Mary Henkel Judson is editor and co-publisher of the South Jetty. Contact her at (361) 749-5131, southjetty@centurytel.net or P.O. Box 1117, Port Aransas, TX 78373. Buckle up!

The Port Aransas winter olympics are about to begin.

I refer to the non-stop activities held to entertain our winter guests.

It should be noted that the special events held in January and February are in addition to those offered by the JELM (Joint Effort Leisure Ministry*) Center and the city's parks and recreation department that are geared toward not only Winter Texans but full-time residents as well.

January will offer up the Rotary Club's Fish Fry and Casino Night, the Kiwanis Club Potato Bake, the Garden Club's Home Tour, and the merchants' committee of the chamber of commerce tourist bureau's Dine Around.

February is brewing up the library's Book Sale, the Rotary Club's Shrimp Boil, the chamber's Celebration of Whooping Cranes and Other Birds* and the Kiwanis Club Beach Dash.

For anyone staying through March, the Garden Club will put on its annual Style Show and the Port Aransas Preservation and Historical Association* will host the Old Town Festival.

Visitors extending their stay through April can look forward to the SandFest and Relay for Life.

Meanwhile, there are guided beach walks, guided birding tours, aerobics, line dancing, jam sessions, bridge, yoga, community theater productions, lectures of every description, art exhibits, workshops and classes; free movies, book clubs, computer classes fishing and more activities than can be listed in this space.

You simply have to be retired to have time to enjoy all these activities and events.

If Winter Texans think they aren't welcome, think again. Port Aransas obviously wants you to have a good time and come back!

The trickle-down benefit is that residents - who have the time -- have some fun events to look forward to as well.

When I retire in about 30 years, I've got a "bucket list" full of things to do without ever leaving town.

*The names of these organizations and events present a unique challenge: They will not fit in a headline.

We must therefore resort to "alphabet soup," or simply renaming the event to something more workable, such as "birding festival."

So, next time you are naming an event or organization, think about whether it fits in a headline.

If you are unsure, call me.