Cedar Key is one of those places like Cassadaga that we visit once a year. It’s an isolated island on Florida’s Gulf coast, fifty miles west of Gainesville, just one road in and out, through dense pine forests. Fishing and tourism are the main industries on the island. Years ago, back in the 1800s, Cedar Key was actually located on another island – Atsena Otie Key, which was covered with cedar trees that were used for pencils. Today, that island is abandoned, with just a spooky cemetery and lots of mosquitoes.
Usually, we stay at the Old Fenimore Mill, condos right on the water and salt marsh. But they charge a nonrefundable pet fee and last year, when Noah was still a pup, he chewed up a storm. So this year we decided to try something different – a pet-friendly house on stilts in the woods, on a different part of the island.
At various times over the years, we’ve imagined living on Cedar Key. We’ve looked at real estate, checked into the schools (no longer a factor), done all the things you do when you’re checking out an area. Things never quite worked out, partly because the housing market in Florida took such a precipitous dive. This time as we went in search for our rental house, we noticed so many for sale signs that it looked as if the entire island was up for grabs.
We entered a delightful neighborhood of wooden homes on pilings, with great views of the salt marsh. Our place was at the end of an unpaved road – and had a for sale sign in the front yard. We inquired about the price, too steep for us unless we sold our present house. But what fun we had imagining what would go where, redecorating it in our heads, talking about where all our books would possibly fit, and how much the cats and Noah would like it here. The sunsets were superb, the bird watching fantastic.
On the day we left, we put the key on the counter, just as the owner had asked us to do. Five hours later, Rob got out our house key, tried to fit it into lock. We realized we had left our house key on the counter in Cedar Key and still had the key to the rental. So maybe this story isn’t finished yet!
ok – storage container saved!
now, what to start on next??? let's start rockin' on it – just let me know what i can do to help! 😉
Oh geez, I'd hate to be the one packing up all your books! 🙂 cj
Save the storage containers!
If we did this, a bunch of other stuff has to happen first.
along with several others here, i am also reminded of trish's works and literally found the description of it so familiar – as if she already was there – as if you all, macgregors, were already there – i'm not in the least surprised at the issue of the keys – the literal and figurative – meaning! so, shall i save all my great storage containers for you guys? i have bunches!!! 🙂
oh, and we've talked about the wv's before, remember? and even had several posts about them – really neat/fun stuff!
It also reminded me of Trish ' "Tango Key" series.
Sounds like it is calling you to return.
Daz, the WV don't surprise me in the least, when you get this many people of a like mind fun things tend to happen.
I do feel they often offer their own message.
Wv-monspet- on spot, spot on?
I tend to think each of us has "comfort zones" where we prefer to live, and that they come not only from our current lives but often from our past lifetimes. Just as often, our tastes in decor, etc., can reflect past lifetimes that were most relevant to this one. I lived in the California desert, in Palm Springs, which sits in a valley with mountains on three sides and the desert on the fourth. I totally loved the desert. Felt "at home" there. Now live with the ocean at our back door and am not especially a sea lover, even though it's beautiful, I prefer either desert shifting sands or dense forests. I feel our souls are drawn to the spaces they need to be. We came here to this Island because each of our three sons later met their soulmate wives here, and had we not come here, that wouldn't have happened. Destiny does provide the clues, if we pay attention…imo. cj
CK does have that drawback you mention, Linda. But…
I know what you mean, Nancy, about feeling uncomfortable being 2000 miles form anywhere. But CK isn't quite that isolated! And it certainly isn't as gorgeous as the photos I've seen of Maui.
You may be right. We are currently at our place at Lake Tahoe for the weekend, we bought it many years ago now, in much the same way. We bought it the very first time we looked at it. Even though we live down the hill in Reno now – this little place still feels like our real home.
As for living on an island – Maui is that for us, at least part time when my husband retires. But I have to admit living on an island 2,000 miles from any other land mass makes me a bit uncomfortable. It must be my desert dweller roots.
Daz, you're a mind reader! I commented recently that I wonder if a playful pixie is hiding in our computers making fun (but appropriate!) mischief with our messages! Those are a couple of ….er…curious WVs there! cj
I was going to write "go with your gut,because it sounds like fate is a calling" and what do you think the word verification should say?
WV=fatica (fate is calling)?
I tell ya the word verification is probably the spookiest thing on this site.Does anyone else agree?
P.S. I forgot to type that one in, then the next one was
WV=hadism (hedonism)?
We love Cedar Key, but it is a bit far from grocery and other ammenities. We recently took a trip to Amelia Island and loved that too and the town there is so cute.
Sounds like you may have left your key (and maybe your hearts?) somewhere close to your NEW home. =]
Having read all of Trish's "Tango Key" series over the years, I can visualize the MacGregors and menagerie living quite happily in Cedar Key! We live on an Island, and while it is large compared to Cedar Key, it nonetheless retains a sense of being separate and somehow a bit mystical, if for no other reason than one cannot access our Island except via bridges or boats. And, to date, the annual influx of Spring Break kids haven't discovered our gorgeous beaches yet so, generally speaking, the beaches are quiet. And, we have some awesome forested state parks and protected animal sanctuaries. As professional authors, the ambience of Cedar Key would seem to be inspiring and would offer you the solitude you need while still being within reasonable reach of social amenities, ala Hemingway and his home. My vote: when and if the time is right, pack up and go for it, MacGregors! The "house-key mishap" synchronicity may have been a heads up for you, ya think?? cj