Why are ocean sunrises so beautiful, even when you’re not right next to the ocean? It’s gotta be something about how the water forms clouds in the morning, I suppose. In other words, I think science could answer that question for me, but I’m not actually going to research it; I’m just going to appreciate my picture of a beautiful sunrise with a hidden ocean behind it.
I’m currently in Pensacola, Florida — well, or close to it — enjoying a… hmm, not sure I can really call it a total vacation. I’ve got my computer with me and am hoping to get some writing done, and Christina has her computer with her and is working at her real job on all the days that her job expects her to be working. But we’re staying in her sister’s house, walking distance to salt water, pet-sitting her sister’s beautiful old dog, for a week or so. (A week or so? Don’t you know how long you’re going to be away? Nope, not exactly. Christina’s sister’s vote would be that Christina stays here forever, so it depends on how persuasive she manages to be.)
So far we haven’t done much. We had a long drive here on Wednesday, followed by a very quiet Thursday. I spent my entire Thursday, with the exception of two dog walks, appreciating a cool breeze, the sound of birds, sunshine and perfect weather, on the very comfortable back patio.
Probably not in the near future, but someday, I should upgrade my outside furniture, because tables that can hold computers and beverages, as well as cushions on the chairs/couch, really do make outside time more pleasant. I spend a fair amount of time outside every day because Miss Sunshine is such a busy girl, but it’s usually in 20-30 minute blocks, and then I go inside, because there is something not comfortable about where we are — too much sun, too many mosquitoes, the sand fleas chewing my ankles, (the awful neighbor yelling…) Yesterday I went inside every now and then for food or beverages, but otherwise, I just appreciated outside. I didn’t do enough writing — it was mostly reading — but it was a beautiful day.

The dogs when we started driving.

An hour later…
We’ve got plans, though, for busier days. Pensacola, perhaps unsurprisingly, has more dog friendly restaurants than I have ever seen before in Bring Fido. The list went on forever! So later today we’ll be going to Christina’s favorite sushi place here which has a back patio that welcomes dogs. Tomorrow, the farmer’s market. Maybe one day next week, a quick road trip to Dauphin Island, Alabama. It was one of my favorite places during my van life adventure, the first time I had the experience where I felt like I was living in a video game because the birds were so noisy. I promised myself I’d go back someday, and it’s only a couple hours away from here, so maybe this week is the someday.
Maybe not, too, though, because I really want to spend some time exploring Pensacola. Christina is planning on moving here next year, to be closer to her family, and Sanford will not be the same without her. I like Sanford far more than I expected to, but I ended up there pretty much inadvertently. It wasn’t a place I chose; it was a place that I landed. And while that has been so much better than I ever expected, if I was choosing a place… well, I’m not sure Sanford would be it. But I do like living near the ocean, and Pensacola is very near the ocean. So maybe…
But those are all thoughts for a later day. For right now, I think I’m going to find myself another cup of coffee, or maybe just a sparkling water, and get back to working on Akira’s honeymoon story. When I stumbled across it six weeks ago, I thought I could finish it pretty easily and that finishing it was worth doing, because the first part was so fun. I still think finishing it is worth doing, but the “pretty easily” has not panned out. I’m just too much of an over thinker. All that said, playing with words is always a lovely way to spend a day.