The Random Comic Strip

The Random Comic Strip

Words to live by...

"How beautiful it is to do nothing, and to rest afterward."

[Spanish Proverb]

Ius luxuriae publice datum est

(The right to looseness has been officially given)

"Everyone carries a part of society on his shoulders," wrote Ludwig von Mises, "no one is relieved of his share of responsibility by others. And no one can find a safe way for himself if society is sweeping towards destruction. Therefore everyone, in his own interest, must thrust himself vigorously into the intellectual battle."

Apparently, the crossword puzzle that disappeared from the blog, came back.


Sunday, March 29, 2009

Where I Live


This is the state of Florida. As you can see, it strongly resembles a large, flaccid... wait a minute, this is a "family" friendly blog. The big hole in the lower half is called "Lake Okeechobee". The lake's name was taken from two Hitchiti Indian words "Oka" for water and "Chobi" for big or large. Not exactly colorful, though it is descriptive. It is a very shallow lake considering its size, averaging only 9 feet. It is the source of water for all the farming to the south, east, and west of it.

If you find the northernmost point of the lake and look northwest, you will see another somewhat smaller lake. This is Lake Istokpoga, another large shallow lake (this one averages 4-6 feet and only 9-10 foot at the deepest). "Istokpoga" is Seminole for "our people died there", a more colorful name. Both it and Lake Okeechobee are fishing destinations for people from all over. Since I don't fish, that means little to me. People around here look at me oddly when I reveal that.

Continue in that WNW direction from the north tip of that lake and you can see a small red dot. Ok, you will have to click on the Florida picture to see a large enough image before you will find it.

That, my friends, is where I live. An odd fact: It is the farthest inland from any ocean I have ever lived. All my life, I have lived within 30 miles of the ocean (either Atlantic or Pacific) except for an 11 month stay in Orlando when I was just within 50 miles "as the crow flies." Sebring is at least 65 miles from any salt water. Measuring by that same weird crow travel method.


The lake you see in the picture above is called Lake Jackson. It is considered two lakes; Lake Jackson and Little Lake Jackson. Little Lake Jackson is actually a small cove attached to Lake Jackson on the south. They are separated by US Highway 27, a once major artery to the north. I live just to the southwest of Little Lake Jackson. Behind a golf course.

Golf is one of the more important recreational activities in Sebring and surrounding communities. We have a lot of golf courses and that is one of the main reasons I chose the area to retire in. Fishing is probably the most important activity here, though (which is why I get those odd looks I mentioned). As I wrote once before, it is mostly a retirement area. People come here to escape the harsher winters of the northern states and Canada each winter and an awful lot of them eventually come to live here year round. Not all of them, mind you, because it is hot and muggy in the summer.

The Neocounter over on the right gives me some idea where my readers live but I know it is less than precise since it (and others like it) show me originating from places nearby and, sometimes, not so nearby. So I would like to know... if you don't mind... Where do you live?

[920/921]

12 comments:

Everyday Housewife said...

Saying hello from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Michael said...

Kuala Lumpur is a beautiful city, and I'd like to visit Florida again (I went to the Walt Disney World Resort once when I was a kid).

Your odd fact is actually an interesting fact. I've lived in my home, within 1 or 2 miles from the ocean, all my life. And when I fly to the UK, London isn't far from the coast either. I'll be keeping track of this... interesting.

Michael.

Douglas said...

Housewife - Kuala Lumpur is an exotic name for what I would presume is an exotic city. I have have harbored a love for east Asian cultures and locales since my Navy days. Alas, I did not get to visit all the places I would have liked.

Michael - Hong Kong was a beautiful city when I was last there back in 1968. A mixture of Asian and British culture. I am sure it grew into even more of a cosmopolitan city since then.

Pearl said...

Pearl here, checking in from soon-to-be beautiful Minneapolis, MN.

If you could find the Missippi River from the Gulf of Mexico and just travel up, up, up, you will eventually go past my work place, whereupon I will wave and smile.

Pearl

Bagman and Butler said...

Charleston, South Carolina...originally from Wrentham, Massachusetts.

Anonymous said...

Douglas, I understand what you are saying... today I am told by your Neocounter that I am in São Gonçalo which is infact at the other end of Rio de Janeiro and across Guanabara Bay, some 80kms(50m) away.

As for names, an interesting one here is Ipanema, it is a beach and one of the "gentry" type suburbs... it means "stinking water" in Guarani, e(a)fluent if not colourful.

AV

Unknown said...

I'm in Asheville, NC ... but before that, I lived in Ft. Lauderdale for 6 years. In that time, we covered the state and explored every little nook and cranny. :) There's a lot to be seen in Florida.

BTW ... I know you're a Tomus Arcanum follower and today Argentum Vulgaris is a guest blogger on Reduce Footprints. I hope you'll check it out.

Small Footprints
http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com

The Jules said...

Coming atcha from the woolly wilds of the west of England, although your neocounter just says UK, which covers about a thousand miles really.

Anonymous said...

Hi from Australia - the southern part.Driest state on the driest continent.

Small Footprints said...

I'm in Asheville, NC ... but before that, I lived in Ft. Lauderdale for 6 years. In that time, we covered the state and explored every little nook and cranny. :) There's a lot to be seen in Florida.

BTW ... I know you're a Tomus Arcanum follower and today Argentum Vulgaris is a guest blogger on Reduce Footprints. I hope you'll check it out.

Small Footprints
http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com

Michael said...

Kuala Lumpur is a beautiful city, and I'd like to visit Florida again (I went to the Walt Disney World Resort once when I was a kid).

Your odd fact is actually an interesting fact. I've lived in my home, within 1 or 2 miles from the ocean, all my life. And when I fly to the UK, London isn't far from the coast either. I'll be keeping track of this... interesting.

Michael.

Pam said...

Hi from Australia - the southern part.Driest state on the driest continent.