I’m doing something today that feels very anti-algorithm and very human. Imagine that. 😄 I want to personally welcome everyone who is already here. So if you’re seeing this, say hi below. Tell me where you’re from, whether you’ve been to Key West once, 100 times, or are still dreaming about that first trip. And if you’re more of a quiet reader, that’s okay too. You can wave with an emoji and we’ll count it. 🌴 P.S. What was the first Key West spot that made you think, yep, this place has me? For me... the short version was the first drink we were handed at Margaritaville and the bartender asked where we were from. It was such a "I am home" moment. Up until that point we were living in a very rural place and it was all about who you were related to. Being born in a very tourist driven place, Alaska (again long story), no one was from there and the first question most people asked was... so where are you from.

How did this place first find you? Was it a vacation? A cruise stop? A book? A song? A friend who wouldn’t stop talking about it? A random internet rabbit hole that turned into “well, now I need to go there”? For me, Key West has always been more than pretty water and cocktails. It’s the stories. The history. The quirky little details. The feeling that every street corner has something to whisper if you slow down long enough. Now your turn. How did Key West or the Florida Keys first get on your radar?

Sometimes people see the videos, posts, lives, book club picks, and newsletters and think there is a very organized content command center happening over here. Please enjoy the truth: sometimes it is me, a cup of coffee, 14 open tabs, a half-formed idea, and Mr. Coffee judging me from his comfy dog bed. But this is also the part I love. Digging into Key West stories. Finding the little details. Figuring out how to make history, books, food, drinks, and travel all feel like one big island conversation. That’s really what I want this space to become. Not just “here’s another post,” but a place where we can slow down and talk about why these places and stories matter. So here’s my question for you: What kind of Key West stories do you wish more people talked about?

Not your favorite restaurant. Not your favorite sunset. Not the big bucket-list answer. I want the small moment. The sound of roosters in the morning.The first sip of Cuban coffee.That hot wall of air when you step off the plane.A weird little side street.A bartender who made you laugh.A walk where you had nowhere to be. What is one small Key West moment that still makes you smile? Mine would probably involve coffee, chickens, and me pretending I am not already planning my next trip before the current one is over. Your turn.

This month we’re reading Green Flash at Sunset by Nic Schuck, and I’m so excited to talk about it here. No pressure on reading speed. Some of us fly through a book. Some of us read three pages, fall asleep, and wake up with the book on our face. Both are valid literary lifestyles. To start us off: What made you interested in this book? Was it the Key West connection? The author? The cover? The story? Or are you just here because I gently nudged you into another island-themed reading adventure?