Retired Life

I was so filled with energy. Life was all brand new. I was retiring from 22 years of work in one place. I was looking forward to a new and exciting life ahead. I felt like a 20 years old again, going to a foreign country, not knowing what to expect but full of optimisim.

I was able to find a great condo in a town called Nokomis. It was a few miles from Venice but off the path. Sarasota was a good 20 miles away but because of the roadway system here takes only 20 min. during off season.

I came down here pretty beat up by the job, bosses are assholes, and the stress of my divorce and house burning, the ulcer and blood loss. There was also the loss of 29K because of a credit card lent out and not paid. That money was the house I was going to purchase once settled. All in all I was ash grey in complexion when I got here. I wanted to get healthy so I spent time at the pool where I lived. It was just the right size for me to slowly build my strenght, work out the seized up shoulder and start to feel good about myself.

The local beach is great. It's on Casey Key and called Nokomis Beach. Has bath houses, board walk and lots of parking. I was amazed by the variety of fish, birds and life that was part of this beach. I started walking the beach to build strength and notice all of the different shells, colored, spireled and even coral. I got hooked! I started going almost every day finding coral and great shells. I sent lots of them to my grandgirls up notrh. They loved them so I went for more. The coral found was plentyful. I bought a snorkel mask and breathing tube and started to search the 6-8' foot deep water. I was in heaven, again.

This was all well and good but I thought that finding a girl friend would be easier than it has become. I went to the local hot spot, danced like a fool and looked the part.(not knowing this) I was smoking lots of pot and telling people so. I thought it would have been accepted but not so. I started going to a music club in Sarasota that played every night a variety of styles. Even there, pot was not a draw. I tried the date club scene. Most of them were divorced or widowed with tons of money(more than me monthly) and talked about their past experiences with this dating service. I was quickly turned off and regretting spending the time and money on such foolishness.

The first year gets a mixed review. I did get involved more in photos and art. Started a strange and sexual relationship with the married women downstairs. She came on to me my showing her crotch and breasts. Never got to have a full sexual relationship with her. Her husband always showed up just at the moment. I was best that it did not go real far as I found out much later that I was being played. She stole money and other items while in my place. I was stupid enough to trust her while I went to the local store. Trust has always burned me. No trust anymore.

The music club was ok but had it's on "click" that was closed to skilled dancers. There were the old, grey haired guys sitting at the bar, gawking at the tight asses and jiggling breasts. The drama queens giving off an air of isolation desired with a sour face and smoked filled space. I started taking photos of the different people who would come on Monday nights to a Jam session. There were lots of really good ones. I worked hard to perfect them and presented them to the people in charge of the jam session, thinking I'd get a response. Don't know what happened except nothing. I often sit back and wonder why I do not get folks to be at ease with me. My face. My stance. Do I smell? To old? No answers given. It got tired so I stopped going.

I stayed in Nokomis for 18 Months and moved to a trailer park. What a mistake! It was the way to live here many years ago and the place I rented showed it. I only lasted 3 months and returned to condo living. I was able to get a fine place off a golf course. Golf? Oh, ya, I took it up. A great guy who bought a condo in Nokomis showed me how to play. He was a good but tasking teached. We had a falling out, and sadly have not spoken since. I joined a par 3 club and play 3-4 times a week which allows one to get just a little better than playing once a week.