Along
the way, he’s made some lifelong friends through this hobby and on Sunday we
went to visit Pete, who moved to Florida last year after retiring from University
of Massachusetts.
A 6’4” bachelor who I’ve always thought looks
like a Viking, he bought a house, packed a million boxes of small objects, another million
of paints, and brought it all to the center of Florida, not knowing a soul
here.
The
house is definitely a “guy” house, with the requisite giant recliner in front
of the giant TV, and the predominant decorating theme is boxes, but he’ll get
there. He even now has a dining table.
 |
| One of his two workbenches |
 |
| Just one of Pete's showcases. |
And he seems to be having the time of his life, in a community with endless clubs, an offshoot of the figure/modelers group he belonged to in Massachusetts, and friendly neighbors. He’s going to be just fine.
And so
were we – the 2 ½ hour drive from our spot on the West Coast to his spot in the
middle was definitely worth it. I forgot to mention Pete’s skills in the
kitchen.
(Amazing bruschetta, followed by pasta with Italian sausage, shrimp, and prosciutto in a tomato & cream sauce.)
That sounds like an excellent visit. And glad that the Viking will settle in just fine.
ReplyDeleteThe workbench and display case look wonderful. The food looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely story! It sounds like Pete is settling in beautifully in Florida, surrounded by his passion for painting, collecting, and making new connections. I can definitely imagine the "guy house" with the giant recliner, the TV, and the sea of boxes, all parts of what makes his new life an adventure in the making. And it’s great to see that even with the move, he’s still maintaining his creative side.
ReplyDeleteHow excellent! I wish I had learned to draw, but now my eyesight isn't good enough to even try. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteSadly, absolutely no artistic skill here for me.
DeleteI never had patience for models as a kid. I doubt I'd have any more now.
ReplyDelete