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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Those Dangerous Coconut Palms, Oh My!


Today's poll from The Citizen, Key West's long-standing daily newspaper prompts:

Key West plans to replace coconut palms along North Roosevelt due to liability. What replacement would you recommend?

Chop and I have been seriously discussing our vehicle options, as we've decided that we likely won't keep both cars once we settle into our new Key West digs. As long as we maintain one truck for our 4-wheel-drive-towing-and-toting-capacity mama of a machine, we feel we can efficiently downsize to a scooter or motorcycle as our second vehicle. Fair trade. I do indeed feel a slight twinge of guilt at the idea of taking up so much space on a tiny island. However, with this latest concern along North Roosevelt, we may have to seriously reconsider our scooter option. Who knew one could get so terribly mangled in a rubber tree? I mean, really. Just sayin' ...

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Where the Sun Rises Just For You

Ok, I finally found the exact words to describe why we're doing what we're doing. So I say, "ditto ... what he said!"

Key West: Where The Sun Rises Just For You
By Clay Greager


Every time I tell someone that I moved here over 25 years ago with my wife and four children, I expect to be asked, "What's it like to raise children in Key West?" This is how I answer: I think Key West is one of the finest places anywhere to raise children. I spent twenty years in the U.S. Army before moving here, so I have some experience in what other locations have to offer families. None of them come close to Key West.

When we moved here in 1979 we had a daughter in 8th grade, twins in 10th grade and a son in 11th grade. Three of them are still here in Key West, own their own homes and have successful careers. They are happily married and have given us wonderful grandchildren. Not only have they done well but their spouses have also. Our fourth child lives in St. Petersburg, Fla., but owns property in Key West and plans on returning someday.

When I mention to people that this is one of the best environments in the world to raise children I usually get a confused look that puzzles me; "If you find Key West so irresistible and visit so often, why don't you think it's a fitting place for your own children?"

A typical comment I hear is, "But look outside at all those people. It just doesn't seem like a good place for my children." I have to laugh at that. There's a lot more to Key West than the 200 block of Duval Street.

I like to point out that we have plenty of shops in Key West but no shopping malls. Our children were raised without the "mall mentality." They were never dropped off at the mall to be picked up at a certain time. In Key West, parents maintain a very close family unit.

To our children, going out to the Content Keys or Snipe Keys to play volleyball in the shallows could be described as "their mall" but then we were out there also.

If we weren't with them, our children knew subconsciously that there were always adults around who knew them or us, which probably helped keep them in check. It might sound like they weren't free but really it was just the opposite. Sometimes I liken Key West to a very large playground.

At the same time, Key Westers are energetic and motivated. Failure in Key West means you can't live here; consequently there is a constant purging that takes place. In order to maintain a family, you have to work hard, use your imagination, and make the right decisions. I tell parents to envision what it would be like to raise children in such a community.

Key West children all seem to remain independent and seek their own futures. They literally grow up surrounded by people who are in pursuit of individual dreams, and it rubs off. I have never seen what I call "the herd instinct" develop here.

Then there is the exposure to the world through the many visitors who come to Key West each year. Most of these people are successful, well-traveled and open-minded. There is a natural tendency among our children to emulate them.

Key West is an island, but I also believe it's an "oasis of knowledge and worldly riches." And if there's any slogan that fits Key West, it's "Welcome to Home Town, USA"

Well said, Mr. Greager! Thank you!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Googling Key West

Google is my friend. With a few, swift strokes on the keyboard, I can find almost anything on Google. Need to know all about Smilin' Bob's famous fish dip?  Easy. How about the 2010 football schedule for Key West Conchs High School? No problemo. An exercise arena for Fido? Here it is! How about a Publix grocery on the island - voila! Need to know how to move a family to Key West ... uh ... huh?

Hmmmm .... Google falls flat on this one. Completely and utterly flat.

Type in something as straightforward as "moving to Key West", and here's some of what you'll find:

"Living in Key West is not easy. It is not easy finding gainful employment. If you are coming looking for a life partner, most of the single people are either alcoholic or on drugs. "

"watch out sweety duval street is full of drunks, homosexuals, pan handlers, pick pockets, over priced drinks, sweaty t-shirt shops, crappy food, and ME! Then ya have to watch out for all dose kreepy tourists! If I see ya we will share a beer!"

"The ones that want a normal life wont want 6ft men running around in heels and dresses"

Seriously?? I've seen as much in Orlando!

In balance, I've found some particularly helpful (as in a "hmmm, that's something to think about kind of way") and interesting information:

"Just a suggestion, before you jump into buying a house, have you thought about renting a place for a year to make sure you really like living here and what area you might like best. When I first moved here, I thought I had to be right in the thick of it. Now after 4 years, I like being a little away from things ... I can be anywhere in Old Town in 5 minutes on my bike ... I do know that I do not want to live in New Town. I need to be able to walk or bike when I am out on the town. Good luck. It's a great place to be. We have a great little community." KeyWestSusie-Q

"I won't bore anyone with my personal story but the shiny veneer of Key West does wear after you've been here a while, when you finally see the sub-strata and the inner workings of island living. Not that it's a bad thing, it's work and a pretty significant trade-off, working 1-2 jobs in order to live here and have an ocean as your back yard. It's obviously worth it to thousands of people, but it's a pipe dream to think you can get a simple job and sway in a hammock between two palms with a coconut drink during the weekend." Keywestaxi

"I moved here 19 years ago specifically for the caribbean type atmosphere combined with low crime rate and fabulous weather. All these same things, plus the people have kept us both here for the past 20 years. At the time we were both younger and didn't really think about it, just did it. I think that is the only way you will make the move. It will never make sense on paper, you just have to go for it. It is still paradise, something for everyone. Between the two of us we have a very diverse group of friends and acquaintances. 'One human family' does work here." Keyslass

Any my favorite, from one half of an inspiring couple I met on my recent trip (posted three years ago and still thriving in his own right):

"I've just passed my 2nd annerversary here. My wife and I gave it all up... the house, the property, the two cars, the furniture etc to make the move and try to start a business. Due to some awful circumstances way beyond our control, the business failed. We'd given up everything and put it into the venture. We lost it all. The story doesn't end there... We're now on 'Plan B'. We've essentially made it here. It can be done but ... it's not easy. The ONLY way we've made it is the same way EVEYRONE makes it here... With friends. Nothing important gets done here without them and the people here are absolutely awesome. In the midst of Hurricane Wilma, people who had lost everything they ever owned, found the time to not only wlecome us, but to embrace us. If I had a dollar for every time I heard, "Do you need anything?" (And this from people who were tyring desparetly to reassemble thier own lives)." Seabus.

The stories are out there, for the good or the bad. I love reading them all. Yet, I'm still left wondering, "what about families? What about kids? What about raising children in Key West?"

So, here we go, another new project in the works! After months of scribbling page after page of names, numbers, websites, and links on several notepads of paper, I've realized that this blog is the blog I've been seeking. If I can put all of my research into one easy-to-find location, then perhaps I can helps others like Chop and me. Other families who want to move to Key West. Other families who are possibly as neurotic and anal about planning something so seemingly enigmatic. In a sense, I realized I've been building our own go-to resource kit to paradise all along. If this in any way can help you as well, then I welcome you to join our ride. Hopefully soon, we'll see you in Key West!