A Love Letter to Juno Beach, Florida

Dear Juno Beach Florida,

For three beautiful months we lived beside you. We walked along your shores. We watched the sun rise with our neighbors.

You made Monica the happiest she’s been in years. For that alone I cannot thank you enough. Several times a week my beautiful bride would patrol your sands with a bucket and gather garbage. She served you with a grateful heart.

You were the first Florida beach to meet our daughter-in-law. We flew Bryce and Lizzy into Orlando last November with the full intention of introducing you.

You gave us magnificent waves upon which to ride our boogie boards. You may have broken them, the boogie boards, but no worries. We should have spent more than six dollars. Sorry we were so cheap and our time was cut short.

It was a glorious afternoon regardless. Your minty blue waters were spectacular.

We’ll never forget your performance right after that mini-hurricane. You were at your absolute finest. All the surfers came out to play and we enjoyed watching them carve up the newfound swells.

Just look at this happy girl. She loved you so much that she wanted to bring you into our relationship — an odd three-way collective of boy, girl, beach. I said no, but its not because of you. It’s a me thing. I don’t want to talk about it.

She still opines how we rummaged through your seashells looking for the pretty ones. Our favorites were the shells that curl like a taquito. You dumped your ocean treasures in a wide, orange banner beside the shore, and we could scoop them like couscous from a grocery store bin.

We call them cowboy coins because of the way they clank in our pockets.

Today they are nestled in the corners of our cars or gathered in jars on shelves. Perhaps they reside in some old pocket or piece of luggage waiting to clank onto the floor when we least expect it. I find shell-filled ziplock bags in drawers around the house. Monica leaves her memories of you everywhere.

I think we treasured your sunrises most of all. Active locals would gather beside your pier and watch the light show every morning. Some days the sky was cloudy, but often we were treated to highlights of pink and purple, and orange, of course.

It always impressed us how many people got up to watch the sunrise in Juno Beach.

Here’s a nice look at your swaths of shells and early risers.

Look at these two lovebirds. They’re married now, six months after this photo. Sorry you missed it. It’s hard to fly a beach in for a wedding. But you were present in spirit. And your shells had a nice time.

There’s nothing like seeing your child in love with a wonderful person. It is a feeling I did not know existed. We love you, Lizzy. Thank you for marrying our son and joining our family.

Sadly, we had to leave you, Juno Beach. Our work assignment ended much too soon. You should know that we investigated the cost of real estate nearby to see if something could be worked out.

We could have spent $300K on a concrete pad to park our motorhome.

As lovely as you are, it didn’t sound like a decision we should make. I mean, three-hundred-grand for a concrete slab? Get out of here with that nonsense! Not you, Juno Beach. You stay right where you are. Don’t you dare move. We love you.

But the RV park can keep their overpriced parking space.

Honestly, Juno, I don’t know if we’ll be back. Not that it matters. You have made an impression on our hearts and stirred something deep within my wife. For that we will always be grateful. Thank you, Juno Beach. You have given us so much, and all we did was put in a few janitorial hours.

And thank you for stopping by our website! We are the Hoffmann family, a full-time RV family that has split residence in Seattle, Washington and San Antonio, Texas. We have special needs children that we homeschool, and work travel assignments for the Veteran Affairs Hospital. If you would like to learn more about us, check out our Start Here and Biography pages. In the meantime, God bless and travel happy!

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