Life in Florida

We continue to settle into our new lifestyle in Dunedin, Florida.    We have been to a new eye doctor. With new glasses, I can see much better than before.   Ron has a new doctor to check his hearing aids and adjust them.   We have been attending the Central Church of Christ but may visit another congregation on Sunday.    We now know the back way to drive to Sam's Club where we have our prescriptions and where we can purchase the most reasonably priced gas.   Walmart has neighborhood markets in two directions very close to the condo.   Save-A-Lot is right across the street, within walking distance.   We have Publix and Winn-Dixie nearby.  We opened an account at the bank about a mile from us for our local banking needs.   I have to get rolls of quarters for the laundry since we don't have connections for washer and dryer in the condo.   The laundry room is four doors down so it's not a big problem.

As we work from home, locating to Florida has not been a problem except I have gotten behind in my work.  So many things have required my time away from the computer.   Although we don't really have enough working space, we are managing to get our work done in our little niches of office areas.   The sunroom, which I have turned into an office, is small and Ron found it more convenient to work in the master bedroom.  

Ron's office chair is at the end of my mother's 100-year-old cedar chest so it serves as a place for working papers.  

There is a 2nd closet in the room, and he has his office things right behind his chair.  

 

I weeded the bed at the back of the condo and added some succulent plants so it looks much better.  Leigh Ann gave me a few more aloe plants and a dear friend in TX sent me some money to buy some succulent plants.  It really touched my heart.   

We are allowed to add a 10' patio at our back door using some type of tile blocks but it is not a priority as we have little time to sit outside.    You can see part of the next-door neighbor's patio in the picture below.  

Leigh Ann has been coming over on Sunday nights to go to church with us and have a light dinner afterwards.   She is so good to help with whatever we need done and provide us with information about places to go around here.

Ronald and Gigi have arrived in Woodstock to begin getting their house (where we lived for three years) ready to sell.   We have not kept up with the repairs that need to be done.   They have some appointments to give reports to congregations about their work in the Philippines.   Next week, they will make a quick 3-day trip down to Florida so we can all have some family time together.   Leigh Ann is encouraging them to buy a condo down here after their house sells, but I don't know what plans they have for a future residence in the U.S.

Ellen Mao, our co-owner in this condo will visit from San Jose, CA for a few days the first week of November (4-8).  She will stay with Leigh Ann but she will visit us and see the condo for the first time.  Only Leigh Ann saw it before we purchased it.   We only saw a video before the closing.

Ron has appointments at the Mayo Clinic on Nov. 8th so we will travel back to Jacksonville on the 7th.  He has a consultation visit with the doctor in regard to his previous testing and will see an ENT about his continual allergy problems.

Two very close women friends from Greenville, TX will arrive on November 16th.   We have reserved a hotel for them on Clearwater Beach.   They will stay through worship services on Sunday (11/19) and then drive back home.   A group from the Creekside Church of Christ in Greenville, TX support 24 of our girls.  They are an important part of our work but, more importantly, they are wonderful friends who we have known for many years.    We are so excited that they are coming, and we can show them around our unique cities of Dunedin and Clearwater and spend some quality time with them.  

We have cooler weather this week.   Night lows have been from 58-64 degrees but the day warms up to the 70's or low 80's.   The condo has no direct sunlight since we face North and with a condo on each side of us, the inside temperature does not change drastically.    It has been a very pleasant weather change from the 90's a month ago.   We have not had a chance to go out to walk around but the weather is perfect.  I need to find a "walking buddy" and go walking every morning.    

Our next door neighbors are moving next week and returning to New York to be near their children and grandchildren.   A lady, they estimate to be in her 70's, from Venice, FL has bought their condo.   I hope I can make friends with her and if she is able, we can get out and walk each morning.   Maybe if I reach out to her, we can be friends.

This week, we had a couple from church over for dinner. 

 

They seemed to enjoy my cooking and after dinner, we played three games of dominoes.    It was a delightful evening with Mark and Irene. 

Wishing all of our sponsors, supporters, friends and family a happy fall season.   The time will soon change, and holidays are quickly approaching.    We are thankful for everything and everyone!   

My friend from Greenville, Texas wrote this morning asking if we need anything.   We are blessed, indeed, when we can't think of anything we need.  

My heart goes out to people in the middle East who are suffering with the lack of necessities because of the senseless wars going on.  I cannot complain when I have everything, and they lack the simple things of life and face fear every day.   

God bless you all.