Merry Christmas to all!

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Mike Jastrzebski

One of the hardest things I’ve had to get used to since we moved aboard Rough Draft and sailed her south to Florida is the lack of a white Christmas.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the warm winters and wouldn’t move back north for anything, but if I had a wish granted to me at this time of the year I think I’d wish it would snow in Florida every Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I’d gladly put up with the cold weather two days a year.

I grew up in Michigan and my Christmas memories are of snowball fights, snowmen, and the cold. There were a few years when the snow was skimpy, but it was rare not to have a least a little snow on the ground for the holidays.

I’ve moved around a lot over the years. My early adult years were northern moves; to Maine then back to Michigan then to Minnesota, so the snow was always there. In those early years the cold didn’t bother me as much as it does today and I thought nothing of shoveling snow. Minnesota brought more snow than anyplace else I lived, but a snow blower replaced the shovel and I tolerated the cold.

In October of 2003 when Mary and I headed south on our boat I swore I would not set foot north of the Mason-Dixon line between November first and March first. Except for the year Mary’s mother died I’ve stuck to that oath.

It seems that the Florida sun has baked and thinned my blood to the point where I just can’t tolerate the cold weather. But still, for those two days of the year I think I could put up with it.

Of course South Florida’s not going to get snow on Christmas during my lifetime, but if I were a kid again I think I’d add a white Christmas to my wish list to Santa.

Share on Facebook

About Mike Jastrzebski

In September of 2003 my wife, Mary, and I moved aboard our 36-foot Sailboat, Roughdraft. It was our intention to take the boat south from Minnesota to warmer climates where I would write a novel. Six years later I have completed 3 mystery novels. I have published the first two books, The Storm Killer and Key Lime Blues as e-books and trade paperbacks. The third book, Dog River Blues will be released in early 2011. It is my intention to use this blog to share what I’ve learned while trying to get published. I will also blog about the trials and tribulations of living on a sailboat. We sailed the boat from Minnesota to Mobile, Alabama where we lived for two years. We also spent three months living in Key West. Currently, the boat is docked in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In 2011 we plan to take the boat to the Caribbean where we plan to drift until it is no longer fun.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to Merry Christmas to all!

  1. Conrad Brown says:
    December 25, 2012 at 5:08 pm

    When I found Florida I swore never to live north of where palm trees grow-and for years didn’t. But after re-discovering my love of mountains in North Carolina, we made the move. Now if this damn palm nut will only sprout in my tomato patch this spring……

  2. Mike jastrzebski says:
    December 25, 2012 at 9:35 pm

    Conrad, I think the mountains sound nice. I suppose we could sail the boat down the mountains when it snows, the only problem is getting it to the top of the mountain in the first place.