Island Escape, Return to the Island

For the second time in our married lives, Penny and I have returned to cold winter from a tropical escape. The first time was in 2001 when we stayed at a friend's house on Oahu for 5 weeks. That time we landed in a typical icy landscape at Kennedy airport; our pores were wide open and our clothing minimal and our tans were no defense at all. And at the wrong terminal to catch the bus to Manhattan. Damn near froze before we got on the bus. Ah, memories!

This time, we had been to St. Croix (say-croy, a piece of literature advised) for 6 days. in a little cottage on the west side, with a small group of friends. (The green arrow below is provided by Google and has nothing to do with where we were.)




The flight back on Thursday from San Juan was cloudy most of the way until we looked out and saw Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard below us, as clear as if from a satellite--our view was of course from an angle as the plane descended--the green arrow in Google image below is pointing at Nantucket and I can't figure out how to eliminate it.

As soon as we landed the snow started--"Welcome back to the winter reality you only thought you'd escaped, ha ha!"

I said to Penny: "I feel as if we've been evicted from Eden."

We both had to fight off colds.

What exactly is the point of an escape to a beautiful warm sunny place with turquoise waters, colorful little fish, frigate birds and pelicans, dolphins swimming past about 50 yards from your front door--if it doesn't shield you from the awful shock of return?

This: I'd do it again.
Remember when winter was fun? See: http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2008/02/24/