Greetings from Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores,Alabama on the Gulf of Mexico near the mouth of Mobile Bay.  After following the leaf color south through the Appalachians for a month we have reached what has turned into our destination for the winter.  We have fallen in love with the warm weather, friendly people, accessible retail(including bookstores), wonderful seafood restaurants,low prices and friendly people.  We were originally intending to come south and explore opportunities for seasonal stay in an RV Resort or campground but had expected full occupancy at most sites and that is indeed what we were finding but then someone told us to check out the state park here and we have found our winter home!  This campground used to be closed in the winter but snowbirds convinced the state to open it up with a committment to fill the park and that is apparently what has occurred.  This park caters to snowbirds in the winter and entertains family campers during the warmer summer season.  The winter temp here averages mid 60's during the day and high 40's to low 50's at night.  Just about perfect as far as we are concerned.  This evening we enjoyed broiled red snapper, fresh leaf lettuce salad, boiled new potatoes and fresh strawberries for dessert.  There are numerous fish houses and farm markets to make this type of evening meal possible.

We have been busy getting ourselves established here and have been to the beach only once but it was immediately obvious why the locals refer to these beaches as "sugar beaches" with sand that is the color and consistency of pure cane sugar.  We look forward to spending more time on the beach but the water looks a little cold for swimming.  As you walk through the park you notice the signs advising you not to "aggravate the alligators" but so far we have not sighted these reptiles but are looking forward to the experience(from the safety of our truck we hope).  Yesterday a wild pig was running around the picnic area and managed tomake the local news but our wildlife sightings ceter around the myriad bird species of the gulf coast.  We are only 20 miles from Pensacola NAS, winterhome and training site for the Navy's famed Blue Angels who's frequent flyovers are a thrill every time it happens.  I stand in awe of the navy pilots who exhibit such skill and thank God that young people still feel called to defend our country and do so with such utter devotion.

All the talk of snow and Christmas up in Altoona has our feet itching and we will be leaving Monday to head north and be with our family at Christmas.  We are enjoying this new full-timing lifestyle but our children and grandchildren are still most important to us and we give thanks to God for the blessings he has given us, including the good health to enjoy those blessings.