RELOCATION PROJECT

Written by Captain Mary on Friday, November 23, 2007

I had to change my life, once again. I moved away from the Florida Keys (what went through my head)and headed north. My daughter had moved to Orlando and perhaps it was the place to be. I got an apartment nearby. Looked for work, which there wasn't much. The hospitality and service industry was big there and for that fact it still is. I don't know how it happened or where we met, you guessed it number 4. This is the 3rd guy who was much younger than me, 12 years this time. I must be grasping at something, youth perhaps. I was fit and attracted this young, 6foot 5inch man. We looked rediculous together. I was 5foot tall and perhaps a 100pounds wet. We spent time traveling to the coast and visiting the Keys. Still not certain that my relocation was succesful. A mere six months after arriving in Orlando I had enough. Another relocation project ensued, this time I was hooked up with a man. My next move was to Bonita Beach, near Ft. Myers. Still not paying attention to those little signs which keep coming, I move. On moving day into our new apartment moving boxes and furniture a lady stops me interupting my focus. A little old lady, she seemed upset and nearly frantic, I drop everything to listen to her problem. She said "I need your help", for what I wondered. The little old lady wanted me to go into her boyfriends apartment, which was next door to mine and check on him. She handed me the key and I proceeded to walk in the apartment. The place was dark and musty, there didn't seem to be anyone home. She convinced me to check the bedroom, I was reluctant, not to mention trespassing, she insisted that he couldn't be anywhere else. The sun was shinning through the blinds and distoreted my vision, the little old lady stayed at the doorway. My eyes adjusted to the light and low and behold there lies her boyfriend as she called him. He didn't appear to be alive. Not knowing how to be anything but blunt I told her I think he is dead. She started screaming at me,"you have to check, you have to check", damn I can't believe the things I do for people. I moved slowly over to what appeared to be a man sleeping like a rock. When I touched him, he was cold. Again I hear screaming "shake him, shake him", what could I do. I grabbed his shoulder and shook him, he was so stiff his arms flew up in the air, I guess I really shook him. I looked at the little old lady and said "Yep, he's dead". I walked out of the room and began to make some phone calls, the police, fire department, who the hell do I call? I helped the little old lady make some calls and with all the commotion from the police the land lady finally poked her head out of the apartment with her mute mini pincher by her side, his bark of hollow air was pretty funny too. She walked passed the police toward me, where I had resumed moving boxes, she says to me I can't believe another person died in that apartment. My face was one of utter shock, she continued to reassure me by telling me not to worry nobody in the apartment I was moving into had died. Are you paying attention yet. Do these signs point to anything, am I so blind I don't notice yet another sign, this one isn't going to be a good relocation or relationship. Nope I don't see it yet. Closed the door after the land lady completly reasurred me.
Now I start my new life again, new apartment, dead guy next door, and my new man, still alive and kicking, for now.

SQUATTERS RIGHTS

Written by Captain Mary on Sunday, November 11, 2007

My 3rd relationship did end with my man leaving me for my own friend, well not really much of a friend. She divorced her husband and the two of them went on to have happy lives. So they thought. After our break up my x continued to contact me. Still craving the life we once had and the fun that never ended. Ha! My x's new wife had become a problem for me, I think she suspected that her new husband(my x) was continuing to carry on with me. She was right indeed. She would call my house looking for him, I would always say I didn't know what she was talking about. She became relentless. I decided that I would just be truthful about the whole thing, since he was my man first I figured I had SQUATTER RIGHTS, doesn't that work with husbands too? I was in possession for the last 7 years.
I was ready for her the next time, she called as I knew she would, I simply told her that he was in the Shower and I would give him the message. She continued to haunt me, she really crossed the Mary line when she managed to get hired at the same place I was working at the time. I was driving a boat for a local dive shop, after the dive trip I pulled up to the dock and off loaded my customers, one of my co-workers came over to me and told me who the new hire was. I may have never run into her, because the captains stay dockside and not at the shop. Since it was payday anyway I thought to myself well lets get this over with. I confronted her and told her that I simply had Squatters Rights, if she didn't like it, she could go. That was the last time I ever saw her. As for her husband, we continued this little adventure, meeting in places all over the Southern part of the state from Orlando to the Florida Keys. It was fun while it lasted, I began to get bored. There was just no water involved in our relationship any longer. I had no intention of keeping him or taking him back. After an exciting three years I gave up Squatters Rights.

I MET HIM IN THE SHOWER

Written by Captain Mary on Sunday, November 04, 2007

After the breakup of my second husband, I was in no hurry to rush into another relationship, but I was a little lonely, still young and full of passion. My friends would just drop in when ever they were in the neighborhood. This particular day I was in the shower, my usual friend naturally waits in the living room while I get myself together, the friend he brought with him doesn't. Washing my hair and pretty much oblivious of anything else, well, a naked man whom I had never met arrives in my shower, pulls the curtain aside and steps it. He reaches his hand out and introduces himself to me. I was a bit stunned, at the same time quite pleased at what I saw. We proceeded to get to know each other.
We started by selling everything we owned and buying a sailboat which we lived on for over 3 years. No clue on how to sail, this I learned quickly. It seemed like quite the life. We lived off the land so to speak, had to eat sea food, lobster sandwich's, crab snacks and an assortment of treats. We did have to get jobs eventually, that is if we wanted to stay alive. Didn't have large expenses but we needed a bit for essentials.

My last husband and I became certified Scuba Divers and I thought that maybe being and Instructor would be good. I did all the tests and schooling and got a job, taking people diving. Living in the Florida Keys at the time, there was a good market for that career move. My partner worked on the boats also, he decided to become a boat captain. What a team we made.

We would spend our days on the water and the evening too. After some time it was difficult to pursue these careers without having a stable base for operations. After a few years we got a little place on the water, where we got a boat with a motor on it. Well, actually the boat was mine, we spent each evening water-skiing or fishing or some other water sport. Life was wonderful. I would even say perfect. Who knows what happens sometimes, but things fall in separate directions, the life in the Keys, which is commonly called Keys Disease, overcame my partner and he ran around with other women. That wasn't so bad, but when he took another woman on my boat, well he crossed the line. He had to go. This was the saddest end, not only am I getting rid of a man, it was the free and wonderful lifestyle that would end.

He moved on and I remained, this is when I decided it was time for me to get my Captains license and have more than one career to fall back on.

I met him in the Shower and we spent 7 years working, living and playing in or on the water.

Still paying attention, everything that happens, does it for a reason.