Too Much Imagination

Photos.

Our visitors left on Sunday morning. It was chilly and a little breezy, as we're in what Floridians call a "cold front". Temperatures have actually fallen to the mid-fifties after dark and daytime highs haven't reached 80F since late last week.

The good news is that I love this kind of weather. I like to swim in the morning (the earlier the better) and evening (after dark is best). Last year, I observed the new signs that indicated pool hours were dawn to dusk, but most others did not and I was a little put off that I was missing my swims at the times I prefer.

This year, I noticed that the pool signs are contradictory: one says "dawn to dusk" and the others indicate the pool area is open 8 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. In fact, the pool gate is open as soon as the maintenance guy gets here around 7:00 a.m., so I decided that I'd swim at about 7:30, when I'm really the only person in the pool area. In warmer weather, the pool seat grabbers are there to claim their spots for the day, but not right now.

Sunrise Resort pool after dark

In the evening, I've gone for my swim both before and after dark. The other night, it was really cold and there was no one outside, not even on the balcony.  I felt so isolated that I actually got a little spooked. The night was dark except for a bright full moon over Boca Ciega Bay, and I could hear the night birds and other after dark sounds.

I thought I heard someone in the bushes, though I knew it was really the pool pump.  I thought about itinerant serial killers and various beach murders I've read about over the years. I imagined the mess a slit throat would make on the pool deck. I got out of the pool, looking over my shoulder as I grabbed my glasses on the poolside table where I'd left my things. Because I was cold, I stepped in the hot tub, moving around so that I had a pretty good 360-degree idea of my surroundings, but stayed only as long as it took me to warm up. I scampered up to the elevator and back to the condo. Feeling silly, I said nothing.

Otherwise, I've enjoyed my solitude. The pool water isn't too hot, as it sometimes is when the weather is warmer, and I love getting out of the hot tub into the cool air.

Doesn't get any better than this.