This past summer – “wet season” in Florida – it was very hot and very dry. I heard many people say they had never seen such a hot, dry summer. Ft Myers was officially in a moderate drought. So there was some concern as winter – “dry season” approached.

Not to worry. December and, so far, January have been cold and wet. With very little sun. Cloudy, rainy, dreary. Not at all what is expected here. But we are no longer in a drought – we got nearly 6″ of rain on Monday alone. Streets were flooded and some were closed. I was driving on a road and sharing the space with a guy in a kayak. My site got was about 2″ deep in rainwater everywhere. Worse than Hurrican Ian last year. Today the forecast high is 65. That doesn’t sound bad to people up north, I know, but it is very chilly for Ft Myers residents. Again, many people are saying it is the “worst winter ever.”

Dry summer, wet winter. Topsy turvy.

Last day of the year. Time to reflect on what was good and bad.

Highlights:

• Marlene. We made it through an entire calendar year, which made this relationship considerably more durable than the preceding one with Ooma. It wasn’t all sweetness and light, but it was a lot of fun and a lot of adventure. She is an amazing woman who improves my life.
• TCL2. This was a terrific 12-night transatlantic cruise – the best cruise experience of my life so far. And after the cruise ended I met my new favorite city, Barcelona.
• TS9. The trip south with Marlene, featuring New York and the Statue of Liberty, was a great time.
• TP1. The 30-night transpacific cruise with Marlene was epic. I got to Japan and Indonesia – two places I never expected to visit. And Brisbane was a treat. But we lost the opportunity to see both Alaska and the Philippines due to bad weather.
• TN9. The ninth trip north – just an auto trip – was my first solo long-distance trip. It was memorable primarily because I got to see family both along the way and in Massachusetts. The travel in New England after Marlene joined me – to Boston, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island – was fun too. I also enjoyed the visit from my son in August.
• Music. Thanks largely to Marlene’s love of music and dancing I heard a lot of really good rock and country bands this year. And some not-so-great ones too.
• Carnival Vista cruise. The 6-night cruise to Grand Turk, Nassau Bahamas and Amber Cove was nice but we didn’t like the ship very much.

Lowlights:

• Ooma. I can’t, in a single paragraph, express the depth of my disappointment and anger with Ooma. The outrageous application for a restraining order from her in March was the worst moment I have had with any woman that I have ever dated. The lies and vile she spewed in that document were both stunning and despicable. She instantly went from a woman I loved to a woman I hated. Quite a transformation. I believe she is mentally disturbed. I guess I should feel fortunate that the relationship was brief.
• Rusty’s death. My buddy and companion – Jett’s dog initially but mine after her passing – had to be put down in June.

I think, overall, 2023 was better than 2022. Lots of cruising. Lots of music. Not a bad year at all.