2010 Jan. 22, Friday.
Linda went for a morning walk, and I rode my bike to get the paper. Relaxing morning, then went to Coconuts in Cape Coral for lunch. It takes about 40 minutes to get there, because it’s just across the Caloosahatchee River on an inlet. There is a harbor there with many big boats docked, and the restaurant is about 15 feet from the water. We learned about this place a few years ago when our friends, Bill and Josie, took us there. They knew about it because at one point in their lives, they lived on a sailboat, and they had docked here in the past. It’s a Caribbean style place, with good food, and Linda had crab cakes while I had pulled pork and black beans. The food was very good, and our table looked right out to the dock where one huge boat was from Stillwater, MN. After lunch, we rode to Lehigh Acres, a town about 12 miles east of the interstate. There is a resort there that almost always has openings, so we wanted to check it out. In the future, we will need to pay to use RCI points to stay near Ft. Myers because Wyndham does not have any resorts in the area. Many of the RCI resorts (especially on the beach) get booked up, but the Lehigh Acres place doesn’t, partly because it is so far from the beach. The place was in good shape, on a golf course, and had some huge live oak trees on the grounds. The disadvantage is its distance from the things we are used to going to. On the way back, we went to the bookstore at Gulf Coast mall for coffee, a treat, and computer work. Home for supper and then watched the telethon for Haiti relief. Lots of big stars, but pretty sad music and talk. We already donated through the UCC web site so didn’t call in. It would have been nice to talk to Julia Roberts or Reese Witherspoon, though.

WEATHER: Foggy morning, drizzled slightly off and on all day, officially not measurable. The front moved very slowly south, but is very weak. High 80, low 61.

FL NEWS: (1) “Cubs leave Collier waiting at altar” It appears as though the Cubs are not coming to the Naples area for spring training. The Mesa [Arizona] City Council will vote Monday on $84 million to fund the project, and it is subject to approval by Mesa voters in November. The Cubs received a 14-page memorandum of understanding that includes building a new stadium with 4 practice fields and a 50,000 sq.ft. clubhouse, all financed by the city. The deal is not finalized, according to Cub sources, and a Cubs spokesman said their board will take it under review.
(2) “Look who’s coming to town” Some of the wealthiest people in the country consider Florida a good place to call home. The number of financial elite who live in our state has tripled since 2001. Taxes seem to have a lot to do with many of these people’s decision. Income is maximized because of Florida’s lack of a personal income tax. [The following are examples of homes for sale from an ad on the page before this article.] $1.5 million - three bedrooms, three full baths, custom pool and spa. $1.7 million - four bedrooms, four and one-half baths, pool, covered lanai. $2.2 million - five bedrooms, six full baths and two half baths, pool and spa. $2.5 million - three bedrooms, four and one-half baths, lake and golf views, 4,642 square feet.