One morning I challenged myself to a “fishing competition” — how many fish could I catch before noon. I staked out the pier and cast repeatedly, using shrimp and bait I bought locally. I reeled in flounder, croaker, and small redfish — modest, but satisfying.

For lunch I cleaned and pan-fried the catch with a simple dredging of flour, salt, pepper, and a splash of lemon. Crisp on the outside, tender inside, served with coleslaw and grilled corn.

In the evening, I tried the pickleball courts newly added on the resort. My serve was sloppy, my footwork clumsy, but laughter kept me going. I ended the day with a quiet stargazing session, the Milky Way stretching overhead, listening to the bay.

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Madison Greenwood