I know, the tomatoes are the least of my worries, lol. easier to stay calm focusing on that though. we're as prepared as I think we can be. got plenty of water for everyone, stocked up on non perishables, batteries, etc. got a freezer full of ice blocks and a cooler to get a few more hours of refrigeration. got a stocked first aid kit, have a working mental list of who else is around to help each other out (doctors, guys with big trucks, neighbors with generators, etc). the worst power outage we've been through was a couple of days (iirc it was three and a half, summer of 2001 when most of the northeast went dark), definitely not fun. I'm hoping it doesnt get that bad, but time will tell. about 5 years ago we got hit by a northeaster at high tide, JFK airport can open floodgates to prevent flooding of the runways and that caused flooding in my area. assuming that will happen again, although afaik, the airport is currently closed to all incoming flights and most scheduled outgoing flights have been cancelled. my sister in NJ just told me they've issued a tornado watch in her area, that scares me abit 'cuz I've never been through that before. but then again, we just experienced out first earthquake here last week. crazy weather patterns these days! thanks for the prayers, zackey. trying to stay in a good mood for the kids. the last thing they need is a stressed out mom (or they will all end up in my bed tonight, and that's the last thing I need!)

Earl didnt do much hear either. Yesterday was pretty cloudy but it wasnt very windy and it rained only for a minute and it was just a drizzle. I dont think any measurable amount of precipitation actually fell. Today was really nice! I prefer the heat, but the wind and temperatures were perfect. The animals liked it too since I actually saw 2 hummingbirds flying around as soon as I looked out into the yard and this is the first year I have ever seen hummingbirds here. Really just a nice day and it looks like a cool night on the way. This is the first night that has reached the upper 50s since probably June. Its definitely the start of fall, but at least the AC gets a break! Heat returns next week for a few days with temps close to 90, but the heat waves now arent as warm or as long. Fall is here, or at least on the way. The plants are still growing well though! Laura, Im glad you didnt have any damage there! I was a little worried when I saw some of those wind speeds! Those plumerias are probably the first plants to be broken in high winds so Im glad yours had no damage! Earl is a thing of the past and hopefully no other hurricanes will threaten for the summer, but hurricane season is far from over and there are somethings in the Atlantic that have to be watched! So Im glad that everyone stayed safe from this storm! Good luck and enjoy the nice weather! -Alex

Oh boy, I really didn't want to think about this. But I am glad it's been brought up anyway; I have needed to think about it more. We were only lucky that Rita did not do much to us last year. We could just as easily have been goners. I hope all y'all with spouses can at least AGREE on a plan. DW and I have a BIG difference over when to leave versus when to stay put. She is willing to ride out even a Category 3. Me, I want to go to the Hill Country or Lost Pines area, or at least a Brenham-like distance inland, at the earliest hint we're "probable" for a hit by ANY hurricane. On foot with backpacks, or jumping trains, if necessary. (Horse-rustling, even for good riders who are good thieves, is not a good bet.) I figure I can make about 20 miles a day, still. It might kill me; but then, so probably would staying put. You can guess who "wins" on this conflict. Although I try and try to help her to see what she is likely setting us up for. I mean, assuming you can survive the thing or not be seriously injured during it, who wants to get themselves stuck in a flood- and wind-ravaged wasteland, with no essential (or even non-essential) services, that a day before was teeming with people in a fairly comfortable, even luxurious, early 2000s American urban life?! Think: law of the jungle. Wilder than the old Wild West. Diseases galore. No lights at night, except by what you can set on fire, for weeks. And CRIME?! Forget the likely pandemic of mere strong-arm robbery or murder - you would be lucky if you didn't see cannibalism in some places, at some point. I've never been that hungry, but I've been close; I can't make promises about anything if I ever was... I thought the images of Katrina would be enough to sway her to my conservative preference for a plan. She seems to have a death wish: "my home, or my grave, or both." I'm old and not much good anymore, but I'm not ready to go yet, and especially not in a situation like that, if I can help it. God bless everyone else with safety this season!

I suggest you stay in the home and shop around to lower your home insurance. Insurance in coastal FL has gone down in many cases over the past few years. The price difference from carrier to carrier can be very massive. I am assuming it is the wind coverage that is high for you - or is it the flood insurance? Regardless, here are some tips to reduce coverege: 1) increase your wind deductible to 5% or maybe 10% if you can. 2) as stated before, shop around. myflorida.gov(look for dept of insurance) has list of all FL carriers. If your wind insurance is high via your regular carrier(that provides standard HOA insurance) then see about splitting the wind out to Citizens. My carrier went very very high last year and I simply changed carriers are saved a ton over what the new rate would have been. Check with agents that offer insurance through several different carriers. Also you can change your coverage to insure only the home and NO CONTENTS(can split this by wind, fire and flood policies if you have 3 different policies.). This can be risky, but it might reduce your insurance by a lot. This is something I have done for flood and wind coverage and I am willing to live with the risk of losing my furniture and clothing and such and replacing on my own in the event of a wind or flood loss, which in my case is highly unlikely, though anything is possible(the home is covered). Here are other reasons to stay in the home 1) the condo fees are likely to increase and it is also very likely there will be a lump sum assessment that you will have to pay. This is due to the many FL foreclosures and many condo unit owners are not paying their monthly fees lately. In the end, the other condo owners are going to have to pay for all these folks that are not paying - either via a lump sum or increased monthly payments. Also do some web searching about condo associations and squabbling amongst neihbors and also between unit owners and the board. Folks can get real picky and whiny and you can be stuck hearing much whining and folks might whine about your child playing too loud or leaving toys out,etc. You will miss the freedom and peace that you had in a home. If you want your son to enjoy a pool, see about going to a local park that has one, or the Y or similar. Or get a pool in your current yard - doesn't have to be in-ground, unless rules forbid above ground pools. After a couple years, your son will outgrow the pool. Do you have a gulf beach on the island for him to swim - maybe walking distance from your current home? If you want a pet in the future, this can be an issue at the condo. Hurricane prep shouldn't be that huge for you. You can have DH do some general prep before he leaves. As you know, there are really only a few months each year when hurricanes hit - and you really have approx 8-9 months of peace where you don't have to worry about prep for a storm.