Changes in Latitude

Dale, Carol, the Tiki Gal and I had dinner at McNellie's on Monday evening and dessert at The Chalkboard. During the evening, our conversation touched on the fact that we all needed a change in latitude. Therefore, in preparation for our migration to a warmer climate I've decided to do some research to determine the best place for our combined families to live. Here, then, is the first in a series of entries that will determine the location and home we hope to occupy at some point in the future.

Our first candidate is a lovely home on Grand Cayman. This six bedroom, six-and-a-half bath

home is close to shopping and public transportation. It has a microwave and is on city water. Oh, and one other little thing... it has a private beach. I can imagine waking up every morning and drinking coffee on the patio while watching the waves gently crashing on the shore. Now in order to afford this home at a reduced price of $8.9 million, I will need to take it easy on the coffee because I will be selling my kidneys as well as most of my other body parts but, come on, look at that beach. It will be well worth it.

Also, living on Grand Cayman will be a blast because we can get season tickets to the turtle farm (sorry Dale, I just couldn't resist.)

The second candidate is twice the size of the Grand Cayman home at a third of the price. This home is located in Cozumel, totals over ten thousand square feet and only costs $2.6 million. It consists of nine bedrooms spread over a compound of four buildings. The main residence has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a study, the kitchen, a living room and a dining room. The guest villa has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a dining room. The guest bungalow has two bedrooms, two baths and a kitchenette. And finally, the servant's

quarters has a bedroom and bathroom, a kitchen and a terrace. Whew! I think we would all have plenty of room to live there. We would also have enough room to start a commune. The beach doesn't look quite as nice as the one at the Grand Cayman house but the price is much easier to live with. I might be able to keep an appendage or two if we choose this one.

So now that you've seen the choices, use the comments section to vote for your favorite and explain why you chose that house because only well thought out votes will count. I'm not selling body parts based on the flip of a coin.

Careful consideration is required here because each island has its own charms and dangers. For instance, Cozumel is arguably more fun than Grand Cayman but that may be because the drink of choice in Cozumel is tequila. There is a danger that we won't remember anything that happens after noon for the rest of our lives if we move to Cozumel. On the other hand, the food in Cozumel seems to be considerably better than on Grand Cayman and everyone drives on the right side of the road instead of the wrong (left) side. I would give up a few memories for good food.

Over the course of this last weekend, Dale and I also drank some beer.

Augustiner Munich Maximator

Color: Black

Skunkiness: 0 skunks

Taste: Sweet and malty with tastes of honey and toffee.

Comments: This was the last of the beer I brought back from Florida and, apparently, we saved the best for last. We do enjoy our double bocks and this was as good as any we've had.

Carol Rating: 5 on a scale of 1 or 5.

Rating: 4.5 pints.

Peroni

Color: Very light gold. Peroni is practically transparent.

Skunkiness: 0 skunks

Taste: A little hoppy. A typical light colored beer.

Comments: Peroni doesn't have a lot of character although it is not objectionable. Carol was underwhelmed. Dale and I would drink it if it was free.

Carol Rating: 1

Rating: 3 pints