Due to the COVID-19 virus, the Keys have been shut down since March 21, 2020. Only long-term residents (181 days), property owners, and workers such as first responders, healthcare workers and active military are allowed through the road blocks on US-1. We were very fortunate that we extended our lease early and our original lease was for 6 months plus one day so we had the option to stay and were not forced to leave like many of our friends.
Our lifestyle did not change very much after the road was closed and non-essential businesses were shut down, except that we were not going out to dinner when most everything was closed. Since the reopening plan that allowed limited access to restaurants, stores, etc. has been in place, we have been enjoying some of our favorite spots in the Keys. We finally were allowed to go to Nadine’s to see Susan to get our hair cut with a pedicure from Connie for me. That was a priority and i called the first morning to get appointments!
We (and that is always mostly Randy) are still keeping up with our daily chores and projects; including completing the set up on the sunshades that we had Rebecca make for us. Randy used some small bungie cords to tie down and extend out the bottoms of the shades. The new sunshades came in very handy once Kevin and Katie left the park and we lost all of the afternoon shade their RV provided. We had no shade from the hot, afternoon sun until our new neighbors moved in. One thing i know we will miss once renters come back, is the ability to sit under Alan’s house next door and take advantage of the wonderful breeze. i wish we had an awning off the back of the RV to give us shade where we could also take advantage of the breeze off of the water. The way the Dirt Yacht is facing almost directly North/South, most of the breeze is blocked. To make our lot even more gorgeous, we added more plants to our planters and Randy decorated the Dirt Yacht for Memorial Day!
We were able to get out to dinner several times in the last 2 weeks, at some of our favorite restaurants. We had been to Geiger with Terry and Marcia the first week that restaurants opened up so we wanted to get to Square Grouper and Tonio’s before the tourists return. We went to the Square Grouper for Kevin’s 30th birthday and again for our anniversary. It’s still one of our favorite restaurants and the food continues to be outstanding but the bang-bang shrimp at Tonio’s is a hit too!
We finally got out fishing for Yellowtail Snapper again but we were definitely missing our tutor because all we caught were small fish or the sharks took the larger keepers. Gary had warned us that you need to reel the fish in very fast or the sharks would take your catch. We probably should have gone a different day because it was rough heading out but it was still great to be out on the water. While the crowds were down, we made sure that we got to Key West to get a photo at the Southernmost Point with an added trip to Fort Zachary Taylor. I am not sure how much we will get out in public once short-term vacationers are allowed back into the Keys on Monday, June 1, but i hope I can continue to enjoy the pool and keep up with my exercise, as well as continue to enjoy our favorite spots.
