In The Shadow of The Mouse

My personal swamp at the end of the street.

Living in the same town with Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney's 20,000+ acre dream can be difficult. Orlando in the 50's was just a little backwater citrus grove. In the 60's, Uncle Walty sent teams of lawyers and other types to buy up as much swamp as the could. By the time anyone caught on, Walt had him nearly 26,000 acres of wetlands and swamp. They reclaimed it inch by inch, pond by pond. Poor Walt died before it was finished. This is a very strange place to live, and unfortunately, I just landed here.

I am comforted though, by the amount of nature and wildlife that still exists here. I saw an Osprey high atop a utility pole in her nest today, as well as about a dozen Grebe hatchlings roaring around mother when I went down to take a quick picture. There are still a lot of trees here, along with nearly 8,000 lakes over ten acres, and thousands of smaller lakes and ponds. I reckon I can make do for a while, if I hang out down by the lake. Of course there are always my Washing-Bears.