MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR, OUR PRESIDENT

NAME: DANE LUCAS

EMAIL: dane@clearwire.net

TELEPHONE: 904-434-8401

TELL US SOMETHING INTERESTING/WEIRD ABOUT YOURSELF: I have owned the Annabelle Lee and Lady St. Johns Riverboats downtown for over 20 years, which someone else runs, and I am currently developing a three story mixed-use building at the corner of A1A & 2nd Avenue N. However, when I moved from Chicago to Jacksonville, 32 years ago, I bought a restaurant and became a Restaurateur. I HAD NEVER COOKED A MEAL IN MY LIFE, yet my restaurants were rated in the Top 500 Restaurants in the U.S. I still only cook enough to get by, and just for me, guests know they have to cook when they visit.

DO YOU HAVE A MOTTO FOR YOUR LIFE?: My parents taught me always, to be truthful, not be bigoted and to try and live my life by what I wanted in my friends.

DO YOU OWN OR RENT AT PELICAN AND FOR HOW LONG I have owned my unit for several years, but only moved here permanently 4 years ago, and only after keeping my house for a year in order to be sure this is what I wanted. Moving from 5,000 sf to 1,200 was no easy decision or task, but now I find I have all I need.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST OR LEAST ABOUT PELICAN Having everyday what most people work a year to get a week of

SOME FAVORITE BOOKS, MOVIES, TV SHOWS: I read a lot, usually things to do with law or court, I really enjoy James Patterson however, because he writes about everything and in short chapters. My favorite TV show is arguably Boston Legal because it has great characters, all the law and court stuff, plus laughter.

ABOUT YOUR PETS I always had a small dog, and enjoy them, but since I travel a lot, I don't think it is fair to have a pet. I wouldn't want to bother friends and I don't think it fair to the pet to board one.

YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS: I am lucky because I have several very close friends and having their friendship, admiration and respect makes me happy.
At this point in my life, I wish I had brothers or sisters, but I don't, so life is good through my friends.

YOUR HEROES /AND/ OR HEROINES: My real hero/heroines are parents and my good friends for being what they are, or were, to me.

GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE OR WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO BE: I suppose right now, it would have to be the stupidity of ordering a brand new 2007 Mercedes, keeping it for 4 months and trading it for another Jag . . . yes, losing a lot of money.

FAVORITE VACATION OR WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO ON VACATION OR FREE TIME : Cruising is my favorite way to vacation and anywhere in the Med is my favorite destination. I have traveled most of the world, including such places as Singapore, Hong Kong, all of Europe several times & Russia twice, but the Med is what I like the best. I have gone to Puerto Vallarta for many years and really enjoy that as well. What I really need to see is a lot more of the US.

BEST OR WORST PHYSICAL OR MENTAL TRAIT OR SOMETHING YOU WANT TO CHANGE ABOUT YOU : I taught myself at an early age to be happy with who, what and where I am and it has done me well. Being younger might help, but where I am is better than the alternative, so I am fine with me.

PERSON YOU MOST ADMIRE: My parents, they were not only good to me and for me, they helped to mold me into what I am, and were always very good friends.
I lost my Mother at 74 and my Dad, who lived with me for 9 years, died in December at 92. Hummmm! Maybe I'll live forever. LOL

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE IN YOUR NEXT LIFE: I've had a good one this time around so I am not concerned with the possibility of a next one.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF IN THIS LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I would have gone to Law School at Northwestern University. I say for the entrance exam, passed it and still have the pass, but decided I was making too much money to quit and go back to school . . . I was making $7,500 a year. Like they say, youth, and in my case stupidity, are wasted on the young.

MOST TREASURED POSSESSION: My health. My Dad, at 92, took one Tylenol a day because he thought he should take something.

ARE YOU SINGLE AND WANT TO MEET MORE PEOPLE OR A SPECIFIC TYPE OF PERSON : I am single, married only once several years ago, and am always interested in meeting 'right' new people, but mostly as friends. Do I really want a relationship, who knows, but they would have to know that I am pretty set in my ways, plus unlike a lot of people, I enjoy some alone time.

I hope that a lot of you will share with your neighbors in this column.