96 hours of rest and relaxation on the sunny beaches of southern Florida: just what the doctor ordered. Jennifer and I fled cold, rainy DC last Friday (it snowed that morning) and touched down in tropical Fort Myers, Florida. We picked up our Priceline rental car courtesy of Alamo - shockingly smooth process. Online check-in, keys in the driver's door, choose any car... flash a driver's license and credit card on the way out, and you're on your way. Very efficient.
We stayed with Jen's cousin Scott, who works for Chico's (a high-end department store, I think). Scott takes home decor very seriously, and his house shows it. Unbelievable - massive entryway, gorgeous kitchen, flawless lighting, beautifully matched furniture, and a swimming pool covered by an open-air netting out back. Very impressive - spacious, comfortable, perfect. Scott was a great host. We arrived (I'd already changed into flip flops and shorts, which would be my attire of choice for the duration of our stay) and promptly opened a bottle of wine. Talked, drank, reclined, listened to the sound of water from the jacuzzi spilling rhythmically into the pool... opened another bottle, or two, or three. A little key lime pie... ah, a perfect end to a Floridian night.
Despite noble intentions to "carpe diem" and all that, we never made it out of bed before eleven. Fortunately, Scott waited patiently for us to wake before making the bacon and eggs... and I would enjoy my morning coffee (imported from Seattle) while relaxing out by the pool. Beautiful.
We spent our days on Sanibel and Captiva, beautiful barrier islands just offshore in the Gulf (Fort Myers is southwest, on the Gulf of Mexico). The 45 minute drive was worth it to avoid the spring break crowds on Fort Myers beach, and the sprawling white sands richly rewarded our effort. Every day we faced that delightful beach dilemma: what to do? Or not do? Read? Just lie back and relax? People watch? Play frisbee? Drink a beer? Eat? 
Scott did it right: we arrived equipped with a fully stocked cooler, umbrellas, and a big beach blanket. I indulged in that rare treat (for a grad student, anyway): leisure reading. I powered two Robert Parkers and three Harry Potters (the latter not for the first time) in our brief stay. Scott joined us for the weekend, leaving Jen and I to indulge on our own Monday and Tuesday. Given our early evening departure on Tuesday, we opted to stay local and give Fort Myers beach a try. We somehow managed to stake out a relatively uncrowded section, but Sanibel-Captiva it was not. We made our escape just as the sky started to cloud over for the first time since our arrival... and were driving to the airport when the first drops of rain hit. Perfect.
Sigh... and now we're back. Due next week: 5 papers. Five! The week after spring break! Unjust. Oh, and a job fair for Presidential Management Fellows from Tuesday to Thursday that I really need to prepare for. I prefer the beach. A few photos to capture the experience...
A dolphin!
