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No place like Almost Heaven — even in the snow
By Dr. Marty Becker
January 26, 2010
I spent most of last week in Orlando at the North American Veterinary Conference, where I spoke to veterinarians about the human-animal bond and filmed some public service announcements, news segments and informational videos.
The weather in Orlando was warm and mostly sunny. There were palm trees, great food, old friends to catch up with, and some of the best minds in veterinary medicine sharing their wisdom.
A lot of people joked with me on Twitter and Facebook that coming back to northern Idaho in the middle of winter after a week in Florida must be hard. But it was hard to respond in kind, because a few things I saw in Orlando weren’t so sunny.
I’ve already told you about the animals at the Orange County Animal Services shelter, who don’t have enough beds to keep them off the cement floors (although we’re going to fix that, aren’t we?). But there was a human dark side to Orlando, too.
One day, we went out to a quiet suburban neighborhood to do some filming in one of the houses. As I looked down the street afterward, I realized that not one house had a car in the driveway. There were no signs of life at all. At least half the homes on that street were in foreclosure.
So even though it’s cold here in Idaho, my family and I are safe and warm inside our log home. All our animals are safe, too — Shakira begging me to throw the ball for her, the horses and cats snug in the barn, and Quora and Quixote curled up on the sofa cushions (but not the dog pad, as you can see).
Late Sunday night when I let the dogs out, I heard the distant hoot of an owl from the pasture by our barn. Teresa and I listened for a long time, and when I woke up the next morning, I could still hear him, even through the heavy log walls of our home.
My buddy at Idaho Fish and Game, Greg Johnson, told us it might have been a great horned owl, although we have great grey and long-eared owls around here, too.
I went down to the feed the horses and give the barn cats their ear scritches. It was cold, and there was snow on the ground, and I was a long way from Orlando’s sunshine. But I wouldn’t trade it for anywhere else on earth.
Photos all taken with my iPhone. Top is from my appearance on Orlando’s Fox 35 with anchor Jackie Sosa, talking about pet obesity, dental disease and thunderstorm phobias. The second is at Emerald Isle Resort, ten minutes from Disneyworld. The third is of Quora and Quixote.
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I love winter. The cold, the quality of the light. I would just die if I lived in Florida. Too bright! And too flat!
I like the blue light of winter. I like overcast days. I think I’m a bat.
Comment by Mary Mary — January 26, 2010 @ 6:35 am
Plus it’s quiet in the winter. Plus all the yards in the neighborhood are “equal” when covered with snow. (I don’t do perfect yards. I don’t mind a weed or 10.) Plus no insects and no (shudder) thunderstorms.
Comment by Mary Mary — January 26, 2010 @ 6:55 am
Generally, I don’t do much more than *endure* winter, constantly reminding myself that spring is just around the corner. Four years living in the wastelands of upstate New York took their toll on me, and New England winters are only slightly better. However, pieces like Dr. Becker’s remind me that January in a wonderfully idyllic location like Almost Heaven, under the right conditions, can still be far better than warmer spots like Orlando. The one time I visited that corner of Idaho I was driving east to Coeur d’Alene from Spokane in a convertible (it was July) and was suddenly overtaken by the most intense scent of pine I’ve ever experienced. Laid out in front of me on I-90 was (what seemed to me to be) an enormous pine forest, and I nearly hyperventilated while driving, because I couldn’t get enough of the smell of pine in my lungs. I definitely get the allure of a spot like that. I could see myself living in Maine some day, near my own verdant forest close to Acadia, even in the winter…
Comment by David S. Greene — January 26, 2010 @ 9:52 am
I think Dr. Becker almost has me convinced that CdA/Sandpoint is a better relo for me than Sequim/Port Angeles/Port Townsend. He’s sure working on it!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — January 26, 2010 @ 10:05 am
Gina, having lived just a ways east of the Idaho panhandle I can tell you that you will see many more sunny days in Idaho than you will in that part of Washington.
Comment by C.L.H. — January 26, 2010 @ 1:57 pm
Marty,
Thanks so much for coming down and visiting emerald island. Just to fill in the blanks (and the empty driveways), EI is a vacation community where 95% of the homes are short term rental vacation homes and last week was a “low season week”. With the economy occupancy is minimal during the off season. As a statistic, at the moment, 50 of 500 homes are in foreclosure and abouit 10 of 80 on the street. That being said, it is a beautiful resort (from a long term homeowner!), even when it is freezing :-)
Comment by Chuck — January 26, 2010 @ 5:34 pm
You are right Marty, I live here in FL and have been mostly not working for more than a year. There just aren’t jobs to be had. Officially, unemployment is at 11% or so, but that doesn’t count the people who’s unemployment benefits have run out, or those who gave up and moved. The pets are suffering. It is really disheartening when someone implies that all these people were irresponsible, it’s just not the case. Lots of us were tanked by the irresponsible. I am grateful for warm winters : )
Comment by Cynthia M — January 27, 2010 @ 4:24 am