Regardless of what number of people seem within the pages of every version of Keys Weekly, there are at all times so many extra of our group members who need to be acknowledged. In an effort to shine a highlight on extra of the unimaginable people who dwell and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to highlight our Neighbor of the Week characteristic, devoted to celebrating a group member with every subject.
This week’s neighbor is Traci Slendak, who works part-time on the present store at Castaway Waterfront Restaurant and loves speaking with the guests. She additionally hosts and takes care of canine with Rover. She likes to play grandma with the sweetest pups, then give them again. Her husband Rip, who grew up fishing within the Keys, owns a constitution fishing enterprise known as Riplines out of Marathon.
How lengthy have you ever been within the Keys and what introduced you right here? I’m from Tallahassee and my husband is from Fort Lauderdale. We knew one another from FSU within the ’80s. We had not seen each other in 39 years and rediscovered each other on Fb in 2020. Sparks flew on the telephone and we needed to see one another once more. After only a month collectively we determined to get married! We each knew we wished to be again in Florida once more, however we lived in Minnesota for a couple of yr.
What do you do for enjoyable within the Keys and why do you like dwelling right here? My favourite factor to do right here is to open my patio door each morning, really feel the temperature and assume I’m in probably the most excellent climate within the nation. I’m completely happy sitting on my higher deck simply taking all of it in. I really feel very fortunate and completely happy to be right here. Sometimes, we go watch the sundown on the bridge with a cup of wine. It’s really easy dwelling down right here.
What would the title of your biography be? “Miss Understood: The life and occasions of somebody making an attempt to determine all of it out.”
Which actress would play you in a film about your life? Somebody tall and enjoyable – perhaps Allison Janney?
Describe your most weird life expertise to this point: Getting older with again ache. I’ve at all times been a robust, wholesome individual and I’ve at all times liked being lively and in a position. I’m 63 years previous. If it wasn’t for decrease again ache, I’d really feel like I’m 30. I’d play tennis and golf, I’d trip horses, climb rocks and train. I’d stroll the Previous Seven Mile Bridge every single day with my husband.
In case you had been a salad, what sort of dressing would you will have? One thing candy and nutty. Raspberry walnut French dressing on wild greens.
In case you gained the lottery, what would you spend the cash on? I’d purchase a chunk of land with a bunch of cute little particular person cottages, enhance each in a unique theme and invite household and buddies to return any time they need. I’d identify every cottage after them.
Describe the colour inexperienced with out utilizing its identify: I feel it seems to be like grass smells – alive and recent.
What’s one affordable change that you just’d prefer to see occur within the Keys? I’d undoubtedly present extra cheap housing for those that wished to work right here. There’s no getting forward when all of your cash goes to lease.
What’s one factor individuals don’t find out about you? I just lately counted each house I’ve lived in since delivery and it’s 23 houses. I grew up in Tallahassee and have lived in Texas, New Jersey, California, Utah, Hawaii and again to Florida.
I’ve visited 4 continents: Asia, Australia, Europe and naturally North America.
Know somebody who can be an excellent Neighbor of the Week? Electronic mail keysweeklyjen@gmail.com.