The airboat, a flat-bottomed craft powered by an airplane propeller that travels rapidly across swamps and along creeks, is a fixture in Florida, especially in the swamplands of the Everglades. The boat appears in Chapter 16 when Roy and his parents go for a ride on one. The boat glides rapidly through the dense scenery of a region filled with exotic wildlife; the experience presents Roy with the wonders of Florida that exist beyond the boring sameness of the towns. It is one of his introductions to the allure of life in his new home. It offers a sense of freedom, a love for the environment, and daring thrills that inspire Roy to defend his neighborhood’s wild owls and face down intimidating corporate opponents.

The story takes place in a small town, Coconut Cove, that is several miles south of Fort Myers on the southwest coast of Florida. Built near swampland, the town at first bores Roy, but he soon realizes it is embedded in a paradise of watery beauty that makes living there worthwhile. Roy comes to love the town, and he learns to feel, not like a lost Montanan anymore, but like a found Floridian.