The New Year came in with a bang and fridgid artic air. Who would have thought is coul reach us all the way down here in the American Caribbean!! While I have had discussions with folks up north about the big chiil here, they are not sympa. Obvioulsy they are in some deep snow and in some cases single digit temps and wind chills driving them into the minus category. We are still belssed. However, for those locals without heat, it must feel like the north. I was in my real estate office, which has no heat or even a space heater and the old mercury showed 62F. Truthfully after 4 hours sitting at my computer, my hands had stiffended up and I could barely make the keyboard move. It looks like there is going to be a brief repreive by Friday but temps are going back to the 50’s after that. I went kayaking on Sunday with the Green Parrot Kayak Socitey out of Hurricane Hole. We had a great time but the workout was challenging. Coming back against the tide and those strong winds and a few white caps made it very interesting to say the least. I would take a break for a second or two from paddling and found myself going backwards in a hurry. It was a delight to reach the Hole and warm up at the upstairs bar with the crew and Frank the Bartender (formally of Hog’s Breath.) The GP Kayaking Society makes it their business to clean up the mangroves wherever they go, hauling trash back to the Hole to be collected and disposed of in a more “green” environment. Sunday’s weather made that a bit difficult but I applaud all that they do.

What are locals doing to warm up. They find friends who have heat, borrow some long pants and get some socks, go to a favorite bar and sit by the coolers—they always generate the most heat which is a place to avoid during the summer months. Gotta love Key West!!!!

Here’s wishing you are staying warm wherever you are and as always, thanks for caring and sharing! Cheers, Ginger

***Ginger King is a Broker Associate in Schwartz Property Sales in Key West.  She has long been involved in helping her island community and to bring the best of “Sharing and Caring” possible to make Key West & the Florida Keys the magical place it is to live.  For more information about Ginger, visit www.gingerkingkeywest.com