I have a seven foot diameter pond that is home to four huge goldfish, three algae-eating fish, two turtles, and dozens of snails. The water is always clear even though I don’t have an expensive filtration system because I maintain a natural ecological balance. I suspect that some of the lessons I’ve learned taking care of my pond apply to Florida’s rivers and bays, but that no one in authority will bother to learn from them.

A half-grown male cat has taken to hanging around our house. He’s friendly and gets along well with our dog. My wife, who basically distrusts cats, accepts him to the point where she feeds and pets him. But can we adopt him, get him shots, and have him neutered? In theory, not unless we are willing to lock the poor thing inside the house 24/7, which is what a new set of Manatee County pet regulations would force us to do.

Remember “Queen of Mean” Leona Helmsley? She was the New York woman who married into money — her husband Harry was a billionaire — and later got convicted of tax evasion. Her most famous line was, “Only the little people pay taxes.” She also terrorized employees and extorted bribes from suppliers. Some of her money-grabbing (and tax-ducking) schemes were astoundingly petty for someone as rich as she was. Leona Helmsley was a victim of money addiction. It ruined her life and put her in jail. Don’t let the same thing happen to you!