Page 8 - LIN JAN 2022 WEB FILES

Potpourri
NAPLES

BILL BARNETT

opefully you have had a good Holiday Season and are I have heard stories from my realtor friends about homes being
H listed and on the same day have three or four people bidding it up.
ready for a wonderful 2022! Compared to the last two
years it will be all up from here! It seems somewhat
The latest is a listing comes up on a Monday and what they do is
surreal to me that 2022 makes it 49 years that I have lived in the simply say all bids must be in on Thursday by 5 pm, or a similar
City of Naples! That’s a long time in anyone’s book. I have so many scenario. They can also be very particular and say cash offers only,
memories of the early days and I’m constantly asked to write a no contingencies. However, the one factor that sometimes gets
book about them but maybe I will lost in the shuffle is for example if I
start it in 2023. I’m always skeptical sell my home tomorrow, where am
"I have always been a people
that if I did write one it would be I going to move, especially if I don’t
a dud, or boring, you know what I person and I thoroughly enjoy want to leave Naples? That was a
mean. It does seem like yesterday rhetorical question because I’m not
that it was my first day in Naples talking with newcomers that looking to go anywhere.
and just the pure splendor of what I meet. When they ask me how I wonder does anyone make New
it looked like. It’s hard to explain Year’s Resolutions anymore? I gave
but I can only say it was pristine long I have been in Naples up years ago because either they were
and like something in my 33 years and I answer, they always meaningless but fun to do or they
I had never seen nor imagined. My were too serious, and I couldn’t live
wife Chris always boasts that she say to me you must have seen up to what I wrote.
got here before I did and it’s true by I will not say nor brag about my
about 4 months. We both had prior a lot and my response is yes, Buffalo Bills because they just lost
marriages. that’s an understatement. One 41-15 at home to the Colts today
I have always been a people and my visions of them heading
person and I thoroughly enjoy day in the near future I’ll do to the Super Bowl have gone up
talking with newcomers that I meet. in smoke. But I’ll still be a fan no
When they ask me how long I have a short segment in Life in matter what. I have to share with you
been in Naples and I answer, they Naples each month starting that when we are in Buffalo during
always say to me you must have seen the summer and no matter where we
a lot and my response is yes, that’s an from 1973. go, whether it’s the grocery store or
understatement. One day in the near If I do that then I won’t have a restaurant, when we leave and say
future I’ll do a short segment in Life have a nice day or some pleasantry
in Naples each month starting from to write a book!" the final spoken words are “Go Bills”!
1973. If I do that then I won’t have It is an automatic response, and
to write a book! everyone does it.
Regardless of what goes on in other communities and whether Enjoy all we have to offer in Naples and don’t complain about
the economy is weak or strong, Naples just keeps getting better the traffic because there is nothing that can be done about it. Just
and better. Although COVID of course slowed us down we allow an extra 10 or 15 minutes and be thankful it’s not the Long
are back on a roll. Our restaurants are booming, our hospitality Island Expressway or the L.A. Freeway! Be safe!
industry is setting records, our tourist attractions are enjoying Bill Barnett
one of the best seasons ever and it just goes on and on, all good. Retired Mayor
In my 49 years of living in the City of Naples I have never seen a
real estate market like ours. From my perspective it’s always been I do respond to e-mails at: mayornaples@gmail.com
cyclical and maybe someday it will be again, but I don’t think it
will be anytime soon. It’s not just the City of Naples, but it’s all of
Collier County.
8 Life in Naples | January 2022