ORANGE PARK – Mark Miller wasn’t sure what he would do after he delivered his last piece of mail on March 28, but he was confident about one thing: “Whatever I do, it will be in air conditioning.”

After spending the last 30 years driving a mail truck or walking a beat around some sleepy Orange Park neighborhoods, Miller is tired of sweating. He’s ready to chill – literally – and enjoy whatever’s next in his life.

“I really haven’t thought about what I’m going to do,” he said after shaking hands and delivering mail to Roger Macik on Grasshopper Lane in the Holly Point West neighborhood. “It gets 120 degrees in that truck in the summer, so I won’t miss that. But in 30 years, I’ve made a lot of friends and a lot of memories. I will miss it dearly. It is bittersweet.”

Residents in the neighborhood decided to send Miller into retirement with a weeklong celebration. Streets, houses and mailboxes in Holly Point were decorated with banners, balloons and streamers. During his final days, Miller was given gifts, a sash and flowers.

“We wanted to do something special because he’s been such a good friend to everyone,” said April Pepera. “Everyone in the neighborhood knows him. We’re going to miss him.”

Residents gave him three cases of beer and a bottle of Scotch.

“The beer will go to good use,” he said.

Miller said the volume of mail has dramatically changed since he started. The advent of emails reduced personal mail, but there are still plenty of sales flyers, magazines and cards.

“Back when I started, we got tons of mail,” Miller said. “It has cut off a lot, I'd say by 50%. It’s just a sign of the times, with emails and everything else, the electronic age.”

Miller said he was surprised by the receptions in Holly Point East and West neighborhoods during his final week with the U.S. Postal Service.

“It’s truly amazing. It blew me off my feet,” he said. “When you’ve been around for 30 years, you make an impression.”

Although Park Avenue (U.S. Highway 17) divides the neighborhoods, they both require Miller to use his truck to deliver mail to some mailboxes and to walk the rest of his route.

“They call it parking loops,” he said. “There are two on this side (west) and two on the other. Sometimes it’s nice to go out and walk. Unless it’s Christmas or Valentine’s Day, it’s not a lot of mail, and I move pretty fast.”

Miller said he likes to crossbow hunt, or he may spend time fishing. There are no immediate plans other than taking time off and resting his feet.

And enjoying air conditioning.