You have known me long enough to know I enjoy writing about
things that are most important to me. The last several months have been a real
eye-opener. I mean, you work hard in life trying to reach your goals, your
dreams, but, sometimes you try so hard and never make much progress.
Right?
My wife and I lived in southern California for more than 23
years. The reasons we moved out there were two-fold. It had always been one of
my wife’s dreams to live in California. And, my motives were obvious. I wanted
to be in the entertainment business. I have been training in acting and theatre
almost all my adult life and have numerous credits that I don’t even list them all
on my resume on IMdB.
For many years we enjoyed our life in California, making many
wonderful friends, enjoying gatherings, and traveling throughout the beautiful
state.
I wrote and published three novels, and all three have
garnered excellent reviews. My last novel, Road to Siran, won a literary prize
from Feathered Quill.
After graduating from CSUCI and receiving my political
science degree this past May, (mind you I was still taking acting classes while
working on the degree), we decided to move to Florida.
Reasons? Many.
I never realized how ultra-liberal our colleges and
universities have become, both within the classroom and around campus. In
attending CSUCI, it become very apparent that if I expressed my opinions in
class (and I happen to be a very vocal person), and if my opinions were opposite
those of the professor’s, I was either ridiculed or ignored. Even so, I managed
to keep a decent grade point average and earned A’s and B’s in all my classes
except for one. That particular professor was more adamant than the rest. We
butted heads daily, and he awarded me a D+.
So, I finally reached the point where I knew I had had enough
with this nonsense. My wife had been wanting to move back east for several
years. Her patience with the liberal politics of California wore out well
before mine.
In addition, she had inherited a small cottage in Navarre
from her mother and wished to live there full-time.
We talked for many months. Should we move? Should we stay?
The political reasons for both of us had become obvious. And, the economic
reasons just made perfect sense. With both of us retired and on fixed incomes,
why pay exorbitant rent when we had a home with no mortgage? Why pay California
state income tax, when Florida had none? Gas prices and food? No comparison.
And, we would be closer to our daughter and grandchildren.
The momentous decision made, we packed up, hired movers for
the household items, and shipped both our cars. The afternoon the movers
finished and drove off, we left for LAX. In the space of less than twelve hours
we were no longer Californians, but Floridians.
In the beginning, I must admit, I had a very hard time adjusting.
Everything is different here. The weather, the people, the entire atmosphere.
Slowly, I began to realize how much better life in Florida is. I love my
afternoons at Starbuck’s reading and writing, and my wife and I take walks together
on the beach every evening. In fact, I have lost 37 pounds, my high blood
pressure has and my sugar levels have lowered.
My wife could not be happier. She enjoys her morning coffee
on the back patio, her solitary morning walks on the beach, and loves to putter
around in the yard. For her, her dream of living in Seashell Cottage has become
a reality.
Come to think of it, I don’t think either one of us want to
live anywhere but Navarre, Florida.
Getting back to my wanting to succeed in the film business. It
didn’t happen in California where I assumed it would, but it is happening now
that we are in Florida. Murder on the Naval Base, I am proud say, is currently in the
process of being adapted into a film. The screenplay is
nearly completed and we are waiting to hear about financing.
Also, I recently signed a contract with The Wayne Agency for
adult theatrical and commercial representation. You see my point? Now that we
moved to Florida, all my dreams are coming true. I guess life insisted that I
wait until I was settled in the right place.
You never know when opportunity will come knocking on your
door. But, when it does, you had better to be ready to grab on and take it, no
matter where it occurs.