Why Key West?

I am planning our honeymoon, which I won't be going into too much detail about because I want to keep most of the itinerary a surprise for Karen. But I will talk about as much as I can here over the next few months as I save and plan. We will be going to Key West, Florida. I know it sounds odd to most people that we live in Florida, are getting married in New Hampshire, and are taking our honeymoon in Florida, but their really is a good sentimental reason.

Karen and I first started dating in June 2006, our first trip we ever took together was in September 2006, to Key West. It was sort of a trial run for us, before we went to Hawaii together for her brothers wedding in November 2006. It was a short trip, but it was so important to the development of our relationship. Karen and I were very much moving at different speeds at the time, mainly because I had feelings for her before we started dating which she resisted. By the time we went on this trip we had been dating for three months, I had already confessed my love for her and was waiting for her to feel the same. It was on our trip to Key West that she told me she loved me. We were finally moving in the same direction, together, at the same speed... and we have been ever since.

Every time I think back at that trip or look at photographs, I think about how much we learned about each other in those few days. There is a chance that if we hadn't taken that short vacation, away from the stresses of work, and really gotten to know each other outside of our element, that our relationship would not be as far along as it is today.

We had a lot of fun on that trip, and although our time there was short, we promised to go back someday. Which we haven't had a chance to do, even though it is just a few hours away. So when the subject came up "where will we go on our honeymoon?", it didn't take long for me to mention Key West. We talked about other places, places that wouldn't fit in our budget, but in the end we came back to Key West. It just feels right.