June 02nd, 2017

Apparently, it's here.  Hurricane season that is.  It officially began yesterday, June 1st.  And you know what that means, right?  Time to PANIC PANIC PANIC!!  Run around in circles like a crazed chicken, wings flapping and squawk, squawk, squawking to the sky because will solve everything.  Go to the store, when there is not even a cloud in the sky, just because it's the start of hurricane season you understand and definitely buy all of the frozen goods (that one always baffles me), all of the water, all of the plywood and all of the generators.  That's how one prepares for a Hurricane - by hoarding!  And panicking!

Actually, around here, it seems that despite the media's frenzied attempt to get everyone whipped into a froth of hurricane panic, everyone is very calm and relaxed.  Why it's  almost as if there wasn't actually an actual hurricane anywhere in sight!  Ummm, that's because there isn't.

I agree.  It's a good idea to know what to do, just in case a hurricane does wander this way.  But I, for one, don't appreciate being beaten to death with the dire warnings I see every day on TV, in the newspaper and on-line.  The latest one, which I am hearing and reading everywhere is that this year is supposed to be a "higher than average year for hurricane activity".  Well, that past 11 years here have seen little to none, so I'd say that average is pretty good!

In actual fact, the last hurricane to make a direct hit on Venice was in 1944.  The city of Sarasota, which is about a half hour north of us hasn't seen a straight on smackeroo in over a century!   I'm feeling pretty good about our odds. 

No matter where a person lives, geographically, there is some potential weather event possible.  Whether it's Flood, Earthquake, Blizzard, Tornado, Drought, Mudslides, Avalanche, Hurricane or Tsunami, Mother Nature has lots of tricks in her bag to show you who is boss. And it ain't us.  Regardless of where you live, the possibility of some calamity exists.  There is no completely "safe" place.

I've lived in most areas of this country, at one time or another and have witnessed Floods in Illinois, Blizzards in Connecticut, Tornadoes in Colorado, Earthquakes in California and just about everything else. I think I'm good.   I suspect that the reason nobody here on the Island is panicking is that the snowbirds are gone.  The only people left, except a much smaller number of tourists, are the people who live here full time.  They have been through this before.  Been there, done that, sent the postcard is their attitude.

In fact, our neighbors, people born and raised here as a matter or fact, recently gave me great advice.  "If the prediction is Category one, you can ride it out.  If the prediction is Category two, it's okay to hunker down and stay if you want. But if the prediction is Category three, get the heck out!"  I'm not stupid.  I know good advice when I hear it.  So we will pack our "go-bags" and keep water in the pantry and gas in the cars and keep our home owners insurance current. But otherwise, despite everything the media is just begging us to do, we will not panic.  Life, as usual goes on.  Can't control the weather and it serves no purpose to worry about it.  And so, we don't. 

 I will continue to resist media's desire to control what I do, what I like, where I go  and the what I think.  I am starting to feel as if I am fighting a noble fight. 

Stay safe, be smart and have fun! 

Carry on.