Clubbing on Stock Island

It's starting to look good for ocean swimming so my wife and I have been gingerly prepping our 14 foot center console boat to get it out of winter mothballs and ready for swimming duty. While that project develops we are still going swimming at our favorite heated pool at the Key West Harbor Yacht Club, on Stock Island.

This place used to be the grimy but useful Peninsular Marine, where we'd bring our sailboat for haul outs from time to time. The gravel, mixed in with liberal coatings of ground off toxic bottom pant has gone, covered by asphalt and brick paving. Te rue some offices and even more unwholesome toilets, reminiscent of a Turkish jail are gone replaced by a super gentrified clubhouse with sauna, gym, restaurant and bar. I'd like a range of decent modern craft beers but Yuengling will do in a pinch.

Kathy had herself a glass of red wine, while Carol, on the right, stuck with white. My wife favors Mojitos around here and after our strenuous swim, sort of, we ordered lobster pasta, salad and duck breast. And lots of conversation, on the outdoor patio.

it was busy even though snowbirds have been streaming North. This here Yacht Club has nothing to do with the Key West Yacht Club on North Roosevelt, a bastion of Conch power, much disliked because the city rents them their waterfront space for a dollar a year. We should all be so lucky!

Coming here is like taking a small vacation from Key West, a paradox I know for people who consider the city a destination in and of itself. But when you live here this is a nice change of pace, cheerful service, crisp linens, nice views and nowhere to be and nothing to do. Ah!

Gentrification has its benefits.

Posted with Blogsy