Brochures always seem to brag about being a “home away from home.” Why is it then that I always have the arduous task of packing my suitcase? At home I would never need to belabor over what to wear to go eat breakfast. Not once have I looked in my closet and thought, “Ooh, this little batik sundress and my open-toed sandals will be perfect for going to the kitchen to pour myself a bowl of Rice Krispies.”

You can imagine my surprise when told that I could go barefoot to dine at the Meridian Club on Pine Cay. The brochure clearly states, “This is a barefoot community both inside and outside the clubhouse.” And despite my preoccupation with designer footwear, this concept really appealed to me. “Now this,” I thought, “is more like home.”

Well, not exactly. It’s more like a home if I was independently wealthy and chose to live on a secluded island in the Caribbean; and/or I went out for a three-hour cruise only to be stranded on a small island with a dozen people, but conveniently brought along a trunk of my belongings (like the Howells on Gilligan’s Island).

Halfway between Miami and the British Virgin Islands lie the Turks and Caicos Islands, comprised of eight large islands and 40 smaller cays. Pine Cay is a mere 800 acres of beach dunes framed by porous limestone ridges. Seagrape trees are scattered about, not to mention over a hundred different plant varieties including native orchids and branched cacti. Even more prominent are the varieties of shells, thus the Meridian Club’s famous trademark, the sand dollar.

Traces of Arawak Indian villages dating back to 800 A.D. can also be found here, but it wasn’t until 1960 that this destination was turned into an island escape. This time lapse could be a direct result of dealing with transfers to the island. I’m not saying that it’s difficult, but a little planning is in order. Global Airways flies to Pine Cay, but most flights arrive into Providenciales (Provo). Plan to get in before dusk or book a night’s stay in Provo. There are no phones at The Meridian Club, and contact can only be made via fax during daytime hours. Of course, half of the charm of this destination is exactly what creates these minor logistical obstacles.

Cars, cell phones, televisions and radios are nonexistent on this island that can’t even be bothered to change the clocks, staying on daylight savings time throughout the year, giving one even more time to enjoy the day. There is one phone booth for calls placed with a calling card next to the tennis courts that I think the Arawak tribe that I mentioned must have built.

Staying at this resort, however, is far from roughing it. While guests are called to dine by the chime of a dinner bell and no one bothers to wear shoes, delectable fish is served on Royal Doulton china and candlelight creates an air of elegance under the thatched palapas.

The 12 cottages, appointed with tile floors, indoor/outdoor showers and private screened porches, take advantage of the easterly trade winds, utilizing only louvered windows and ceiling fans. There’s also no need for a key, as there are no locks on the doors, rather a safe for valuables. There are occasionally a few Club Members’ cottages available on a weekly basis, as well.

The two-story clubhouse feels “homier” than the typical resort common areas. Hanging plants, filled bookshelves and paintings of family pets give the rooms a personalized touch. The family atmosphere fosters gatherings around the poolside bar to exchange stories and play games. Most guests also take advantage of playing in the surrounding waters, averaging 75-80 degrees. Underwater visibility exceeds 100 feet in places and teems with marine life.

Small sailboats and windsurfers are available, as well as bikes to explore the nature trails on the island. Outings to other islands are also easily arranged. For example, Little Water Cay features a natural park and reserve where iguanas and ospreys hide among the tangle of mangroves, and Dellis Cay offers tidal pools and excellent shelling opportunities. If you’re lucky, JoJo the dolphin, the mascot of Pine Cay, may pay you a visit. He must have known I was new to the island and stopped by the beach to welcome me. Outside of this surprise meeting and my reef fishing expedition, my favorite activity was still relaxing on the two-mile stretch of deserted beach.

Legs evenly greased and outstretched before me on the lounge chair, I began to drift off to sleep. Awakened by one arm inadvertently dropping into the sand below, I was too relaxed to actually lift it all the way up onto the chair again. I simply resolved to leave it there, and trail my fingers through the sand’s talcum softness. My fingertips brushed across something hard, so I succumbed to my curiosity and unearthed the discovery for further inspection: a sand dollar.

“A dollar for your thoughts,” I jested as I handed the white disk to the love of my life sitting next to me. Watching him as he peered into the blue abyss where the ocean and horizon melded into one, I figured my high-tech companion might be calculating how many e-mails would be awaiting his return.

“I’m so relaxed that I can’t remember what I was thinking,” he replied with a crooked smirk. We giggled and drifted off, back to that place you go when total relaxation consumes you.

There really is truth to the phrase, “a home away from home.” We found it at The Meridian Club on Pine Cay.