So here I am in Panama Beach, Florida, in the Marriott Bay Point Resort Village. The picture above is the view from my balcony. It is lovely.
Strangely, I haven’t touched water since I got here, and I’ve been in hermetically sealed rooms except for a quick walk between buildings. My experience has been that Florida is all overly-refrigerated. When I got to my speaking room, the thermostats were set for 66 degrees. It is, for the record, 68 degrees outside.
To add insult to injury, I saw a great odonate fly by (a Gomphid from the looks of it) and I was in the middle of moderating an outside discussion group (30-35 people). Could not even stop to wonder. I just looked up wistfully and continued soldiering on.
The other weird thing is that I am staying, due to a strange set of circumstances, in the Ambassador Suite. Yes, this is my room. It is weird. I was tempted to sleep on the couch cushions on the balcony but it was a bit too chilly for that since the blankets they give you in Florida are not what I would call insulative, really.
Upside: Really, really nice people. The staff in the hospitality industry get it here…they are actually, mirabile dictu, hospitiable. The maid service is fantastic, and they don’t even know they’re getting a tip yet.
Downside: I lost my voice right after I finished all my presentations and classes. I am doing my board member duties by sign language.
Respectfully submitted,
Canoelover
Florida? But that’s America’s wang”
-Homer J Simpson
Nice digs. How come I don’t see your sleeping bag anywhere??