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for the perfect wave. An interesting note in and of itself, considering that Siesta isn't exactly known for surfing. The waves here more often resemble ripples in a bathtub than "ground swells." Nevertheless, his journey to escape his upper-crust New England family led him to this little corner of paradise. Through the years, he convinced his handsomely endowed relatives to invest in his beachside oasis, netting them astounding profits while making him an unlikely coastal land baron. He not only owned this charming house, but the entire square block, as well as the last remaining undeveloped gulf-front lots across the street. He continued to educate us on his true passion in life, rock balancing. We were quietly amused by this revelation, but after a few glasses of wine, and a Google search later in the evening, we were fairly impressed with some of the gravity defying images we found from Master Rock Balancers. Siesta Key folklore was another passion of our benevolent landlord. He informed us of the magical powers of the island. As legend goes, the Indians settled on Siesta Key because it was mysteriously spared from hurricanes. "No hurricane has ever hit the key directly," he said. Not exactly true, but it sounded feasible coming from the resident rock-balancing sage. Siesta Key Magic By Jules Lewis Gibson T he charm of Siesta Key runs deeper than the pretty white sand and turquoise waters. There is something more esoteric, even magical about this barrier island. One of the first "locals" I ever met on Siesta Key was the embodiment of the very essence of this special place. He owned the house my husband and I rented for an impromptu vacation. As we unpacked our two small children and half of our house, strategically stuffed into our minivan, we were startled by the bang of the front door screen. A man with sun-drenched skin and aged surfer attire, called out, "Hey, what's up," as he casually walked through the door. It is an unpretentious, artsy coastal haven that leaves it's visitors wanting more, Another intriguing legend is that the sand on Siesta Key, which is unlike any other sand in the world, composed of 99-percent quartz crystal, has the capacity to channel energy as well as an ability to heal. Many people believe it may even help them access a higher state of awareness. You are sure to find a few of those believers on any given Sunday evening, twirling and dancing to the leading them to return year after year. Making himself right at home in his similarly weathered old "Old Florida" cottage, he proceeded to tell us the unabridged version of his life story. Apparently, he found Siesta Key decades earlier on his worldwide quest Rock Balancing M arvel 28 | FLORIDA HOMES MAGAZINE

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