Local hospitality

So after some debating we decided to do the rest of our stay here. It's a slow relaxed way of living here and is just what I need before heading back into life in the states. We enjoy our rituals here of tea time and reading in the hammocks, as well as the daily trips into town for fresh bread, eggs, and fruit for a day or two. But the real thing keeping us here is the people. We have Al and Gem that are our regular people to hang out with. We have drinks with them and they have us over for dinner for proper Thai food. There's a small group of seasonal locals, most of which are in the dive scene, and they all stick together. So its always a celebration at night with bdays, or dive certs that get everyone together for some laughs and drinks. Tonight we went up to a dinner party and had proper fish and chips as well as a Portuguese chicken and rice. We sat in their pool and veranda to watch the sunset over the bay. Mind you this was a million dollar view anywhere else in the world. It's just great after being here for such a short time to feel at home rather than a tourist that just get looked at as an atm. It's great to hear stories of how all the locals came to be here and the different ways they make it work to come back every winter. People here have opened their homes, kitchens, bars, and most of all their hearts to welcome a couple of new arrivals. Its also nice for me to stay put and not move around so much because its the transitions that get you in expenses. I'd rather live it up in a place I really like than put pins on a map of all the cities I saw for a day or two. My only regret is that ill leave the island a day before the Thai new year where everyone has a nation wide water fight. I will be taking the bus on the 12th back to Bangkok to sleep a few hours in the airport before heading back on my flights. Miss you all and its just about a week before ill be home. This extra month has flown by so fast I can't grasp it. But time flies... when you don't own a watch!!
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