MOTTLEY FAMI LY SPRING BREAK SUMMARY
CLUBS: NOT JUST FOR HIGH SCHOOL THE BEST WAY TO STAY ACT I VE IN RET I REMENT While it’s great not having your nose to the grindstone nine-to-five, leaving work also means leaving behind a lot of daily activities and social interaction. Eventually, having nothing but free time goes from relaxing to isolating, and that can be dangerous to your physical and mental health. When planning for retirement, it’s important to plan ways to stay active and engaged. Joining a new organization or club can be a huge benefit. Here are a few suggestions to help you stay active in retirement. ENJOY YOUR HOBBIES Did you spend years dreaming about hitting the golf course every day? While it can be nice to spend some time alone on the green, consider joining a golfers club if you want to mix things up. Enjoy scrapbooking? Check for get-togethers at the craft shop. If you’ve always wanted to try pottery, look for a class at the rec center. It’s easy to find groups dedicated to just about any activity. GET INVOLVED Think of the causes you’re passionate about and get involved! Animal shelters and soup kitchens are always looking for volunteer help. Book lovers of all ages can join their local Friends of Libraries chapter. To make a difference through politics, help with fundraisers or join an active campaign. If you want to stay closer to home, check out your local homeowners association. There are plenty of ways to engage with like-minded people while making a difference. TRY SOMETHING NEW Don’t know where to start when looking for a group to join? Start online! Try searching “groups for retirees” and see what comes up. You might discover a travel group and start planning your trip to Asia. Or maybe you’ll have more fun mentoring young people in your professional field. Don’t be afraid to spend your retirement doing something new! There’s nothing wrong with enjoying your alone time, but don’t let your alone time turn into a lonely retirement. Joining a group can help you broaden your social circle, stay active, and maybe even learn something new about yourself.
For this year’s spring break, we headed to Key West, Florida. The experience was a little different because it was our first family vacation without Andrew. His college spring break didn’t coincide with the girls’ spring break, so for the first time, we were a man short.
If you head to Key West on a family vacation, I highly recommend the Sunset Key Cottages located on a tiny island
nearby (SunsetKeyCottages. com). To get there, you take a 7-minute boat ride to the resort, which is made up of 1–4-bedroom cottages.
We chose a two-bedroom with a view of the water. The framed cottages are charming, have Key West- or Bermuda-style décor, and come with a small
kitchen and a porch with rocking chairs. Breakfast pastries and more are delivered to your door every morning, and the resort houses Latitudes, a fantastic restaurant with the best sunset views on the island.
The benefit of being on Sunset Key is that you’re away from downtown Key West when you want some peace and quiet, and the resort offers a nice little beach, which is hard to find on Key West. When you want to have some fun, downtown Key West is only minutes away. We weren’t the only ones from Richmond enjoying Sunset Key. At the resort, we met a group of Richmond ladies taking a long weekend vacation together and another Richmond family of six on spring break.
If you go to Key West, here are my top suggestions for restaurants:
Latitudes on Sunset Key See above. Latitudes has terrific seafood and the best, most romantic sunset views in Key West. Antonia’s Authentic Italian with a heavy focus on local seafood is Antonia’s specialty. This is where you’ll find the locals, and it was hands down the best meal we had in Key West. It is located in an old frame building at 615 Duval Street. Visit AntoniasKeyWest.com. Louie’s Backyard. Near the Southernmost Point at 700 Waddell Avenue, Louie’s offers great cuisine to enjoy while sitting outside and overlooking the water. If you go to Key West, this is one of those “you’ve just got to go” places. Check them out at LouiesBackyard.com. Blue Heaven. Another “got to go” place is Blue Heaven. It’s the best brunch spot in Key West. Enter from 729 Thomas Street into a shaded courtyard with massive banyan trees hanging over you. Enjoy a Bloody Mary and some live music while you wait for your table. Visit BlueHeavenKW.com. Caroline’s Café. On Duval Street, Caroline’s Café is another great brunch/lunch spot to duck into if you’re shopping in the area. The jambalaya is top-shelf! Go to CarolinesCafe.com.
2 | (804) 823-2011
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