Every once in a while I think about the bait shops in the north. Last night I was talking to my elder daughter, who happens to live in north Wisconsin. I am sitting on the back porch T-shirt (no sleeves of course) and shorts, 77.6 degrees when she happens to mention it is 2 degrees with a wind chill of 10 below zero. I could not hold back a chuckle, I hear from her during storm season about how can I live here. Well they had tornados and now blizzard+ conditions 10 to 20 degrees below zero the snow plows clearing the roads keep filling the drive way so they have to clear it at least twice a day. What you ask does this have to do with my thoughts, well here in Southwest Florida, we are a year round store, this year August was better business wise than January. I have a much larger pay roll the bills are higher than ever, and the store keeps growing, while on the other hand my counter parts from the north are down here in full swing. Each year we get a bunch of regulars who come down for a fish in holiday, bait shop owners from all over the northern states. It is great catching up with them hearing about what happened over the year.
I think it must be kind of great to be able to just close down and take off. No one would notice, as they are huddled up around the fire place. Ahhh Wait, what, the heck am I thinking! It is going to be 80 degrees out today, I should have a great day at the store. Rouse me, and click the magic shoes and there’s no place like home.
Yes I am happy right here. I would just rather live in paradise.
Speaking of great fishin, the Spanish have moved all the way up to Marker #2 and the 41 bridges. Better with a maverick than a spoon, or a Storm twichin shad.
Good luck,
Frank