To fly or to drive - the newest dilemma.

Thursday and Friday of last week had a trip to Orlando on the calendar. The question was, do I fly from Washington, D.C. to Orlando or just come home (JAX) on Wednesday and drive on Thursday. Let's see, no ticket lines, no security lines, no out of touch people arguing with TSA that they should be allowed to carry their industrial size bottle of conditioner on board the plane, and no peanuts! The peanuts would be okay, but I decided to skip the rest and drive. One might say that I flew AVIS this time.

A very pleasant 3 hour drive through the country. During this drive I really saw the two very distinct populations in Florida - The "haves" and the "have nots." Florida seems to be an interesting mix of people who were born there and have family history such that they are going to be just fine. Then there are the many transplants who came here to stay warm in the sun and "make it big." Some made it big and unfortunately many did not. These are the ones that I see hanging outside the bars, convenience stores, and bail bond institutions at night. Every big city has them, Florida just seems to have cornered the market. Then there are the transplants who live to golf. You know some of them I'm certain. As I went through The Villages, it was obvious this was where 3/4 of the northeast has gone to live out their golden years on the golf course. Very very nice place. Just too crowded for me.

Then it was back to Southeast Georgia for the weekend. Not spoiled yet, but quickly being invaded by people like myself. Those of us looking for a country setting, not too far from a metropolitan area, where we can at least pretend that we live in the sticks. Well, many of my sticks have been pulp wooded off in the last couple of weeks. The area in which I live seems to have been discovered by someone with a serious hatred of 50 year old pine forests. No need to worry anymore as it's gone! Logged out. With my luck they will put up some condo's a Seven-Eleven, and a bail bonds parlor!