Sometimes You Just Need a Little Salt Therapy
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121499)
Gainesville, Florida
July 30, 2019 6:49pm CST
One of the beautiful things about living in Florida is that a beach is never far away. I've had a rough couple of weeks at work. Overall, my summers usually are pretty brutal, but the last few weeks have been especially cumbersome for me, so Sunday when one of my paintball teammates asked me if I wanted to go fishing with him in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, I jumped at the chance. Sure, I had to call out "sick" at work, but I've got a cool boss and he told me to have a good time.
So off we went on a beautiful Monday, out of a little hole-in-the-wall and virtually unknown patch of land called Keaton Beach, and enjoyed a great day of fishing on the Gulf of Mexico in northwestern Florida, in the Big Bend area of the panhandle.
Can't say we were too successful on the fishing, although we did catch a few grouper, but the beer was ice cold and the view was to die for (and I'm not just talking about the bikini-clad women that came along).
As can always be expected, no one wants their vacation, staycation or day-trip to come to an end, and it certainly was the case for us, but hey...such is life. I got a little salt therapy to hold me over, so I'm good for a few more weeks at least. And how can I complain anyway when I live in paradise?
What do you do when you need a little "therapy" to help you cope with life? Do you have a chance to escape to somewhere exotic, out of the way, or off the beaten path?
37 people like this
34 responses
@LadyDuck (470776)
• Switzerland
1 Aug 19
@moffittjc I love scallops, I am not a fan of raw oysters, but I love fried oysters "New Orleans style".
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
Oh yes, the oysters are amazing up in the Panhandle. In the area where we were, clams and scallops are the big delicacies.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Aug 19
@LadyDuck I haven’t met an oyster yet that I didn’t like...no matter how they’re prepared!
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (83859)
• Rupert, Idaho
31 Jul 19
That sounds like a nice day of fishing, even just being able to see that view! I guess my "therapy" is listening to music and doing art. Don't really have anywhere special to go like that!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
In the absence of a beach, you have found a way to create your own "salt therapy."
The fishing was the bonus for me. I just went along to enjoy the views and get out on the ocean for a little bit. It's been a while since I've been out on the boat.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Aug 19
@MommyOfEli2013 My buddy is on vacation for 9 days, so I plan on joining him again on Saturday to do some more fishing in the Gulf.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (83859)
• Rupert, Idaho
1 Aug 19
@moffittjc Yes, I believe so....and sometimes I add the water into my designs!
Well that is good that it was a bonus for you.....sounds nice to go out there and enjoy the view!
1 person likes this
@kareng (59050)
• United States
3 Aug 19
@moffittjc 
I would come in a heartbeat if I could. Taking care of my mother has road trips on hold. Reminds me of old bets with USC friend. LSU doesn't play them often, but we always had bets on the game. We both ended up wit opposing team jerseys and tshirts.
I would come in a heartbeat if I could. Taking care of my mother has road trips on hold. Reminds me of old bets with USC friend. LSU doesn't play them often, but we always had bets on the game. We both ended up wit opposing team jerseys and tshirts.1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Aug 19
@kareng I believe the Gators play at LSU this season, which I anticipate will be a great game. We might have to do a little friendly wager when the time comes! And a lot of trash talking! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
Florida is open for business, come on down and visit! I'll load you up with all kinds of great Gator gear, and I won't even charge you for it! haha
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
2 Aug 19
Beautiful photo! And I'm glad you all had fun! You have an awesome & understanding boss! 
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
3 Aug 19
@moffittjc Saturday is tomorrow! Sounds like a fun (for you, not me) 
What’s the catch usually in flordia?
What’s the catch usually in flordia?1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Aug 19
Thanks! I'm going to try to head out for a little more fishing on Saturday if I can. Hopefully the weather will be just as beautiful.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Aug 19
@infatuatedbby Tomorrow we are going scalloping. I absolutely LOVE scallops, so I hope we catch a lot!
