Well It's official.............

[Pepe]

Hello in Finland.

?SNOW SUX!!!!??  No....

How could Santa Claus and reindeers come in christmas whitout snow? ???

It

[Ken_Potts]

  Pepe,

  You've sold me.  I'm headed back to Montana for a visit as soon as possible to enjoy the bright cold nights - I love to ski.  In the meantime I'll keep sailing here as long as possible.  Even without snow we still have actual sunlight to see by in the winter 

[PAR]

You can ski on the water (preferably very warm) also on wet grass and sand too. All of these skiing activities can be done in shorts and a tank top.

Santa spends 11 months out of the year in a small town here in central Florida named after him and his holiday of special interest. He only suffers with the north pole in December, to load his ride full of toys. I saw him on a Caribbean cruise several years ago in July, which is a good indication of his preferences. He could have taken an Alaskan cruise, but noooo.

My mommy doesn't let me out after sun set, so I can't attest to how dark it gets, but I suspect there's enough light to make your way around.

[BuildDre]

Someone tried to break into my 8x10 metal storage shed in the backyard. They were able to pop the bottom of the door in but the door was stopped by a cooler that I placed on the floor while looking for a tool in the shed  the day before. Whoever it was could not pull the Jonsered saw out through the opening. Whoever it was must have seen the content while it was open.

I reinforced the bottom of both the doors with steel brackets in the floor. I will be doing the same to the top after I cut and snap in 1/2 plywood into the metal doors and then add screws to hold it insde the door.

Those of you who have one of these metal sheds from Wallyworld or Home Depot may want to modify your shed for extra security. The doors are very easy to bend and pop inwards. The plastic slides jump up and out with ease. I was able to pop the second door out with little effort and very quitely. This is interesting since no one would hear the shed being broken into.

The plastic handles which also holds the lock will break this time of year and can be cut with only using a pair of diagonal pliers. I installed a steel locking hasp on the doors.

The new 10x12 wood shed will be reinforced just in case. I'll be adding 3/4 plywood to the doors along with larger locking pins for the double doors. Next will be a very loud alarm system on its own power system. I have a solar power charging system for the twelve volt battery backup in the shed. Both sheds will be powered on the same system.

All I can do is stay ahead of the theives. I already lost tools, fishing gear, cameras, and checkbook that was taken from my truck while in the yard. I the teives are desperate enough you wont have a chance to keep them out. Home invasion is becoming very popular around here.

[PAR]

I have 5 dogs, 4 are big, two are particularly nasty to strangers. If they can manage to get past them, without stirring me up or getting bit, then they can have what they find.

Because of the dogs (and other animals), we can't take vacations. Boarding all the critters is costly and few are willing to get past Junior, who looks mean when he's just sleeping (misaligned lower jaw that cause his big teeth to hang over his upper lip). When we're not home, the gate is closed and the dogs have free run of the property.

The electric meter reader doesn't get out of his truck, he uses binoculars. He's new, but the note on his work order, says "vicious dogs" at my address. Does my heart good to think my pets scare the crap out of thieves.

[Steve Day]

Smoolie,

Don't sell LA short (that's Lower Alabama). The cost of living is significantly less that that in the Orlando area. There is plenty of work around here, if you are interested in the shipbuilding or steel industries, or their support industry.

Super great sailing on Mobile Bay and over toward Pensacola, too.

Steve

[Craig]

You may want to check out the Pan Handle from Pensacola to Panama City.  Less expensive, crowded, and a shorter distance to haul the crackheads to the swamp.  You would be closer to the BEER cruise and all the Texas stuff is within driving distance.  It gets cool but not cold.  Once my contract is up out here I am going HOME!!  It's too damn cold for me even in Phoenix   8)

Note that I didn't even mention the S word!!!  I was was born on the east shore of Lake Michigan and I don't do the S word. 

[jaxsailr]

I'm in Jacksonville, a little colder then central FL.  But it's where my job is.  And sailing on the St. John River is pretty good.

If you like to sail I reccomend meeting up with the West Coast trailer Sailors events.  i should be in Mt. Dora this spring to do the anual race.

Niels

[PAR]

Screw the ice and snow part, but we do need some rain (okay lots of it). It was 77 today and very nice.

It's difficult to live up to the expectations of friends and family when they come, hoping to visit Disney and the other attractions, but it's a burden you have to bear. It's not so bad really, unless you have bad feet or dislike crowds.

Have you figured out how to transport your ship and it's related blunderbusses and the like?

I'm only 2 miles form Mt. Dora, do you have a date for the west coast trailer sailers event?