A Couple of Couples in Captiva

I always enjoy meeting people on holiday, having an ice cream by the pool, finding out what kind of music they like, do they have a boyfriend/girlfriend... but it's completely different this time around, as I am no longer 13, and this type of conversation just does not suffice!

On our first evening in Captiva, Callum started talking to the couple in the adjoining cottage, which then lead to them coming over for a beer, not an ice cream; talking about their marriage, not their courtship and the music preference turned into Presidential Candidacy!

At some points, I felt I was in over my head (I've already admitted my political failings to you and to them) but mostly I enjoyed myself... and had a few feelings of...oh my lord, I'm getting old! It is a strange feeling, when, having been on holidays many times with my mother and father, not having them around when the conversation grew limited or went, indeed, over my head! However, our neighbours were fantastic, here for another couple of days and more than happy to listen to our stilted opinions of the elections, and excitement towards our onward journey.

We saw them a couple more times, on the beach and around the Jensen's resorts, swapped email addresses and had another beer together. All in all it was a typical holiday encounter, which I really, thoroughly enjoyed.

Getting into the swing of the 'grown up chat' malarky, I was delighted to find another couple on our way back from dropping off our car in Fort Myers. Cal and I had worried over the expense of getting back onto Captiva without our trusty automobile, finding out it was going to cost us 80 bucks didn't exactly fill our little souls with glee.... until we found the 'other couple' (I almost feel we cheated on the first with a younger, hotter couple...which sounds weird, and also untrue!)

He held up a sign asking if anyone was going their way and if so, did they want to split a cab... so that's just what we did. And on our journey we exchanged info; where we were all from; how longing we were staying; where exactly we were staying; had we been before - you know the story.

It was all very pleasant, no one over stepping the mark, everybody's politeness making way for a genuinely delightful holiday chat. Until Couple Deux revealed they were devout church goers and all of a sudden, unexpectedly, I became somewhat uncomfortable.

Not being religious myself, I am whole heartedly respectful of others said religion and take it in my stride to listen to their beliefs; and I really don't think I'm on my own when I say that, as soon as you know that these strangers before you are the God fearing type of fellows - conversation becomes a little stifled. I did not want to offend either of them, and as my every day language can be a little coarse (I know, you just wouldn't believe it) I decided to try and shut up for the rest of the journey without them sprinkling holy water on me or praying for my soul.

Anyway, we'd told them of our writing and they said they would try and check out the Jensen's resort and website - my good deed done for the day, I was happy to say our goodbyes and felt safe in the knowledge that I hadn't, indeed, offended anyone and she sent me on my way "God Bless You." And I feel that's not so bad as we still have another month and a half of travelling ahead.

Breathing a sigh of relief, having saved a bunch of dollars in the cab of religion, I spent the next day reading a great book, 'The Seduction of Mrs Pendlebury' (By Margaret Forster - it's good, look it up) A 1970's British affair, 200 odd pages of good reading... all being well with the world, I absorbed myself in the literature. The ever mentioned waves playing, what now feels like my personal soundtrack, accompanying my reading...

'That must be Jenni!"

Couple Deux had arrived, stradling their bicycles, they had hunted us out - I felt like they'd come back to ask me to accept Him into my life.

"Don't you look all cute and relaxed!?"

I was before you got here... I quickly hid my book in sheer terror that the title would offend, although the content wouldn't and engaged myself in more polite chit-chat (Callum being no where near to help me out!) I couldn't, however, have felt worse for what could only have been my own short sighted stereotyping. They were a genuinley lovely couple, who were nothing more than excited to hear more about our travelling plans. And even gave us tips about where to get cheap theatre tickets in New York (Which did surprise me, because, isn't NYC full of sin?!)

So me now feeling suitably sheepish, as she announced that she must hug me - we said of goodbyes. I was far too quick to judge and I felt awful, so I gave them a few leaflets for the Jensen's boat rentals, telling them they'd love it and felt right with the world once again for doing another good deed!

We're yet to meet Couple Trois, but we have taken advantage of our quiet time on Captiva. I'm excited about our onward journey, but will greatly miss the hospitality and tranquility of the Jensen's... I'll just thank my lucky stars we're here for another 5 days!

Jen