There's all kinds of fish in the waters around Florida to catch: grouper, redfish, snapper, tuna, dolphin (the fish not the mammal), kingfish, bluefish, swordfish, snook, sea bass and more!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
Wisconsin has a thumb? LOL So what is the big fun thing to do up in Door County? I will admit I'm not at all familiar with Wisconsin.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Aug 19
@just4him Oh cool. Thanks for the map and the explanation. That's nice that they keep all the fast-food places away. It would kill the small-town charm!
1 person likes this
@just4him (317004)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
1 Aug 19
@moffittjc Here is a picture of Wisconsin. The upper part of the thumb is Door County. It's a tourist destination because it's all small-town shops. They don't allow any of the fast-food franchises up there. It's also known for its cherries. Lots of cherry orchards there as well.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (176652)
• United States
31 Jul 19
I'm glad you had a good time. I'm retired; so I'm not under any real pressure. I would like to travel but am unable to. First place I would want to go to would be the Keys and Everglades. We've been there 4x; and it's our favorite place to be.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
Oh yes, I love the Keys, used to spend time there all the time when I lived in south Florida. That was my escape from reality. Nothing like living life on Island Time in the Keys!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
@LindaOHio Oh yes, manatees are a real treat for people who have never experienced them before. I grew up swimming with the manatees, back in the days before it was illegal to tough them. They are such gentle giants. I've got a few pictures somewhere of my girlfriend and I swimming with manatees at Three Sisters Springs near Manatee Springs in Homosassa (just north of Tampa).
And I definitely know where you're coming from when you talk about staring at the crystal clear and beautifully-colored waters of the Keys. It's very hypnotic and mesmerizing!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (176652)
• United States
31 Jul 19
@moffittjc For me, that's my heaven on Earth. I could just look at the colors of the shallow water all day long...and look for gators in the Everglades...all kinds of neat stuff. Saw my first manatee in the Glades the last time we were down there.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
1 Aug 19
@moffittjc how lovely, enjoying the sunset. One of these days I am going to live near a beach.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Aug 19
@simone10 Just wait until the next big hurricane strikes, and then you can pick up some beachfront real estate for dirt cheap!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
Thanks! I really like the photo too! I snapped it as we were heading back in to shore. The sun was setting in the west and we were heading east back to the marina. We decided to stop and just sit and enjoy the sunset.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
We haven't eaten the grouper yet. My buddy is going to make blackened grouper to bring to paintball practice on Sunday.
Can't wait to have you back here in paradise!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
31 Jul 19
@moffittjc That's terrific. I love grouper. Of course I only have it in paradise.
Can't wait to go home!!!! 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
@DianneN Blackened grouper sandwiches are a favorite lunch meal of mine! But now that I think about it, there's no bad way to prepare grouper, it's all delicious!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
Oh yeah, Cozumel is a nice one! But I'm sure you also have nice beaches closer to home that you can get your salt therapy from!
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (119361)
• United States
31 Jul 19
@moffittjc Yes I live about 20 minutes from the beach and 30 minutes from our favorite beach, Island Beach State Park. I think it was recently ranked as the #1 state park in the country.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
@NJChicaa See, there you go! You have your own little slice of paradise up there in Jersey! Isn't it nice to be able to escape so quickly and conveniently to a nearby beach?
