Nearly every night during the last 90 nights, I’ve enjoyed overhearing the 9 pm fireworks extravaganza from Epcot Center in Disney World. The first few nights were a little like eavesdropping - curious about the roaring booms and fiery rat-a-tat pops, unsure how long it would go on or where exactly it was coming from. Close to a month later, I knew for sure the 13 minute explosion was Epcot’s nightly finale, and not the Magic Kingdom or Celebration or even Old Town Kissimmee just across the street. Nearly six weeks passed before I got to see them in person - a finish to a day park hopping that left me without words, or breath, nothing but a gigantic satisfied smile for seeing this beauty in person once and for all. Tonight is the last night I will hear the familiar thunderous “goodnight” of Epcot’s fireworks, we are leaving Orlando tomorrow.

My last 24 hrs. to hear the Barred Owl hooting “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all” at all times night and day, and tomorrow before the sun has even started thinking of rising, will be my last day to hear the little unidentified bird that I swear is immitating a car alarm. We’re leaving the racoons to rummage through someone elses garbage, the gator to think about eating someone else’s dog, the deer in the nearby swamp to amuse some other unsuspecting RV’er.

Our time in Orlando has been well spent. Though being in such flat country does have me at a serious disadvantage navigationally, I have figured things out. I have no formula for how long it takes to gain familiarity in an area, but it is a part of the traveling routine I enjoy a great deal. Something as simple as picking the right grocery store and making friendly acquaintance with the clerks can make a big difference on “living” in an area. Making friends in the Orlando area was a different sort of challenge - the residents are used to a very transient population coming through to visit the amusement parks, they’re so over it. We met lots of nice people, doing the same sorts of things we were, Disney World, Cocoa Beach (hoped to see the Discover Launch, but it was scrubbed), Magic basketball, Cirque du Soleil La Nouba, and just hanging out in downtown Orlando.

Will we come back? To Florida? Most likely. To Orlando? I never say never - so, probably not. I have loved most every minute of being here, but the excitement of exploring another new area is to great to resist. This is our finale. **warning, this video is a spoiler if you are planning on seeing Epcot’s fireworks yourself. If not…watch away!**