Monday June 11 - Ft Lauderdale - Home At Last!

It has been 42 days since I left home.  When I woke up, I sat up in bed (as I usually do when I'm at home in Florida) and looked at the beautiful blue sky, palm trees, turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean and beautiful waters in the inland waterway and the bright sun - I'm home at last and so thankful for the wonderful experience that I'm just had.  I've met the most wonderful people everywhere I've been.  The tour guides were excellent, our travel group in China was fun and so very easy to travel with, and everyone was so helpful to me in the many strange surroundings.  I'm ecstatic.

But the saying is true - There's No Place Like Home!  The best feeling in the world is knowing that your family and all of those that you love and your home are there for you when you return.

So I unwound today - spent 2 1/2 hours at the beach and started attacking the huge stack of mail.  I unpacked the cloissone bowl - it is so beautiful.  It is now back to reality - but I need to figure out what that is for me in my retirement.  The bills and every day responsibilities are inevitable, but there are more adventures in my future.  I've enjoyed this adventure so much, I'm already planning another one - next time to Africa for a safari (need to determine which country) and a stop in the South Pacific at one of the remote islands.  I'll fill in the other stops on the next around-the-world trip.  This too will be fun to "dream" about and plan.  I'm ready.

This Journal now comes to a close.

Larry