Urban Animal or Country Mouse?

Remembering Green Acres

Embracing city Life in Reston

The iconic TV show of the 1960’s, Green Acres starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor may have been a little corny. But I think the show did a good job of making us laugh at both sides, in a respectful way. The differences between city and country living has been the subject of many TV shows. Some a little cornier then Green Acres. But, I think they all tried to show respect for country folk and even poked fun at city dwellers. In the Beverly Hillbillies, remember Milburn Drysdale, the rapacious banker and his dilittante wife? And there was Jed Clampett, a country bumpkin with the widsom of a sage. The writers of these shows DID show respect for people who lived in rural parts of the US.

In January, while staying in a rural part of the Florida Panhandle, at a place called Indian Pass, I watched every morning as the fisherman arrived. Sometimes as early as 6 AM to load up their boats for a morning of trolling the waters of the Gulf, hoping for a good days catch, maybe to feed their family or maybe to sell to local fish markets. Or perhaps just for the sheer pleasure of it.

Now, from our penthouse apartment, I look out at the office buildings nearby and watch as they fill up with the daily hoards who make their way to work at Google, Microsoft, Oracle and others. I’m glad there are people who enjoy this type of work. Otherwise I probably wouldn’t be typing these words on my laptop.

My work over the years was in both offices and outdoors. I enyoyed the outdoor work much more. I was never the office/suit and tie kind of person. Although I pretended to be for over a decade. Now I’m retired. What do I want my life to look like? It IS self indulgent to contemplate the options. But why not, if I can? We’ve moved from rural to urban in our travels, back and forth. And now we’re in a high rise apartment in a city. It’s only been three weeks, but I’m enjoying it, immensely. Where we are is definitely a long way from the rual shores of northern Florida. But as I posted last, Reston has the benefit of having maintained its old villages, with only low rise buildings and lots and lots of forested areas with walking paths. And all within a short walk from Town Center. So we have the best of both worlds. Nature isn’t right out our front door like we’ve had the last 8 months. A small concession, but one that’s not too burdensome, so far.

I do think it may be possible to have both. My grandfather who lived in Miami Beach for most of his adult life owned a gas station on a busy main road. Then, in retirement he bought a fishing boat that was docked right at his apartment building. Most every morning he would head out, early in the AM and spend a good part of his day on the water, fishing rod in hand. Of course Miami was a lot less crowded then. I’m not sure he could find the solitude he did back in the 1950’s and 60’s on todays Biscayne Bay.

We’re here in the sky for the next six months. We’ll see how Joan and I adjust to this new environment. I’ve learned, in our travels the last 8 months that sometimes the bloom falls off the rose after a little while. Hopefully that won’t happen here.

And BTW, Cosmo certainaly has adjusted well. He even does his business some times on sidewalks before we even get to the grassy park. He’s such a good boy.

The other end of the spectrum at Indian Pass campground in North Florida. No high rise buildings here. Just fishing shacks.

Old Reston, behind the townhome I lived in from 1984-92. Another journey back in time. It hasn’t changed one bit.