Someday I Will

To Jimmy for giving me the musical inspirational “push” back in the early 90’s …….

For Danny & Nancy who recently made the leap, we hope to do the same soon……

Don't need to know who
May help you make it come true
Just say someday I will

I vaguely remember my first summer road trips, crammed into a small sweaty car with hot plastic seats along with my parents, younger siblings, beach toys, towels and clothes.  We would cross this large suspension bridge from Philadelphia into New Jersey.  Our lengthy trip would continue on some big highway full of cars like ours, passing numerous farm stands, peach orchards and fields of corn.  For this city kid, these images whizzed by my backseat side window providing me with a glimpse of some foreign land.  My parents would encourage us to the play the License Plate or Billboard Sign (“Alphabet”) game in an attempt to silence our oblivious excitement.  Eventually the hum of the car’s engine would quiet our excited behavior until we fell asleep in the back seat, only to be woken up when we crossed the Grassy Sound rickety bridge into North Wildwood.

This past week, Marie and I, Lauren and her college roommate, Stefanie, all took a road trip to Florida to enjoy our annual summer vacation.  Exactly 168 hours to forget about life back home, hoping for some sunny weather and if we got lucky, some memorable vacation experiences.  One week out of 52 doesn’t seem like enough time, but maybe we could cheat time and live out the fantasy before anyone found us out?

Admittedly, it took us Type-A “Northerners” a few days to unwind and learn the rhythm of the Gulf Coast.  This time next year, the girls will be college graduates starting careers and jobs, adult lives filled with adult responsibilities.  It seemed like a perfect time to take an old fashioned road trip.  While I was initially hoping for some downtime from the Rat Race and some cool photographs, it was the personal discoveries by the ocean that left a deeper and more permanent mark on my soul.      

Although I am barely able to make it to work on time these days, disengaged and disinterested, I was up at 5:30am every single day to watch the sun rise from the bottom of the sea from halfway across the world.  One morning, it was just me and a fellow photographer, Keith, being treated to grackles and pelicans feasting on some surf breakfast within 15 feet from where we were standing in the shadow of Sanibel Lighthouse near Lighthouse Pier.  After the nature show, we briefly talked “shop” and about how our travels lead us to be here this morning witnessing our very own National Geographic moment.  We exchanged business cards, said our goodbyes and walked in opposite directions down the deserted beach, never to meet again.

One evening we decided to check out Sanibel’s sister island, Captiva.  After a fun round of drinks and appetizers at the Bubble Room we strolled over to the Mucky Duck restaurant.   A large rainbow arc formed over the beach bar, the result of an earlier (typical) Florida afternoon sun shower.   We along with 50 or so “friends”, raised our drinks almost in unison toasting the pink and red sun setting over the Gulf.   The scene reminded me of Mallory Square in Key West when tourists and locals stop whatever they are doing and watch the daily sunset.  We all applauded the moment and then went back to our respective lives.

Midweek, we traveled south to Marco Island.  Lauren was only 7 years old during our first trip here, she’s now 21.  Nearly a decade and half has flown by.  She and I toasted our return to the island with some tequila at the water’s edge.  I told her “Look out at this ocean……this is what we bust our asses for, not many people get this view.”   “This is why you are working two summer jobs and juggled seven courses this past semester at college.”  “This is why I got home at 11pm most nights this past winter after working a full day, along with scheduled after-hour meetings with tax clients.”  “Work hard and play hard and you’ll have no regrets, honey…..”

Later in the week, we all tried paddle boarding (SUP) for the first time.  Jason was a local twenty-something good looking frat boy type and our immediate connection to this new sport.  He lugged our boards and paddles to the beach, and with a few brief instructions we were in the ocean.   What a blast to be walking (on our boards) on the ocean!  We lazily paddled around, occasionally letting the 2 foot ocean waves give us an easy ride to the shoreline.  When he returned to pick-up the gear we struck up a brief conversation.  He informed that he’s lived here on the island his whole life and he knows how good he has it.  I can’t be 20 years old again, but I can have his enthusiasm for SUP and life, it’s all up to me.  I thanked him for the paddle board experience, promising him our family would continue this sport once we got back to the Jersey Shore.  

Marie and I visited our friends Lin and John on Treasure Island.  These are two of the most positive and inspirational people I’ve ever met.  Both are roughly my age, currently battling some health issues, although you would never know it.  We enjoyed a lovely day on their boat with a front row seat, watching the dolphins, manatees and pelicans play in their natural habitat.  Thank you both for your hospitality and welcoming us northerners to your sleepy FLA beach town.  We hope to visit again in 2015 for Lin’s very special birthday!

On our last day, Marie and I went kayaking on Tarpon Bay.  Steve helped us with our kayaks and told us about some scenic trails we may want to consider paddling to.  He appeared to be approaching 60 years old, a cagey old salt, dressed in a white Kalgoorlie long sleeve shirt and green safari hat.   He quickly pointed towards the 4 foot alligator near the dock.  It was 8am, just a normal work day for him, but he couldn’t have been more upbeat and informative.  He gets to do this every day.  He gets to help create vacation memories for tourists.  We witnessed alligators and flying fish during our two hour expedition.  Man, I would love to have his job! 

I think I finally figured out what vacations are about. Vacations are about the experience. Living your life for one week or 168 hours, it's not really that much time, but living like you may never travel these roads again. It’s about enjoying dinner with your family at the end of the evening.  Sitting at the table, taking photos, laughing and recalling specific events from the last 12 hours.  Then everybody raises their glasses toasting each other and The Day. In that flash you create a memory to last a lifetime. And if you bring home a t-shirt and a small keepsake, that is a bonus.

Why do we humans constantly fight our own human intuition?  I am convinced that a life at the beach is my destiny.  I’m not exactly sure when it will happen or what I will be doing there, but I can no longer ignore the call of the sun and surf.  I certainly do not picture a Hemingway type of existence, but perhaps life as an apprentice deck hand, tour guide photographer or small business owner living a simpler and happier life near the ocean greatly interests me. 

These are my immediate thoughts as I swirl the rum around in my glass, gazing out at the green and blue ocean waters slowly crashing on the white sandy beaches covered in sea shells.  This week my life has slowed to a crawl.  The hot sun feels good providing me with some much needed energy for my beaten down soul.  I’m watching four white ibis birds walk by my beach chair occasionally digging their bright red beaks into the surf looking for dinner.  I look up at the white billowy clouds being pushed westward by the warm summer breezes.  It is late in the afternoon and the sun is starting to make its daily decent towards the ocean causing the sky to turn pink and purple over the Gulf of Florida.

After living my first one half of a century on the mainland, this is where I want to drop my anchor.

Alas, my week in the sun has come to close.  The time has come for me to head back to New Jersey, crunch the numbers and formulate my Plan B.  It’s time to give away my earthly possessions, expect my bike, surfboard, camera and iPod, and head to the ocean.   Okay, maybe I’ll keep my skis, just in case I ever want to escape to the slopes, taking a break from my future tropical existence

It will happen…….

Whether it's big or small
If you have a passion at all
Just say, someday I will
Someday……..

Sanibel Island

Near the Gulf of Mexico

June 2013