My Favorite Morning at Manatee Bob’s Retreat

My Favorite Morning at Manatee Bob’s Retreat

Some mornings stay with you forever.

My first summer morning at Manatee Bob’s Retreat, I woke up early while the house was still quiet. I poured a cup of coffee, stepped outside, and sat down by the water as the day slowly began to wake up around me.

As I looked down into the canal, I noticed movement beneath the surface. A small manatee swam gently toward the dock and then—almost unbelievably—stopped. He hovered there, calm and unhurried, as if he had nowhere else to be and all the time in the world.

I stayed still, coffee in hand, not wanting to break the moment. I spoke a few quiet, kind words to him, and he remained right there, peaceful and present. We weren’t sharing the same space—he was in the water, I was out of it—but somehow we were sharing the moment.

It felt like a gift.

I wanted my family to see what I was seeing, so I quietly went upstairs to get them. By the time we came back down, the manatee had drifted a little farther down the canal. They could still see him—just not as close, not as personal.

And that was okay.

I was grateful for that quiet time I’d been given. Grateful for the stillness, the simplicity, and the reminder of how special it is to slow down enough to notice what’s right in front of you.

That morning captured everything I love about Manatee Bob’s Retreat. It’s not loud or rushed. It doesn’t demand your attention. Instead, it invites you to be present—to sit, to watch, to breathe, and to connect with nature and with each other.

Some vacations are about doing more.

That morning reminded me that the most meaningful moments often come when you do less.

And sometimes, all it takes is a cup of coffee, calm water, and a gentle visitor who reminds you to stay.