Diary from paradise
see what living and working in Vero is really like...
July, 2008: The new Costa D'Este Hotel opened this month; we were invited to the ribbon cutting. Very modern, minimalist,clean and cool. Owned by the Estefans(yep, Gloria and Emilio) -- they gave a little talk and then we checked out the place. I like it. We are doing an event there in November -- see next paragraph. This place is the talk of Vero! We hear the bar's a hot spot in town!
We're producing a cool automotive event to be on the lookout for: we'll produce and host Automotive Legends the third Saturday of the month at the new RBC Bank on SR 60 starting around NOON. It'll feature a gathering of great cars Porsches, Ferraris, Hot Rods, Muscle--you name it, plus bikes (I like Ducatis myself and if I wasn't`t half blind with cataracts I would buy one---but I am already tempting The Reaper with my insane Porsche Turbo. Informal, no fees, no judging -- just a chance to appreciate the great vehicles I've come to realize that are in the area. Everyone's invited to bring their cars or attend as a spectator. We're hoping this event will become a monthly tradition. We'll post photos on this web site of cars from every month's event.
The inaugural gathering is set for September 20! Write if you want info or directions.
Once a year, the event will be a formal exhibiton on Ocean Drive, dubbed Automotive Legends on Ocean Drive.
This year's exhibition will truly be one of a kind, a high end automotive event at the Costa D`Este hotel on Nov. 15-16 on Ocean Drive. We've already secured some unbelievably fabulous and rare private vehicles for exhibiton like Porsche 935s, 917s, original Cobras; '65 Shelby 350; Ferrari 275 GTB 4 cammer and even Corvettes from Pratt & Miller(they build the ALMS Corvettes for Corvette Racing) and a '65 historic racing Corvette that is Grand Sport if I ever saw it. You get the idea!
The private event Saturday night will benefit an area charity, with attendees getting first peek at the exhibiton along with stations of food and wine pairings. On Sunday, November 16 the exhibition on the hotel grounds will be free and open to the public.
This is an event you will not forget, similar to others we've produced across the country that were phenomenally successful. I will post more later.
Real estate news-- I have to say, the deals abound but the "low fruit is getting picked!" as buyers increasingly realize that we've likely bottomed out and the best deals are happening this summer. How much action is there? Some of the deals are so good we've decided to sell our house to get involved--(check out the house on our listings page at an aggressive list price of $725K yet steps to the beach.) Thanks, more coming soon
Oct. 2007--Have not checked in here for awhile. So it is update time:
I do more walking on the beach now as opposed to kayaking. The great thing about this place is the options always exsist as phases happen. The beach has been widened considerably which makes it amazing from a view and walking standpoint. Of course, the beach has its own society, everybody knows everybody and that is a nice thing. Also from a fitness standpoint all these new machines claim that they provide the same exercise as "walking on a sandy beach" why not just walk on the beach?
Early Nov. is Rennsport 3 at Daytona which is a gathering of all Porsches (fast ones) I have the 3 day pass and it should be good. I have a 20 year old red 930 turbo and it has been absurdly modified, is fast, and will be there (weighs the same a a modern day Mini--but with enormous horsepower and torque--proof I have not grown up) The car is made for FL weather. I am trying to work it into the photos of houses for sale as a prop!
We have been selling upper end houses for the most part and have much intrest on the website - over 30,000 hits a month from all across the globe. Our current swollen inventory and reduced sales volume really encourages great buyer deals and puts buyers in control of negotiations with crazy good deals occuing daily. It will not last long once pent up demand kicks in because our in-migration continues as Vero is 'discovered.' Demographics, economies,and web site intrests in this area are extremely heavy and the advantage that we see is that many of our buyers are cash buyers. This is a good time to seize the market and offer the number you want on your dream property as properties on the market are offered by sellers who truly want to sell (many have been taken off the market by sellers able to wait until the market returns to more balanced conditions) We will update this diary much more with upcoming news--thanks for reading
Dec 1st, 2006
Today is Sebring Historic race day. Yes! I bailed my daughter out of school and we were off to the races. Sebring is about 1 1/2 hours from Vero (as the modified 930 Porsche flies). Really, once you get away from the coast, FL is all about agriculture. Cattle everywhere - since the grass grows so fast the cows are huge! I go to Sebring twice a year, once for the big 12 hr race in March and once again this time of year for the Historics, even though they race old cars beofre the Historics, too.
Temp was in the high 70s as we roared through the country. We watched while everyone else roared around the track. I'm not sure if my daughter liked it because she got to skip school or just because I was happy and yelling at all the racers as they were going around the curve to the straightaway...WHAT A GREAT DAY!
In Connecticut, I'd be holed by the fireplace...
Nov. 18---I guess summer is finally over.
The low last night was in the 50s and today highs in the mid 70s.