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
31 Jul 19
@moffittjc
That is a great idea. I go on our porch and read a book and my cat will visit me. No, no place exotic for me. That is a special boss. Most bosses would not let you have a day off and would complain that there is so much work to do.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
During the summer, I often get stuck working all seven days of the week, so my boss is always telling me I need to take some time off.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Aug 19
@Hannihar Sometimes our bosses forget the toll that being overworked does to our health, not realizing that the extra stress levels can make us sick.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
1 Aug 19
@moffittjc
What a nice boss you have. I have had bosses and they go on vacation and expect me to work very hard while they are gone and I did and got bronchitis and then people did not believe me that I got sick and called me up to come in to work. That is nerve.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
I've always enjoyed Cancun for the night life and the tantalizing beauties. But I've always enjoyed Cozumel for the incredible scuba diving and snorkeling....and tantalizing beauties.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
@porwest What would a beach be without tantalizing beauties? lol
1 person likes this
@scottishbarbie (336)
•
31 Jul 19
I used to live near the beach on the west coast, but now I'm in more of a desert area, I'm hoping to move back towards the beach next summer. I can't wait to be in the refreshing air again!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
West coast of Florida, or west coast of the Unites States? lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
@scottishbarbie I'm so jealous! I love Oregon! One of my co-workers just came back from a week-long vacation out there!
1 person likes this
@scottishbarbie (336)
•
31 Jul 19
@moffittjc lol West Coast of the US! Beautiful Oregon!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
It's nice that we all have our individual places of refuge to retreat to when necessary. Mine has always been the ocean.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Aug 19
@CarolDM We certainly have some very appealing oceans here! lol
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
1 Aug 19
@moffittjc And maybe that is why you are in Florida.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
There's nothing better than an escape to the water, even if for only a day or a weekend! Do you live close to the ocean?
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
@JeahNika That's not too bad at all. A nice short little drive. I hope you get to enjoy the beach often!
1 person likes this
@JeahNika (383)
• Philippines
31 Jul 19
@moffittjc Closest is a 15 min drive from home :)
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50080)
• United States
31 Jul 19
I'm so jealous. I wish that I lived near a beach. I haven't swam in the ocean in 19 years.
I'm 12 hours from Tampa.
I'm 12 hours from Tampa.1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50080)
• United States
31 Jul 19
@moffittjc Tampa is my city of birth. I've only been there twice since 1987. I miss Clearwater Beach so much. I'm 12 hours from Tampa.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
@Tampa_girl7 I was just talking to a couple of friends of mine about heading over to Clearwater Beach soon. Such a great beach, one of my favorite places to hang out. It's a shame you live so far away now. The greater Tampa Bay area is so beautiful.
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
Marie, you have the word "Tampa" in your username! That has "beach" written all over it! LOL
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (105254)
• Marion, Ohio
31 Jul 19
@moffittjc I like the 4 legged. They are more understanding and keep secrets better
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
@wolfgirl569 I can't argue against your reasoning! But I can make a case for why I like the 2-legged variety! But I won't go into detail on this family-friendly site!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
I like cuddling with the two-legged variety of critter!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79362)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
31 Jul 19
I usually go walking on the beach. I am in Daytona Beach and the good thing here is that the beach has packed sand and you never sink into it so you can walk on the beach and just let the stress roll away.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79362)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Aug 19
@moffittjc yes, I can walk to the beach but I usually keep to walking the boardwalk and the oceanside park because I don't like crowds and during this time the beach is usually full of locals and tourists and the streets are empty.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Aug 19
@RasmaSandra Is Daytona Beach still crowded even during the summer? Many beaches in Florida are practically empty in the summer as all the tourists are gone and most Floridians take vacations up north.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
Do you live right near the beach? Do you ever visit the boardwalk area?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
@JudyEv Thirty minutes is not too bad at all. Do you and Vince ever take a day to go enjoy the beach together?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
I was going to say, you live in a very wonderful and therapeutic place already! How far are you from the beaches of WA?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (338657)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Jul 19
@moffittjc The nearest beaches are 30 minutes away at Bunbury. Further south, there are a lot of surf beaches that come complete with sharks.
1 person likes this
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
31 Jul 19
I keep telling myself i need a beach getaway.... one of these days i am just gonna go with or without anyone and just enjoy it
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
Sometimes you just have to drop everything and go! That's what I did on Monday.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Aug 19
@chrissbergstrom I wish I could do that every Monday! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 19
You should have come along with me...
1 person likes this
