I often “write” my blog posts as I walk along the beach. Â Yesterday, as I enjoyed the solitude of an empty beach, I started thinking about our vacation, and my conversations with a few of the island residents.
For example, our guides for a rain forest hike were born and raised on Nevis.  Both briefly ventured out in to the real world, but prefer their simple life on a quiet island.  One even mentioned living on nearby St. Martin:  “It was crazy- all hustle and bustle”.  Isn’t that’s how we describe New York City??
Another Nevis resident told me they ride the ferry over to St. Kitts if they want more activity. Â That would be Wildwood or Ocean City for us.
Just like islands in the Caribbean, the communities along the Jersey Shore have distinct personalities- and therefore, appeal to different vacationers.
This 7 mile long stretch of sand suits me just fine 🙂
Preparing for Winter
A “check list” time of year – preparing our house for colder temperatures and the WIND!
Drain the outside shower and non-frost proof faucets (FYI- most water faucets on upper decks are NOT frost proof).
Disconnect hoses from all outdoor faucets (even the frost proof type- Â water in hose will freeze and cause damage to faucet).
Close crawl space vents (air flow is great in the warmer months to keep the crawl space dry- but  cold air will freeze pipes even if the house is heated).
Lock all windows- especially casement style with a crank (the wind will rattle the window, allowing it to open and possibly blow out).
Secure storm doors, outside shower doors, and trash cans.
Remove outdoor furniture (or at least turn it upside down).
As an optimist, I left a kayak out in our side yard…hoping for one more bay paddle on a warm day 😉