My dad and I loved fishing for largemouth bass together in “Old Florida.” We had many favorite spots, though never the particular lake you’re writing about. But it does look like bass heaven!

It’s funny how completely different worlds can squeeze together into almost the same spaces. When I went to Florida with Dad, the world I experienced was almost timeless. We enjoyed marshes, lakes, swamps, and rivers that must have been relatively unchanged for centuries.

When I went off on my own to dance in gay clubs in glittering cities, I may have traveled for only a few miles, but I plunged into something like a parallel universe.

I don’t think Florida is unique in this respect but I do think the effect is more pronounced in Florida.

It’s part of what makes it special for me.