'Tis the Off-Season!

     Where have I been? Nearly 7 weeks have passed since arriving in my state-of-residence, and while weather is becoming the greatest challenge, time continues to fly by. I’m living in what I affectionately call a “horizontal elevator shaft” – a small, center condo in Ocean City, Maryland that has one very redeeming quality, a balcony on the bay. So the warmth of November was a welcomed surprise for morning coffee with a view, and bike rides along scenic areas to the north and south of home base.
     Ocean City, in and of itself, is hideous; 9 miles of ill-conceived retail, hotels/motels, and cultural mismatch. My favorite “I can’t help but laugh” spot is the Paul Revere Smorgasbord serving an all-you-can-eat Colonial Feast. If it were open, I would ride my horse over there after having a drink at the nearby Cowboy Coast Saloon. There isn’t a town center here, but you can find the city hall at 3rd, the post office at 71st, and the library at 100th. Ocean City is where architects, city planners, preservationists and nature lovers go to learn “the don’ts”.
     So, you may be wondering why I’m here. For one, off-season housing prices are affordable when the population is oh-so-low. And, another good reason is access – to in-network healthcare I don’t want, but of equal importance, to friends within an hour or two. I’ve already enjoyed time outdoors with four dear friends, and a family member who came by for a week! The added bonus is that I know the area, so while I may be waking up to a disconnected universe, my sunny days are spent in charming Berlin, familiar Easton, gorgeous Assateague, rural Snow Hill, and the southern Delaware coast. Not too shabby at all.