Keep Key West Weird

Key West is surprisingly tacky yet refreshingly unrefined. At Naples City Dock, we were politely discouraged from hanging the laundry on the lifelines to dry. Not that they mind, of course, but there is a steady stream of locals who come down to the dock and like to see the city keep a respectable appearance. We’re anchored at Key West instead of berthed at a marina. However, I get the impression that the locals here can accommodate both the washing-optional or the clothing-optional lifestyle. If you prefer to wash, by all means, hang the laundry wherever and expect a friendly wave if the display includes sexy undergarments. The street performers offer a lot of insight into the town at their until-sunset variety show. The Great Rondini mentioned that if you’re straight, that’s OK at Key West. If you’re gay, that’s OK at Key West. If you are bi, that is just being greedy. In short, local color abounds here. They’d readily understand Austin’s “Keep Austin Weird” motto but they don’t seem to have all those tech nerds threatening their weirdness. If we get a chance to visit the sidestreets, maybe there will be guys wearing laced shoes in the shadows discussing Steve Job’s health. (Scott & Sherrie, if you’re out there sign up as followers and we’ll lay off Austin tech nerds. Lily so misses O and Anna). On the medical front, we are currently foregoing Jake’s toe surgery. We got vastly different opinions from the Naples ortho and the podiatrist who treated Jake. Since we are on the boat and on the move, we are opting for the old-fashioned tape-and-hope approach which has worked so well on the knee and finger. I suppose we could have consulted the palm reader last night regarding whether the toe will ever look normal. We didn’t even think of that question after learning that Jake would not be supplying us with any future grandchildren! Hopefully, it is not the crooked toe that scares the women all away.