Story 104: Living La Vida Boca Part 2

      Even though I am back in New York after a week down south, my skin is still tan and I remember fondly the blue skies of Florida which contrast sharply with the tristate area's 35 degree days and overcast sky.

    With my tan, I also gained close to five pounds in five days. A new record.  So now, I am really ready to detox.  At least in theory. So far I am doing pretty well, and getting close to my starting weight. It was worth it though.  My brother and I had some great meals.  There was Cuban food at Versailles in Miami, and Japanese at the Morikami Gardens near Boca Raton.  A truly beautiful place for lunch.  And let's not forget a bountiful Japanese buffet at Shinjo and at Sweet tomato.  I rationalized that the food was healthy, but part of me felt I probably overdid it.  Even if we did do a lot of walking in the Everglades.  Although everyone I spoke to at home said, "Well, you were on vacation." and I have to agree with that too, and that we really enjoyed ourselves. Isn't that what vacations are all about?

      In keeping with this idea, they did a study in Finland and found that people who enjoy their weekends tend to live longer,  and those who go on a few vacations each year have increased life span as well.  Food for thought.  Speaking of food, if you have ever been in the Boca Raton area have you noticed that the seniors eat really early. By early I mean dinner at four of five pm. In fact, I heard someone joke that the official bird of Florida is the "early bird."    It makes sense though, because people probably have less heartburn from eating earlier in the day, and tend to go to bed sooner as well. Benjamin Franklin would certainly approve.

    My brother Bruce and I also had the opportunity to check out some terrific gardens.  I loved the lakes made of rocks and bonsai trees at Morikami Gardens, flamingos at the Flamingo Preserve, and the Everglades had some amazing wildlife as well.   

    We had a a great experience when went on a airboat tour with some of the indigenous people who lived in the Everglades.  I was amazed when our guide fed a few alligators some bread. They must be good friends

     What shocked me even more though was when Bruce and I were walking around the Everglades National Park we witnessed some alligators sunning themselves right next to the walking path.  We were very fortunate to get on a guided tour by a ranger. He gave us excellent information about the state of the Everglades, and how burmese python's are destroying the ecosystem.  Earlier we had learned from our other guide how pollution had driven the indigenous people from their floating islands within the Everglades, and that many of them now live next to the road.

     I was also shocked when I witnessed an Asian man and his friend standing directly in front of a crocodile saying, "Is this real?"   

      I wanted to respond, "Get any closer and you're going to find out and become chopped suey."  He even turned his back on the gator (Something I would never do).  Fortunately alligators are usually not as aggressive as crocodiles.

     Sometimes I also wonder if becoming a senior is contagious.  Even though I am in my forties I hate it when cashiers ask if I want to use my "senior discount."  "Fuck you!" I want to say.  "Do I really look that old?   I don't even qualify for AARP yet."  I would rather not get 10% off and be considered younger. Another reason to take care of ourselves better and do more exercise.

  Those gated communities baffle me too. They have building captains, clubhouses, and nosy neighbors that remind me of the KGB.  My mother's neighbor said to her intrusively, "Did your sons leave?" or if they see an unfamiliar car in a space they may call security.  Where is the trust?  On the plus side, the developments are generally very safe, inexpensive, and in many ways like a small city that probably contributes to the seniors living longer.  Although I can't tell you how many times I heard fire truck alarms probably because someone fell or had other issue. I guess it comes with the territory.

   Even with all the faults of senior living ultimately my brother and I said our goodbyes reluctantly.  I was in no rush to get back to work and New York. Even though it wasn't a true vacation, it was enough to be with family, to experience a different part of the world, to help my mother with various things, and see "How the other half lives."  Also, the good news for the men is that if you live long enough "There are a lot of honeys."

   Life Lesson 104: Life is a continuum.  We all have the opportunity to make the most of it, and in each stage of life there are challenges and triumphs. David Bowie once asked, "Is there life on Mars?" I don't know, but in Boca Raton, life moves on, even if happens like the seniors, quite slowly.