I mentioned our “little piece of PARADISE” in a previous phlog, and I want to tell you more about our little harbor town. The history with this place goes all the way back to 1594 and Ponce de Leon and his CONQUISTADORS. If you check google maps you will see why the PONCE chose this area. The mouth of the Peace River has created this country’s second largest natural harbor. Punta Gorgeous sits right in the middle of the harbor between the river and the pass out to the Gulf of Mexico. Actually about 12 miles out to the Gulf. By land, it is located about halph way between Sarasota and Ft. Myers, FL. About 30 miles either way right off of Interstate 75(I-75). Two hours to Orlando, 90 minutes to Tampa, 3 hours to Miami and 3 hours to the Ft. Lauderdale area on the east side of the state. I’ll tell you more about our history in a later phlog.
Our weather is in the lower third or the sub tropic zone of Florida. This just means warmer winters and more rain than the upper halph of the state. The past phew years, we have had our share of hurricanes. The worst was CHARLEY back in August 2004. And it was a doozie! A direct hit! We had just moved into our home 6 months prior to this storm. We were lucky compared to most of the people who lived in Punta Gorda. We have had some close brushes with other storms since Charley, but nothing like that storm. Charley was the phirst hurricane to hit PUNTA GORGEOUS in 44 years so I figger we have another 30 years or so bephore the next one! Actually, CHARLEY was good phor our little town. It cleared out old run down buildings and homes that were eyesores bephore the storm. Most of the rebuilding has been done phor many years but there are still “scars” phrom 14 years ago. The new building codes that came out after Andrew and Charley have made homes and structures much safer now than before. If you ever have a long weekend, book a flight thru ALLEGIANT AIRLINES which is homebased at our airport here in PUNTA GORDA, and come down phor a visit! I’ll warn you now, you will phall in love with my town! But that’s OK, we have some beautiphul homes, condos or villas available! AND, I will show you how you can have one phor “phree”, if you are not moving down phull time right away. Seriously, pholks are doing it everyday!
I mentioned “VILLAS”. The Nance and I bought a villa about 5 years ago. It had been completely rephurbished. It was the perphect time in our lives to move in to one. VILLA de Phig is in a community of about 60 villa duplexes like ours. They are approx. 1500 sq. ft. 2 bedrooms, 2 baths with an office, or in my case a “mancave”, big kitchen and 2 car garage. 15 phoot ceilings that lead out to a beautiphul lanai that Nance has turned into a jungle oasis with all of her plants. Our villa is an end unit so it is more like a private home. We have a phront yard down to a sidewalk unlike the other closed in duplexes. Within easy walking distance(1/10 mile) to a brand new PUBLIX, SUBWAY, 24/7 Anytime Fitness, Liquor store, PET Store and HOME DEPOT to the south and WalGreens’, Banks, new storage complex, Prophessional offices(Doctor, Dentist, Insurance, Investments) and gas stations close. What more do we need?! We have a community clubhouse with a nice pool and grilling area. The best golf course/country club in the area within walking distance. After 40 years of mowing grass, cleaning the pool, fertilizing, spraying and landscaping…..now I do none of that! Oh GLORY BE!
I have to end this….but I hope you do go on google maps or at least check out where PUNTA GORGEOUS is located in Southwest Phlorida.
Next week we will be on vacation staying with our youngins phor a week or so and enjoying their new home outside of ATL. Looking phorward to a lot of pool time and relaxing with my phavorite people. Nance and my kids!
Talk with you next week……I hope you come back. I’ll be telling you about all my “personalities” and the costumes that have created those personalities.
Have a great week!
PHIG
fig's figments 