What a day! First kayaking --
I put in at the Riverside park ramp, then paddled under the bridge
and proceeded to the City Marina. Many boats
from many places have appeared recently. There must be half a dozen
ocean-worthy catamarans and fishing boats and some wonderful yachts/sail boats.
I love to see where the boats are from:
Rhode Island, Delaware, The Carolinas, Virginia, Philadelphia(!?)
and all points in between. I’ve even seen Colorado and New Mexico
as points of origin (don’t ask me!) Everyone on the boats was friendly,
waving good morning; I caught a drink of water on my turnaround on a
spoil island before paddling back to the ramp.
Realizing that there were two big exhibits at the park today,
I showered and came back to the park: One was an auto exhibit
by the antique automobile group (we did automobile exhibits for a
living so I always have to go compare). The other was a boat show
comprised mostly of fishing boats -- really fun to walk around.
Many kayak exhibits too but I use and inflatable and prefer that
to hard shells. I did see some very narrow and long Perception
type kayaks that looked really fast.
All in all a great day and it was all free!
Sun. Sept 10 Began the day as always with a 2 mile walk on the beach with the dog (I think I like it more than the dog) -- try to go at a brisk pace. Swells are picking up from storm hundreds of miles to the east. Waves are depositing sand and building the beach but make it difficult to spot bottlenose dolphin or Tarpon which can come in close to the beach to feed. Loggerhead turtles have finished laying their eggs but the nests are marked and checked every day. The walk really sets up the day.
Monday, September 11 Morning: the usual walk on the beach but in a different direction. Work today is investing - time consuming if you want to succeed--thank God for the Internet and the ability to trade and RESEARCH! Physical activity today is landscaping and mowing. Plants are different here. Housplants up north are hedges here --I' planted a one gallon gardenia 3 yrs ago - now 5 ft, blooms 200+ flowers then 2- 3 flowers per day! Bougenvillas never stop . There's no time of year without flowers. Waves are high and surf is up! Afternoon - tennis with my wife at the Riverside Racquet right by the Indian River so there's a breeze. Courts very well maintained -as usual only three or four courts taken and we could play forever but an hour is about it. Return home to find our 16 year old Molly doing her daily laps in the lap pool we built when we bought the house.
Tues. Sept 12 Morning walk, warm, big waves, and not a soul on the beach (dog so lazy he didn’t go). Day after Sept11 5th anniversary --good time to think and exercise at the same time. One phenomenon I have not mentioned that occurs on my morning walks: I walk early so I always see the sunrise(beautiful) but in August-Sept. I can look to the West where the moon is still clearly visible and not low-why? I don’t know but the first time I noticed it I felt like I was in a SciFi movie or something. Now it is just another beautiful feature that I accept as everyday.
Afternoon: consulting tasks to take care of and then work out with the weights-set up by the pool but sheltered from rain (the only place to workout is outside in my opinion) then a quick dip in the pool and back to work. One thing completely different from up north: workouts, biking, walks, tennis, kayaking are year-round activities-there is no getting fat over the Dec. through March months. I’ve lost 30 lbs since moving here (Thank goodness, since everyone always sees you in your bathing suit) and my wife, who topped out at 110 lbs. is down to 101-she looks like an advertisement for the AB BUILDER. Losing weight really does give you more energy.
Wed. Sept 13 have to plan for a business trip and make arrangements, flying out of either Orlando or Palm Beach Airports. For years we made our living telecommuting to see clients as do many down here. There must be 12 other parents at my daughter’s school (St. Ed’s on the island) that travel around the country from Vero as home base for their jobs, to run businesses, etc. (There’s nothing like coming home and taking that first step out the airport sliding door--warm tropical breeze, slide the sunroof back and enjoy the trip home - seems almost illegal).
Financial reading etc. in the morning-- then down to the beach to see space shuttle launch in the AM --everyone congregates on the beach --easy to see the rocket without binoculars (first time I watched I brought binoculars but was so interested in what was going on in the ocean I missed the whole shot.). Every one applauds and that is that. Launches after 4 PM are occasion for wine and lingering on the beach. After lunch down to the beach again to watch the surfing contest (they love the big waves) -- incredible how talented these kids are and they attract a pretty large group of onlookers.
