The view from our full-length porch for a glorious week.

This is a state park cabin … Bahia Honda in the Florida Keys. Reservations are snapped up within minutes. This lagoon is bayside; we could walk to the ocean side in minutes. Unfortunately that beach is closed for hurricane cleanup, but we still have one open at the park and we know of numerous other public beaches.

I’m sitting on the porch with a cocktail, barefoot wearing shorts and a tank top, and there are crickets chirping like mad. A perfect January evening for Michiganders.

Not bad for a state park cabin, huh? Two bedrooms and the bathroom has a tub.

Walking around the lagoon:

Upper level is our porch; down below is our deck. We stood at the rail and watched a school of fish nibbling at the coral below. It’s 77 and sunny, bay to one side and ocean to the other on this narrow portion of this key. We may do nothing today besides chill on one of several beach options … and we’re in no hurry to decide.

Watching an angler pick up traps.

Price Is Right audition: “What would you pay for this exotic Calusa Beach palm tree?”