Christmas in the Keys

 . . . IS DIFFERENT

Our Christmas tree on the boat

At least, it's different from what we've known in past Christmases -- cold weather, church choir rehearsals of Christmas music, non-stop TV advertising, and a frantic pace to get everything done. Limited resources on a boat, few places to shop and no TV reception make life more relaxed, as do the palm trees and 70-degree weather.

To us, church services are a huge part of Christmas, so we looked for a Lutheran church to visit. The only one around seemed pretty far away from the harbor – too far to walk in the dark when you don’t know where you are going. Instead we went to a nearby Methodist church. We were concerned about not being dressed up enough; after all, there’s limited space for clothes on board. There was no need for concern. We were dressed up. We had on long pants. The church was so close to the mooring field that hundreds of boaters had gone there for services – all in shorts and their best Hawaiian shirts.

It was a joyous time with lots of carols sung and filmed role playing telling the thoughts that Mary, Joseph, a shepherd and inn guest may have had on the holy night of the birth of Jesus. It was friendly, unpretentious and uplifting.

The United Methodist Community Church in the daylight. The sign 

and etched glass doors quote Isaiah 42:12: Let them give glory 

to the Lord and declare God's praise in the islands.

The Christmas Pot Luck

Members of the mooring ball community decided to have a pot luck lunch Christmas Day. Mooring balls with even numbers were to bring a vegetable. Odd numbers were to bring a dessert. No one mentioned meat, so we had the great idea to bring half a spiral ham . . . as did about four other people. Everyone had lots of ham and other food. It was a feast. Did we mention that temperatures were in the mid-70s with a sea breeze blowing and a harpist who lives around the mooring field playing. Wow, it sounds even better than it seemed at the time!

Randy played his harp while the rest of us fed our faces.

Meeting Next Door Neighbors

At the pot luck, we met our mooring ball neighbors to the west, Steve and Janette, on Endless Summer.  Janette is an artist who specializes in large murals. She’s a sailor in her own right, having sailed the powerful winds of the San Francisco Bay area for five years.

Steve is a Stoner, not a little “s” stoner, but actually the lead guitarist for Eric Stone (and the Stoners).  They play mellow island music, less rock and roll than Jimmy Buffett’s music, although similar.  Latitudes & Attitudes magazine chose the band to play all its parties at sailing shows around the country.  They are that good. They also live and represent the cruising lifestyle. Although Buffett sails, we're not sure the Coral Reefers do.

We enjoyed meeting Jeannette and Steve, our next-mooring-ball neighbors to the west,

 at the Christmas feast. They both can work from Boot Key Harbor during the winter. 

Steve was also the web master for Latitudes & Attitudes until it changed ownership and folded a few months back. Fortunately, a new magazine – Cruising Outpost – started up with almost all the same staff as Lats & Atts – everyone except the new owners. It has the same sense of fun, adventure and real-life stories by real-life sailors. Steve’s the web master for CO now.

Any similarity to Latitudes & Attitudes is deliberate, down to the whale instead 

of a sea critter on the cover. Subscribe to the magazine, please. Keep it 

in business. The name's not as much fun. The content is.

Even though Christmas in Marathon was different from Tennessee, some elements were the same  – faith, friends and lots of food. Over the holidays especially, we miss our family and friends back home. Our New Year’s wish for you is fair winds and calm seas throughout the coming year.