Parents are retiring to Satellite Beach. Xmas gift to help them transition? (Archer: home, buy)

[blackdog_9]

My parents will be retiring to Satellite Beach next month and Christmas is just around the corner. I thought it would be a great idea to give each of them something that they could use in their (soon-to-be) new city.

My parents will be moving from norther Wisconsin. My father is ex-army and is really in to hunting, fishing, and home improvement. My mother is learning Spanish, taking tennis lessons, and enjoys outdoor fitness.

I'd like to find a something like a class, an interesting book on local resources, or a gift that they could use that would highlight the best of their new area and give them something to do once they arrived.

Any thoughts or suggestions would really be appreciated.

[TestEngr]

If they are going to live beachside the BEST thing you can buy for them is a very very good radar detector. They will thank you later. Also would help to get or put together an emergency -hurricane preparedness kit of some kind that they hopefully will never use.

[blackdog_9]

A preparedness kit sounds like a great idea! I'll poke around the internets for the necessary ingredients, but its something that I'm sure they would like without having to run out and put together.

As far as a metal detector - what is its purpose? As a hobby? Is it for safety? If I lived on a beach I'd probably go out treasure hunting every day, but if there is something else I'm missing, I'd like to know.

Thanks for your help!

[TestEngr]

Radar detector, not metal detector.... Beachside has many 25 mph zones next to A1A, and they can (and often do) write tickets all day 24/7/365 especially around the beach. Of course he might want a metal detector too for occasional use, dunno

Buy stuff for the beach too, lots of people need something that wheels it all out then becomes a chair with umbrella. You need swim trunks, shorts, sandals, you know all that beach stuff.

[alfbroker]

A hurricane kit. Less stressful to newcomers when hurricane season is months away.

[brucher]

I would suggest to you that you might fly down to see them, with your girlfriend. You all could explore the new area together and make discoveries to all that the new community has to offer. Of course, your mother will want to sit at the beach, but...hey..you might get a little golf in.
Can't be all bad. Think about it when you are battling all that snow in DC.
Sluggo

[blackdog_9]

Busted.

Sounds like a plan, Dad.

[SandmanSand]

A insect identification book.

[Manuel de Vol]

If your Dad is retired from the Army (and has Base privileges) don't overlook Outdoor Rec at Patrick. They've got some good gear at very reasonable rates. The Consolidated Club (Tides) and the sailing club are also a 'good deal'.

If he'S keen on hunting and fishing, the he will need a licence. The prices vary!

I was told: If you want to go fishing (as in maggot dangling) you need a fishing licence.
If you want to go sea fishing in a boat, you need a licence for that.
If you want to fish in the sea from the shore (or from a pier) you need a licence for that.

The website says that everybody who fishes in the sea from the shore must buy a licence ... but the licence is a free licence. (There is a 'handling' charge if you get it by phone or online, but if you go into Wally Mart it's completely free.)

There is a licence called the "Gold Sportsman's License (includes Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing licenses; and Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl, Snook and Lobster permits)". It costs $100 a year, but if your father has a military ID, it costs $20. See this page.

[Florida Freebird]

HAHAHA! I love how your father found this thread.

I know Christmas is over, and it's probably too late, but if they don't already have one, a GPS might be a good idea if they're not too familiar with the area.