This Week on the Island

The week started cool but ended up very nice with the last day of the old year and the first day of the new year being 78 degrees. There are many things to do in Key West on New Years Eve, but most people end up at one of three places at midnight. On the 800 block of Duval, Shusi (female impersonator) is lowered in a red slipper; in front of Sloppy Joe's, the Conch is lowered; and at Schooner Wharf, a Pirate Wench is lowered. No matter which one you pick, the area is packed and lots of fun. Afterwards my wife and I and the dogs sit on the front porch and watch the parade of people head up Caroline Street looking for their cars.

The island was packed. I did not move the Hummer all week because I would never find a parking place again. This week we probably had more tourist than we got at Fantasy Fest.

If you have a mortgage in the Key's you must also have insurance: Homeowners, Wind, and Flood. Flood is offered by the Federal Government. The Government requires that all housing built in the Key's since 1975 be 10 feet above sea level if you want Flood insurance. This is one of the reasons people want to buy an old house built before 1975 and re-condition it. Most house's built since 1975 are on stilts and have parking below. You are not allowed to use this area for anything except storage. Kathie Lee Gifford (Regis and Kathie Lee) and her husband are in the paper because they enclosed and added bedrooms, bathrooms, and a living area under their house in Key Largo. They must either tear it out or lose their Flood insurance. Either way they will be fined.

Speaking of housing, I received 'Island Properties' from Century 21 and they have a section called 'Mobil Homes'. There is one listed in Key Largo for $349,000. It must be in bad shape because it is listed as 'could be replaced by a newer Mobil home'. Closer to Key West in Marathon is another Mobil home listed for $457,000 or you may be interested in a house boat, 'DeBarge', in Key West for $185,000. It is probably for sale because this time of the year no one is thinking of hurricane season.

This weeks book was another by Randy Wayne White. It was titled 'The Mangrove Coast' and is about our hero Dr. Ford rescuing a friends wife from the jungles of Panama.

Doug Johnson and Family, from New York and Key West Parrot Head Club Out-Of-Town members, dropped by to say hi. They were in town for the holidays to visit their daughter who lives here and works at Margaritaville.

The Navy used one of it's Blackhawk helicopters to force a small plane to land at Key West International Airport. Seems the small aircraft wandered into secure air space without giving the correct code. It was all a misunderstanding and after a search of the people and the plane they were all sent on their way.