YOUNG & FREE

Decades ago before all the concrete & traffic, and before half the state of New York moved here to ruin it, Florida was paradise! Gorgeous tropical wilderness was everywhere! I was raised a free-range child. Everyone was back then and exploring is what we did.

Whenever outdoors, whether it was with friends or alone my parents never knew where I was at any given moment. In First Grade while living on the Intracoastal Waterway in Hobe Sound, I often walked blocks to friend's homes without informing my parents. All my folks cared about was whether or not I showed up on time for meals.

From Hobe Sound, my family moved to the 100 acre place on the Port Salerno border. Here, there were no neighbors within socializing distance, just beautiful eye-filling nature that felt like heaven. Every inch of it was explored either on horseback or on foot.

At age 9 under protest, I moved with my family to our new home within the city limits. Our house overlooked the St. Lucie River. We enjoyed a magnificent view from the back because we were on a steep hill. Visitors would gasp and their jaws would drop at the sight. However, I would have given it up in a heartbeat to go back to those seemingly endless acres of beautiful green wilderness and the lake we left behind. The beauty of that place was serene with no people noise.

The new house was a bad fit for me right from the start. Also life for my family seemed to quickly unravel there. But some of my memories at the beginning are good ones.

We had a 150 ft. dock with a boathouse at the end to the right. On top was a sundeck where we'd take the binoculars. The river was a mile across plus we could see for miles each way. And we brought the radio up there, too. We'd dance to the music! Back then the twist was popular. (They were probably doing it in Siberia!) Thank goodness it was easy to do.

My friends and I swam in the river too and often drifted far from home.

Just to the right of our dock near the shore was a clam bed. During the season I'd wade out and feel them under my bare feet. I'd toss them into my bucket and for days after I'd have fried clams or clam chowder for dinner. I loved it! 

Alone, I frequently took long scenic walks down the shoreline. I watched herds of manatees swimming down the river. Sadly they became fewer and fewer with the passing years until they disappeared altogether. And there were dolphins too! I'd stroll behind all manner of homes. And more than a few times found myself behind the hotel where Natalie Wood honeymooned the first time she and Robert Wagner married.

Once, after a storm I discovered a raft with a long pole & oar washed up on shore. I paddled way out on the river and for long miles. Life moved slower then with plenty of time to savor it.

Just as frequently, I walked to what is now referred to as the Historic Downtown District. A theatre was there and Saturday movie matinees were only 25 cents. Often, I'd stop at the Drug Store for a scrumptious ice cream soda. These were 25 cents also.

Later, when I was in the 11 and 12 age group friends would stay over. On summer evenings we'd walk to town and have dinner at the Drug Store counter; usually hot dogs, fries, & a coke. Then we'd catch the 7:00 PM movie. Afterward, we'd walk home by ourselves in the dark. We were never afraid.

During friend's overnight visits we stayed in our guesthouse across the carport. After my grandfather's death it became vacant. Later, at age 39 I moved over there after Dad re-married. As a kid it was the perfect place for entertaining. We could stay up late as we wanted. Often we'd act out everything we saw in the movie adding our own plot twists and alternate ending. We reveled in pure clean fun and it was glorious!

Children both small and tweens enjoyed far more freedom from parental supervision back then. I can recall only one harrowing incident while being out and about. This happened when I was age 10.

My friend Shelly who was a year older, received a bike for her birthday. She took me for a ride. I sat on the back. We had wheels now and intended to do some major exploring far from home. She peddled into a neighborhood neither of us had ever seen before. Inside an open garage were a group of boys ranging in age from 7 to 15. They were gathered around a motorcycle.

As Shelly pedaled past, a huge vicious German Sheppard came tearing out after us barking and growling! --That dog belonged to one of those boys; you'd think someone would have called it back! Instead, all just looked on with intrigue as if they'd paid tickets for a show! Quickly the dog caught up with the bike! It grabbed my skirt within its snarling teeth. I jerked it free as Shelly pedaled fast away.

I was shaken, but relieved it was only my skirt and not my leg! But usually my friends & I were safe.

Unbeknownst to my parents, to make extra spending money, friends and I would go door-to-door selling oranges, grapefruit, & kumquats from our trees in the yard. We'd start on the next street over and work our way into town. Citrus fruit in Florida was as common as Italian restaurants in Italy. Yet sometimes we got lucky. A nice man once bought our entire bag for a dollar! He led us into his kitchen where he handed us the money.

In retrospect, I see how risky this was. However back then, most adults were considered above reproach and trusted. Now, I can see how this would enable a sicko to take advantage. We just happened to be fortunate. Eventually, a neighbor told my folks and we were ordered to stop. But our fun remained unabated.

Summer days were splendorous and overflowing with joy! Never did I want them to end! Freedom filled the air like perfume.   

Everything changed dramatically with the start of a new school year. There was absolutely nothing pleasant about school, at least not the one where I spent the majority of my attendance.  

I remember my childhood times vividly. Technology had yet to commandeer every aspect of our lives. I may as well have grown up on another planet in comparison to the kids now. And I'm grateful for that!