> > They said the fall colors in this area would not be very good this year because of dry weather. They missed the boat on that one. We just spent a couple of days in Gatlinburg (Gateway to the Smokies) and the colors are breath-taking.
>
> Sounds nice! Basically in Florida you get either hot, hot and humid, REALLY hot and miserable, or warm and breathable in December, but if you're lucky you get to see a few stretches of swamp! The beaches are pretty nice, though, I must admit, and it is fun to body surf, after you've been pounded into the bottom of the ocean a few times. I almost stepped on a stingray, it was scary... :,-(
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> z"Terrified by undercurrents"K

I lived in Florida back when nothing was air conditioned. We hardly noticed the heat because we were always in it. You mainly notice hot weather when you come out of a cool building and somebody comments about how hot it is outside.

There is also that breeze. I lived on the coast and the trade winds kept a constant flow of oceanic air moving in from the southeast all the time. The really stifling heat is inland.

I almost lived at the beach. I swam, fished, walked, rode bicycles, and did all of that touristy stuff the whole three years. I never got tired of it.

Rip currents are dangerous, but mostly they are bad for people who don't understand them. You can study up on how they work and they won't be a problem for you. Search for rip currents, because "undertow" and "undercurrents" are not really proper names for them.

I lost a little skin body surfing, but I guess that's the price you pay for all that fun.

We left Florida in 1951, but I go back from time to time. I guess I still have a little sand in my shoes.
Howard