New Year's Resolution # 1: Move to Key West

There are 3 reasons I need to move to Key West. Their names are Thorne, Doc, and Rutledge. Thorne, a fly tier by trade, lives off Blackwater Sound in Key Largo. Doc Ford, a marine biologist, lives in a stilt house on Dinkins Bay in Sanibel Island. Rutledge is a professional photographer who lives on Dredgers Lane in Key West. Each man loves his occupation, but occasionally finds himself in the middle of somebody’s problem, fighting violent miscreants that have sledged their way into the undercurrents of south Florida fiction. Yes, these men originate from the imaginations of James W. Hall, Randy Wayne White, and Tom Corcoran.
The relevance of these characters is the satisfaction they receive from their occupations and the connection they’ve made with the places they call home. Though fictional, Dinkins Bay, the location of Doc Ford’s stilt house/marine lab, could represent any number of inlets on Sanibel. Thorne has an unimpeded view of the mangroves and Blackwater Sound in one of the upper keys. Rutledge has his bungalow with outdoor shower on a quiet lane near Old Town. Each man understands the essence of the place, and, when not being tormented by some underworld thug, realizes just how good he has it. Thorne, Doc, and Rutledge always seem to adapt to the hazards that sometimes interrupt their day jobs.
A teacher by trade, I know a thing or two about adaptability. I’ve learned what the books, professors, and workshop gurus have preached about how to best educate children. In reality, I face 28 young people on a daily basis from different homes, varying dynamics, and a mishmash of hardships. In an effort to teach state mandated curriculum and standards, I model, drill, act, sing, and dabble in a little stand-up comedy if it means I connect with my students in their endeavor to learn.
No, I am not a Conch. But I understand that Key West is changing. I’m enamored with its history and concerned about a place on which many can’t afford to live any more. I will honor the richness of the Keys’ past, its current natural beauty, and changing culture in my job with Lazy Dog. Like Thorne, Doc, and Rutledge, I’ll savor each day as I smell and feel the salt in the air as I go to work, which, by the way, isn’t possible in Indiana. In conclusion, I’m confident the 3 great authors of Florida fiction would never allow their main men to adapt to any other literary locale. Lazy Dog or bust.

I'm not actually moving to Cayo Hueso, but when it's 2 degrees Fahrenheit outside like it is today, it's a warming thought. This was my contest entry from last fall to win a job at an outdoor outfitter in Key West. I wasn't a finalist, which may have saved an epic battle about what's best for the family!