Off-season Life

Busy South Florida Beach
Hobe Sound, FL
July 6, 2026

 It is the off-season here in South Florida. We look forward to this time of year when there are no crowds, fewer cars, and wide open beaches. This is exactly the time of year that Chris and I used to vacation here before we eventually bought our condo, which is now our home. 

Rainstorm over the Atantic
Hobe Sound, FL
July 6, 2026

The snow birds, as they are referred to, are gone. The roads are wide open. Reservations are not required at restaurants. It is almost idyllic. I have even noticed that our condo associations "too-small" parking lot has open spaces.

I needed to get some miles on the truck yesterday to keep the battery charged and the fluids moving. Chris, Finn, and I took a drive to Hobe Sound. We stopped at the very popular beach there. It was sparsely attended. I recall that during the busy season sometimes there are no empty spaces in the parking lot. Not so yesterday. 

I snapped a nice image of the nearly deserted beach along with the rainstorm in the distance. It was too bad we had not planned to remain on the beach with it being such a perfect beach afternoon. The waters of the Atlantic were nearly flat--a perfect day. The lifeguard station had a green flag flying--something we have only rarely seen recently. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL