Spending Christmas on a beach has been Nina’s long-held wish that came to fruition today. Further, we’re on Sanibel Island, the epitome of seashells!

We’re definitely not alone in being on the beach. As somewhat evidenced by the photo, there are a couple-hundred people here as well. Some, like me, are sitting in chaIrs enjoying the breeze and the partly sunny skies. Most, however, are lined up along the water’s edge looking for the perfect (or at least passible) shell. As the tide receedes, more and more shells are exposed. Because of how the island is situated in the Gulf of Mexico and the very shallow waters extended a couple of miles out into the gulf from the shoreline, it is a mecca for seashells. Nina has collected a shoebox full of shells in the past week. This is our third trip to the Sanibel beaches specifically for seashells (the fourth trip overall) and each trip has yielded a lot of shells and each day the types of shells has been different than the previous day.

We’ll be on this beach for another half hour before going back to the motor home for lunch, seashell sorting, and recuperating. Then we’re headed to the beach at Fort Myers Island. That’s more of a beach-bum beach, not so much for sea shells, but for just hanging around on a beach. I plan to take my ham radio equipment with me and see if I can make a few Christmas Day contaacts. The water is too cold for swimming or even doing more than getting the ankles wet, but hey, we’re on the beach! I’ll probably post something from there later today.

We have found that we really like the lifestyle here in southwest Florida. The RV Park has great facilities. The price is excellent. The beaches are close, lots of great shopping, and very nice weather. It doesn’t have the sameness-everywhere feel of Arizona, and definitely doesn’t have the summer heat! It’s made the short-list of places to live when we get back from our mission.

Merry Christmas! Life is good!