This season, don’t get trapped in pre-holiday chaos — overwhelmed by commercial consumerism, the need to find the one-and-only perfect gift for your significant other, or the impossible pressure to host the most tweeted-about party or serve a flawless dinner for family and friends.
Instead of letting all the self-imposed “must-do” tasks jingle your bells till you’re jingled out, choose to take a Florida Keys approach to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the winter solstice or whatever festive occasion you’re planning to celebrate.
Who says Christmas cookies are the only treat suitable for leaving out for Santa? Give your holiday a Florida Keys flair by leaving him a slice of Key lime pie to go instead!
What does that mean? This holiday season, adopt the Keys’ traditional laid-back attitude, refusal to take life too seriously, near-reverence for relaxation, and awareness that the best “gift” of all is sharing laughter and closeness with friends and family.
Of course, it’s easiest to immerse yourself in the Keys’ holiday spirit if you’re actually IN the subtropical island chain. But even if you’re not heading south in December, it’s still possible to transcend holiday hassles by capturing the magical Keys mindset wherever you are.
Whether you’re a prospective visitor dreaming of an island getaway or a wannabe resident with scores of visits under your belt, consider these simple steps.
When you’re putting up the Christmas tree or other decorations, incorporate items that remind you of the Keys. Craft whimsical ornaments out of cocktail coasters from your favorite waterfront watering hole, shells found along the shore or maybe some beach pebbles. Find a swatch of colorful tropical fabric to use as a tree skirt.
It might not be traditional, but listening to Jimmy Buffett’s Christmas album should put you in a laid-back mood free of holiday stress.
But that’s only the beginning. The Keys aren’t just a visual paradise. They surround the senses — and, to truly recreate the island chain’s laid-back ambiance, so should your holiday decorations.
For example, when choosing fragrant candles, forget the traditional evergreen or spice varieties and opt instead for coconut or lime. When the candles’ scent fills the air, it’s practically guaranteed to trigger thoughts of beachside tranquility.
Don’t forget the sounds of the islands: palm fronds rustling in the constant breeze, lazy waves lapping the shore or boat, “trop rock” tunes drifting from an open-air bar.
Whether you favor the melodies of Keys guitar wizard Dave Feder, the incomparable rhythms of Howard Livingston & Mile Marker 24, or the natural noises that flavor the islands’ days and nights … download them or find them on Internet radio for a subtropical soundtrack to your holiday. Jimmy Buffett, whose music will forever call to mind the easy Keys lifestyle, even has a Christmas album.
Holidays in the Keys mean palm fronds silhouetted against a blazing sunset — and a welcome taste of tropical tranqility. (Photo by Andy Newman, Florida Keys News Bureau)
And speaking of flavors — there’s no law that decrees eggnog and Christmas cookies are mandatory if you’re throwing a holiday party. Cuban coffee and Key lime pie will make your guests feel more festive by far.
Once you’ve set the stage for your Florida Keys holiday, let the season’s expectations and pressures float away on a sunscreen-scented breeze. Let your surroundings remind you to relax, slow your pace, and savor the things that matter most with the people that matter most.
Of course, the best way to create a Keys holiday is (surprise!) actually escaping to the Florida Keys. So, particularly now that temperatures are dropping in most of America, consider asking Santa for a much-deserved present for you and that special someone: a winter break in your favorite subtropical haven.
(Featured photo at top by Rob O’Neal, Florida Keys News Bureau)
