I have been living in Barefoot Bay for 33 years. Our house was put on the lot in 1971, the year that Disney world opened in Orlando. My husband, of 57 years, passed away a year and a half ago, having taken a very early retirement from being a court officer in Boston. Friends of ours told us about Barefoot Bay and we had a good life here and lots have lots of pleasant memories to look back upon. There was a guard at the front entrance of Barefoot Bay to check identifications, but it didn’t last too long, because there were too many other entrances to come into. Also, there was a boat to take you across the Indian River to get to the ocean. That didn’t last too long, either, because the captain wanted more money. We fished every morning at the pier & fish were plentiful, then. We had a portable library, portable bank and a launderette. The maintenance fee was $12.50 per month. There was only 1 pool, which was Pool #1, and there were only 2 tennis courts, and a 9-hole golf course! We enjoyed the rides at the lake rowing in the rowboats, but that also didn’t last long because someone stole the oar locks and they were never replaced. There were only 250 homes when we arrived here. It was very intimate and every one knew each other. We had covered dish parties at the lounge and got to know everyone. We shopped either in Melbourne or Vero because there wasn’t much of anything in-between. There was, however, a market in Sebastian called “KEENS.” There weren’t any homes across the street. It was all shrubbery. A fire broke out and my husband hosed our house down and parked the car far away. The fire department was already here when we came here in 1971! In closing, I must say that the best decisions of our lives were when we came here to get away from the winters in Boston. Until the next time…..signing off Cookie Hannington
A 33 year resident of Barefoot Bay | 
Did you ever wonder what it was like here in the "Bay" when it first opened up? Well, Cookie, can tell you what it was like because she has lived here for 33 years! Hope you all enjoy the trip through the PAST!
