2026 Countdown
Living on the Space Coast, enjoying old and new

T-23:40 That’s the time until the next launch tomorrow. The Space Coast is bustling as we move into 2026. You have to keep an eye on your app for updates on launch times. SpaceX is busy populating outer space with satellites. Look up.
The holidays are over, and it’s time to get back on the good foot, with new resolve for more exercise and healthier eating. Or at least to give it a try. After the Pork and Sauerkraut and Hoppin’ John of New Year’s Day, salads sound pretty good.


We have a new schedule down here. Get up before sunrise to watch it on the beach during a walk. Come home and eat a late breakfast/early lunch (aptly called brunch), then head back to the beach in the late afternoon to catch the sunset lighting up the sky as the sun sinks into the Indian River Lagoon. Midday, we do chores, getting this beach house ready for prime time.


Happy Hour is serious business on the Space Coast, with many establishments offering specials between 4 and 6 pm. We have checked out a few—though none are as good as The Fat Snook’s half price any appetizer and wine specials.



We tried the Sunset Cafe in Cocoa Beach, enjoying an excellent Martini and Manhattan, prepared with hilarious attitude by bartender Lizzie. Their Fish Dip was very good, served with carrot and celery sticks and a cascading pile of Captain’s Wafers, which paired nicely with the savory spread. We struck up a conversation with the man on the next barstool who was enjoying a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon with a chaser of Miller Light. That was a new pairing! At Cadillac Cove in Satellite Beach, we encountered a very tasty Fish Dip made with smoked mahi mahi and served with deep-fried pita triangles.
But our clear favorite and, so far, the best happy hour deal in the area, is at The Fat Snook, which is about a mile south of where we live. Our favorite server there, Sarah, is attentive and helpful and fills us in on what new brilliant idea is coming out of their kitchen. You even get an Amuse Bouche to start, one small bite to tune your palate to the interplay of flavors coming your way.





We ventured out one morning for breakfast at the Juice ‘n Java cafe in Cocoa Beach and it was tasty but rather heavy-handed with the “spread” on the sourdough bread. It was not butter. But the latte was delicious because they roast the beans on site and take great pride in creating the perfect foamy beverage.


Yesterday afternoon, we took a ride up past Cape Canaveral and into Port Canaveral to gawk at the incredible hulking cruise ships. On Friday nights, we watch the cruise ships heading out from our beach. There can be up to six of the behemoths on the horizon, heading to the Caribbean and beyond.




After leaving the busy port, we found a little seafood market that sells local fish and picked up some pompano to try something new. What a treat! Mild and sweet, the fillets were highlighted by a simple preparation with seasoned flour and a quick sauté in browned butter, accentuating their fresh, delicate nature.



After leaving the fish market, we stopped by Manatee Sanctuary Park on the Indian River. Less than a mile from the bustling cruise ship lines, we watched a Roseate Spoonbill and a Blue Heron fish in a little pond and enjoyed a quiet moment in nature. A young man who was fishing showed us the snook he caught, then let it go back into the river.


The Cocoa Beach library is as much of a lifeline for me here as the wonderful Alpine library was back in Wyoming. But this one is bigger and has many, many programs. I enjoy the yoga sessions (for $5) on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Yesterday I attended a cooking demo by a local chef, Fernando Navarrette, of The So Good Chef. I was hoping to learn some tips on preparing local Florida specialties, but the chef’s demo was on—Stuffed Cabbage.





The crowd was enthusiastic and had lots of questions for the seasoned pro, who proceeded to demo how he made his dish, with a cooked filling of ground beef and rice. It was not my Aunt Sophie’s Stuffed Cabbage, but it was tasty, and all the tasters who surrounded the table like hungry pelicans at the fish cleaning station were very pleased with the result. One German man brought in a stuffed cabbage of his own for the chef to taste and critique. Made in the style of northern Germany, the stuffed roll was served with a beef broth—no tomato at all. Different strokes...
Our life in Florida is a study in extremes—the simple natural world in contrast with rocket ships launching satellites into space and cruise ships ferrying thousands of passengers. We are like the birds; we walk on the beach, and we eat. And we keep an eye on the sky.





Love this!
Sounds like magic🦩