbulent waves crashing against the rocks. My wife enjoyed lobster, while I had filet mignon, and we gobbled down the Parker House rolls. A chocolate brownie with ice cream topped off the evening with an edible “Happy Anniversary.” We also got some time to walk through the hotel to view the hand-painted murals on the ceilings and fresh flower creations. It was the perfect place to celebrate twenty-one years. 

This morning I was totally out of sorts, having slept an hour-and-a-half longer than normal. In retirement, I’m certainly not on a time schedule, but my routine is typically like clockwork – awake at seven, walk the dog, exercise, 5k run, and write – all concluded by 9:30a. There was no Tally to wake me up and the black-out blinds hid the sunrise. I shortened my run to a little over a mile to make up for lost time, feeling guilty for oversleeping. “Does anybody really know what time it is?” I only had two martinis the night before, in defense. However, I didn’t sleep better -only longer – with too many annoying bathroom visits. I hope to visit the pool and get some sun after completing this daily post, while continuing to read A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of an American Spy who helped win World War II by Sonia Purnell. We’re eating homemade ham salad sandwiches the rest of this week and next to help make up for the $300 dinner bill. All for just a change of scenery!