Thurs Sept 14 . Today’s kayak day and it was perfect this morning: 9:00 AM: around 80 degrees and a slight breeze with big fluffy clouds skittering around but plenty of sun. Went to Round Island, about 2miles from my house down A1A – a Wild life preserve and boat ramp on the river with plenty of parking. Today a kayak tour had a medium sized group of touristas out. Plenty to see at Round Island: Manatees usually feed and loll around in the put-in bay area and occasionally Dolphin come in to feed; Pelicans sit up in the mangroves and Live Oak trees waiting for just the right fish. Here’s the deal on the Indian River: it is actually a tidal lagoon estuary of part fresh, part salt water that stretches 200 miles north into the Inter-coastal system. While parts are very deep for big boats, where I go it’s shallow – reminds me a lot of the Keys. When they dug out the channel allowing larger boats and barges to go north they put the dredged material in piles along each side of the channel anywhere from 300 to 500 yds. apart .—over time, the piles grew into spoil islands with mangroves and various vegetation and small sand beaches - . talk about a kayak destination! Whether you’re in a kayak or motorized boat, you see all kinds of wildlife and birds (including the wacky cormorants which can fly and swim underwater--the best part being when they break to the surface and shake the water off they look just like Daffy Duck in the old Looney Toons). You can literally kayak through a pod of dolphin and there are always fish literally jumping in the air-incredible. Today I paddled about 1/2 hr. to a spoil island saw eagles and fish then pulled up on a sandy beach had a swig of the water I brought and paddled back on a different route. Just an old guy in a kayak wearing a bathing suit and nothing else ---It can’t get better than that. I kayak twice a week as part of my workout regimen year around.
Fri. Sept 15 This time of year the smaller fish come very close to the beach to feed and avoid predators. The water literally moves with giant schools of a variety of fish. Larger fish including Tarpon come in after them.
A surfer kid I was speaking to said the Tarpon were all over the area, apparent to the surfers. Fishermen work their hobby for hours on the beach. Fish are so large and plentiful that it is common to use a 1ft. fish as bait(yikes). It is impossible for guys fishing on the beach to reel in a large Tarpon--too strong. A couple of years ago a guy hooked a big boy from the beach and had the heavy-duty equipment so the line or reel would not break (which is what usually happens). – then the Tarpon took off and started fighting. The guy was pulled for an hour or so at least 1 mile North and finally had to cut his own line since the fish had dragged him so far out only his head was above water! Of course by then he had a big crowd watching .his spectacle. Amazing! They’re also occasionally in the Indian River.
I’ll add to this diary when interesting things happen in order to convey a sense of what life is like here. A few observations:
Hurricanes: Most predictions seem to mention us as a possible target, but we have not had to evacuate for the past 2 years. Houses are built to a strict code from cement block or poured concrete. Frame houses usually have hardy board sheaths to protect from termites. Vero had not been hit for over 100years but 3 years ago we were hit. We evacuated and when we came back landscaping etc. was ripped up but all fine, our pool enclosure perfect! We did lose a few roof files and took a little water from one window but not serious - all since repaired and weak points reinforced. Most people now have hurricane shutters -When we get a warning now, the place looks like a bunch of armored Bat Caves. Last year a Tropical depression, Wilma, turned into a hurricane, reaching us with winds gusts of 100 mph. We were in the house and it was amazingly quiet and uneventful--looked a bit like a Nor’easter. No damage and electricity was out for only 5 minutes. These houses are built for serious wind--unlike CT or NY. But, if you looked at the news it looked pretty much like the end of the world but from here it no more than a heavy rainstorm. Bottom line: the ’04 storms forced construction from the ‘60s and ‘70s to get updated to current codes and for all of us to know how to protect our homes from storms. Kind of like Mother Nature’s way of purging the weak from the herd!
Weather: yes, Virginia, there ARE seasons in Florida. Check the charts for fall, winter, and spring. Vero is considered ‘where the tropics begin,’ meaning that locales north of us can really get some cold weather in the winter. Summer starts 80 to 85 in June through September; highs usually high 80s sometimes low 90s with humidity. I’ve never seen it above 95. The heat here is the same as up and down the Eastern seaboard – except we have ocean breezes and A/C everywhere (in CT we always lived in old houses without any A/C) --rainbursts common in the afternoon or early evening. Fall runs October through December with the growing season not quite so ferocious; humidity decreases and we open the house up, turn off the A/C and hear the ocean – fabulous! Winter runs Jan-Feb, when temps can occasionally dip into the low 40s (every in parkas, hilarious)
March through May bring Spring when citrus trees bloom, scenting the entire region and growing season again begins in earnest – baseball brings devotees here and low humidity still prevails, with many folks keeping their A/C off. I think this is the best time of year.
Neighbors: neighbor on one side comes from CT. neighbor on the other side NJ. Back is Kentucky (and they are only here 3 weeks a year). Ironically, there are no FL natives in the neighborhood. Around half of folks in our neighborhood keep homes or condos elsewhere, usually parts North, Midwest or Canada. Others, like us with kids as well as a young couple and a few retirees are here year-round.
Visitors: get ready for everybody you know or knew at one time to visit, especially if you’re close to the beach. The good news is home designers clearly know this, so most houses have guest suites or cabanas with separate bathrooms which allow privacy for all and guests to get directly to the pool etc. Perfect especially for In Laws!
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