Snow birding in April

Spring break season has come and gone.  All the college kids are back in school, counting the days til summer.  Some will stay for summer classes, some will head home, and others will be heading back to the beach with families on vacations and others will scrambling for a job to fill their summer.

Lots of places down here in the Destin area have their signs out with the words "now hiring"!  Even Lulu's from Gulf Shores is getting into the act with the opening of a Destin location this summer.

 We are staying at the Beach Street Cottages, next to Kenny D's and across the street from Captain Dave's.  No way we are going to starve this trip!  We have our own access to the beach.  The walk is comparable to other places we have been to.  The traffic is at a very slow pace since this is the scenic drive section of old highway 90.  Once we hit the sand, we noticed that our section is sandwiched in between two " private" sections of beach.  I have a feeling that this spot is not crowded at all year round since there is no public parking.

With the beach being so vacant, there was lots of bird activity.  It was fun to watch this little bird do his version of the river dance.  He was working his was down the shoreline, looking for bits here and there to eat.  He would follow the waves back into the sea, then scurry back when the next wave would appear.

The purple flags were up, and eventually we discovered why.  A jellyfish washed ashore from all the large wave activity.  A beachcomber walks up and naturally he has to pick it up. I was just waiting for one of the long legs to eventually touch his leg and sting him, but no such luck today!


Our complex is made up of about 25 beach cottages that have two units in each, one upstairs and one down stairs.  The pool area is located in the center, and the water is heated.  As we ventured around, it was real clear that we were in snow bird country.  The only young people here are either single or have small children.  But hey, its not crowded!

There was a small gathering of elders in and around the pool.  I had the strangest feeling overcome me that I was in a scene in the movie Cocoon!  If only the warm waters of the pool would make me feel 30 (or lower) again!  Son Matthew arrived with girl friend, and he made the same observation!


Met the couple next door.  He was grilling, YES!  He noticed the spousal unit's shirt and he yelled "Hotty Toddy" and she yelled it back in return.  They are from Georgia, son graduated with a bartender degree from Ole Miss and they come to this complex 4 or 5 times a year.  I may have to join him at that grill with a beer or two in the next day or so.

I'm loving the much slower pace around here.  Becoming a "cocooner" just may be in my future!