Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Postcard from Paradise . . .

Greetings from Paradise!
Sunrise over Ocean Pond 
Being a free spirited, living free, wandering traveler can be tough work. After all, awakening to duck calls and other birds in time to watch the sunrise over a beautiful natural lake is rough duty.

So, here I am, located in the Ocean Pond campground in Osceola National Forest in north central Florida. As you can tell from the location of My McVansion, it's a low population density neighborhood. 



In the morning there may be a little fog on the lake like delicate lace.

My McVansion with the morning fog over Ocean Pond

The View from my Office/Studio
As you can see from the view from my office/studio French doors, it's a very laid back, relaxing work environment. Later in the day, it's clear with a brilliant sun and blue skies filled with puffy white clouds, moderate temperatures and gentle breezes. The tall trees surrounding My McVansion provide shade from the heat of the afternoon sun.

My quacking friends and an assortment of their chirping friends and some frogs and squirrels are my neighbors. There's an occasional lizard or two and the infrequent alligator and bear, though they generally avoid us human kind (unless we leave some food outside).

My closest neighbors - sometimes a little rowdy

. . . and then there's the sunset over Ocean Pond . . . 
And then comes the majestic beauty of a sky painted by a being with an unlimited palette of color and an artistic genius no mere mortal could approach as the sun sets on the other end of Ocean Pond and resolves into a blackness lit up by a billion, billion stars throughout the universe.



So, this, my friends, is my lifestyle . . . this week. I have no idea what beauty will be revealed next week or what new, interesting and unique people will cross my path. As I said at the beginning of this postcard, this is tough work, but someone has to do it and yours truly is up for the task. I hope your life is as fantastic and blessed as mine is.

Enthusiastically,
Ed 

18 comments:

John Abert said...

Beautiful post, Ed. Keep up the good work...uh...I mean, "retirement".

Ed Helvey said...

Thanks, John -- I don't recognize the word retirement - I still work if one wants to call it work ;-) But, I'm waiting to meet up with you guys out here. I'm meeting some fantastic people that you're gonna love to meet.

Cheers,
Ed

Dragonfly said...

Lovely encouraging post. In frigid Ohio myself for the time being. I don't think our winter will ever end.

Ed Helvey said...

I've met quite a few vandwellers and RVers down here, especially at Osceola Nat'l Forest, from OH. They all said the same thing. They don't plan to go back anytime soon. Keep warm and next year, if you can, come join the snowbirds in FL or the southwest.

Cheers,
Ed

czar said...

Beautiful post, Ed.

Ed Helvey said...

Thanks, Charles! Glad you enjoyed it.

Debra Creighton said...

Beautiful photos! You are making me so home sick for my Real Florida! Won't be long before I'm back home in Florida, making it my home base for full time RVing! There are so many gorgeous places to camp in Florida. I've camped for free in the Ocala National Forest. http://freecampsites.net/#!7950&query=sitedetails Enjoy!

Unknown said...

Beauty all around. Thanks for sharing.

Ed Helvey said...

Hi, Debra,

Thanks for your note. And thanks for the link. I've already added it to my bookmarked sites and registered on the site. I've been meeting a lot of terrific people down here who share your sentiments about your state. From what I can tell, everyone seems to be keeping it in good condition for your return.

Cheers,
Ed

Ed Helvey said...

Hi John,

Good to hear from you and, you're right. So much beauty to experience and so little time to see it all. I trust you and Pat are doing well.

Cheerio,
Ed

vicki said...

Nice Post Ed. I think of you often and fondly. Stay well, happy, and free!
vicki

Art Murray said...

very nice! Why don't we come up with a new term to cpmpletely replace the "R" word - how about "Un-tirement?"

"Undoing" the whole notion of retirement...


Fireman428 said...

Ocean Pond, now there's some memories...
Ed, thanks for posting the pics. I can not even remember the last time I was there.
I'm gonna be trying to hook up with some of the tribe down in Tenn. at Lost Creek around the end of this month. Any chance you might be that for north?

Unknown said...

Thanks for this Ed. Hope to be doing a lot more of this type of stuff soon

Ed Helvey said...

Hi Vicki, Great to hear from you. And thanks for you nice words. Staying well, happy and free is what my life is all about these days - and hopefully, helping some others to enjoy the same.

Take care and perhaps we'll cross paths again one day when we happen to be in the same area.

Cheers,
Ed

Ed Helvey said...

Thsnks, Art -- I don't know about a new term, I simply eliminated the word from my vocabulary. Retirement gives me a connotation of the end - like retiring for the night is ending the day. I sort of still like commencement - another term for graduation. To commence is to begin. Why not reach a period of commencement from one life, career, whatever, to begin a new one. That one works for me.

Cheers,
Ed

Ed Helvey said...

You are welcome. I'm glad they brought back fond memories. It definitely is a pretty idyllic place, even though it's a formal campground.

I'm still not sure I'll make it to the Lost Creek gathering at the end of the month - actually, I spent some time with Leonard Steward last night and this morning. I spent some time with David Hair and will see him again in the morning. And if all goes well, I'll be catching up with Cuzzin Dick Tracy tomorrow some time. If I make it to Lost Creek, I'll have a story to tell about this weekend.

Cheers,
Ed

Ed Helvey said...

I hear you, Kenny. Come on out and play with the rest of us "adult kids." We're waiting for you.

Enthusiastically,
Ed