The gusto of the New Year is upon us! For the next several days I shall be overtaken by the promise of novelty and reactive engineering. Last evening in anticipation of this purifying juncture I began my amendment by deleting from my computing devices volumes of files, books and music which are either no longer relevant or which have extended resemblance of any possible utility far beyond conceivable application. In short it was an overall cleanse of whatever texture was within my most frequented sphere. Thus enthused I stole to my lair upstairs. It was long after the firecrackers had stopped at midnight at nearby Baker’s Cay and the erstwhile riotous clamour had subdued to intermittent boisterous echoes only. I hid under the duvet and remorselessly said goodbye to 2022.

Being as I am beyond perfection (by which I mean incapable thereof) I have pragmatically adjusted to life’s maturing patina with all its intended mitigation.  I am thus enabled to extract from reality both its metaphorical and purposeful interpretation.  No longer am I meaningfully propelled by austerity of drink, combustibles or food.  My scope of eradication has diminished to whatever I conclude happens to contaminate or obstruct my pleasure and enjoyment of life. This clearly less than altruistic ambition is by my latest reckoning a more productive component of personal affirmation.

I slept for a mere five hours last night then motivated myself, whether by instinct or the propulsion of yet another inexpressible day on Key Largo, to arise from my sleepy overnight lounge, to shower and refine myself to commence another day. My pursuit was directed in particular to what has become my davenport and office of amplification, the seat of unrestrained allegiance to the epicurean delight of the pool and sunbathing. I have by now calculated and predicted the movement and projection of the sun above the eastern horizon of rich green trees and palms. Everything bodes a subtropical influence and gentleness. The atmosphere is soothing and calm; every element of humanity is transported to a hitherto incomplete elucidation and frictionless state.

Meanwhile the surrounding beasts, young and old and many in between, returned one by one to the strength of the common resource, answering the call of nature for social exploit and improvement. Some were now so frequent as to qualify as wallpaper to the colourful scene abounding. The conversation was at times intense but always familiar and familial. The association is welcoming and conjoining.

I in turn have contented myself to brook another day of vacant enterprise, alternately switching my accomplishment from the patio (where I elongated myself) to the pool (where I paddled about aimlessly) then back again to reignite the corporate machinery. The late afternoon reward for my endurance was a cup of chilled tea with freshly squeezed lemon juice, complemented in this particular instance by the prior flitting pleasure of driving home into the blinding setting sun from the local provisioner where we secured enough for the larder to last a fortnight.

These are moments of incalculable rapture and gratification. We’ve further perpetuated the delight with what I consider incomparable tapas, a plate resembling an appetizer consisting of sliced grape tomatoes, torn fresh basil leaves, black Kalamata olives, grated Parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper and a  side of uncured Bianco d’Oro Italian dried salami. And this is only the beginning! Not a bad way to start the New Year!