The Florida weather has been similar to Portland with gray skies, cool temperatures, and rain showers. I think we were hoping for a warmer welcome. We’re in Panama City, witnessing some of the remnants of last year’s hurricane Michael. I’m sure the local residents are leery of anyone or anything named Michael – like me. The Sheraton Beach Golf and Spa Resort where we are staying just opened again after 10 months of repairs. There is no beach, just a lagoon, no openings at the spa, and we don’t play golf, so there’s little for us to do. This morning we meet with another realtor to explore some beach condos, and will end the year in this deserted massive resort with lots of pelicans. It’s also been two straight nights without a visible sunset.

I was excited to see the downfall of “The Ohio University,” in both basketball and football, with some personal issues at stake. In return, I got some of my own vengeful medicine through watching I.U. basketball fall apart against Arkansas. I was stuck trying to follow the game on my phone, since the BIG Ten Network was not available on our T.V. My wife watched Dirty Dancing and then Kingsman 2 out of boredom while I silently brooded about the ineffective Hoosiers and drank a bottle of Merlot. I got up and ran around the golf course this morning to take out my frustrations. I.U. football in the Gator Bowl against Tennessee is next on my sports agenda. Hopefully, that game too won’t be a disappointment, and I won’t be a double holiday loser like Buckeye fans. 

It’s day 7,680 since I first got together with my wife nearly 21 years ago. Our relationship is almost at the legal drinking age. We’ll celebrate in Las Vegas, where we were also married at the Bellagio over 18 1/2 years ago. Our upcoming stay at the Westgate will be much less glamorous that our honeymoon night, but at least neither of us will have to attend corporate business meetings the next day. This will be our first trip there jointly retired, and we’ll do a side-excursion to the Grand Canyon. We also hope to see the Neon Boneyard & Museum where we’ll take in some of the colorful history of The Strip. My wife will soon book some shows, but unfortunately Lady Gaga is not in town. She has her sights on the Michael Jackson ONE Cirque Du Soleil performance. 

Tomorrow, we’ll head to Tampa and more property shopping before our New Year’s Eve dinner at Bern’s Steak House. It was founded in 1956 by Bern Laxler and continues to stay in the family; currently operated by his son David. They also established the Epicurean Hotel across the street where we’ll be spending the night. We’ve been practicing staying up late, hoping to finish dinner at midnight and then conveniently stumble to our bed. (Even though it will only be 9 p.m. back home in Portland). This will be my third dinner at Bern’s, dating back to an Advertising Federation convention many years ago when I was President of our Indianapolis Club. My wife and I also had a meal there to honor our 2nd wedding anniversary. It will be a great way to celebrate our love, accomplishments, retirement, and the new decade ahead. As I think about it, today was my last day of work three years ago. 

Panama City is showing some signs of sunlight and patches of blue sky. We’ll soon be touring a couple of condos in a beachfront high-rise. We can’t decide if a view of the ocean is a priority, but at least in this area there are places in our price range. It would be nice to step out in the sand every day, but we’d be living in a isolated area inundated by tourists. Today, that’s all we are here in Florida, as we continue to explore the Emerald Coast. The “Toes in the Sand” tour continues….