A Little Paradise Lost

So, there used to be this wild patch of land next to us.

It was like:

a tiny, untouched piece of old-school Florida
a cozy retreat for wildlife
a sanctuary for native plants
a champion at soaking up tropical heat
and the ultimate source of shade With its mix of textures, colors, sights, and scents, it was more than just a visual screen. It was this ever-changing wellspring of beauty, awe, and pure joy.

Mine?

I tried to snag it for myself. The owner initially wanted nearly three times its value. After some lengthy negotiations, we got it down to about twice what it was worth. Now, considering:

there were 10 better-placed, larger undeveloped lots on this block
our postal zone has over a thousand homes on the cheap, most left from the last housing bubble
and much of Port Saint Lucie is drowning in overdevelopment I passed on buying it, thinking no one would snap it up anytime soon.

Well, turns out I was wrong. Somebody did buy it. And they’re clearing it.