We’ve stumbled into a tradition, quite by accident. It wasn’t planned or carefully thought out; instead, we jostled, bumped into and tripped over it. For the past two years, we’ve gone to Florida during the holidays, and I’m pretty sure this will become a regular thing.
One year, we went to Siesta Key with high school friends and their families. It was everything a winter trip to Florida should be – beautiful, sunny and serene. This year, we found ourselves in the not-quite-real city of Rosemary Beach, a charming spot in a stretch of northern Florida known as 30A. I say “not quite real” because many of these beach towns are newly built, barely incorporated (if at all) and feel as fabricated as Disney World.
Rosemary Beach, where we stayed for nearly a week, is a whimsical mix of architectural styles – European colonial from the Dutch West Indies, with hints of New Orleans and St. Augustine. The streets are inviting, the shops charming and the restaurants romantic. Its white sand beaches and vibrant, picturesque color palette make it a hidden gem. Somehow, we unearthed it and made it our own.
This year, we tried something unconventional – a blended family holiday. It was a setup that raised a few eyebrows when I mentioned it: my son, new husband, ex-husband, his girlfriend and her daughter, all sharing one rental house. Add two dogs, a lot of shared history, and you’ve got a recipe for … something. But family is family, and this untraditional holiday felt perfect for our new lives moving forward.
No shuffling between extended families’ houses. No tugging my son from one parent’s home to another.
Instead, something new; maybe a little awkward, definitely unconventional, but absolutely worth it.
Our days were simple and joyful. We headed to the beach and lounged in the sun. It wasn’t overly warm – comfortable enough for bathing suits, though with a touch of chill at times. The kids dug in the sand and splashed in the waves while the adults cracked beers and listened to music.
It should have been weird. But it wasn’t.
After all, I spent more than a decade with my ex-husband, and while we weren’t good at being married, we’ve always been excellent at being friends. Travelling together has always been easy, and our shared history makes the flow of things natural. My new husband has formed a genuine friendship with my ex. The two of them laugh, joke and get along famously. Whether they were lugging beach chairs up steep, wooden stairs or tossing each other a cold beer, everything just worked.
Our holiday meal was a collaborative effort, with everyone pitching in. We ate together, washed dishes side by side, and enjoyed the warm camaraderie. I found moments of peace in the Florida Room – a spacious, screened-in porch with rope swings and bistro tables overlooking the wild, untamed woods that separated the vacation homes.
We explored Rosemary Beach, poking around overpriced boutiques and indulging in seafood specialties fresh from the Gulf. When we weren’t in the mood to tackle the beach, we swam in the pool or relaxed at the house with movies.
In every way, this trip was magical. A dreamy little beach community, soft sunlight and the sense of building something new – a tradition that feels uniquely ours. Beautiful, meaningful and full of love, just like our blended family.
