Revisiting SoWal

Toots, I don't think I phrased my reply well and I certainly don't refute the facts as you have stated above re: SoWal. MOF, I embrace them and that is the curiosity, the fact that community and all the features you mention can be found in many, many places where the costs are less and the densities of people are as well.

If you were to find a place that had all the qualities you describe, everything you like about SoWal, and was both less expensive and much more private in living space, would you move? :drool:

well, I happen to have a very private place to live, plenty of wooded property all around me, and I don't know what's more expensive about living here than anywhere else. maybe groceries are more expensive (so I hear). gas is more here than other areas to the north. dining can be expensive, sure. but we're cooks and prefer to dine in mostly. yes, a glass of wine at seaside is about $12 (and it's half full). but, we know where to go and enjoy our own vino, and do so quite often, at the beach or on the bay, or down the street at jdargs house...

I think you have to live here to really experience the amazing community feel, the incredible people, and especially the beautiful natural environment all around us.

the only reason some folks may not quite like sowal is they may feel it doesn't offer enough to do as far as cultural events and such. some folks like the big city life. but for me, I like the smaller community. heck, this place is hardly big enough to be called a town yet. that's what I like.

I :wub: you sis!

Wow, what a thread, I gotta get out more often!!!!!:blink: :blink: :drink: :drink2: :drink: :drink2: :chill: 😀

well, I happen to have a very private place to live, plenty of wooded property all around me, and I don't know what's more expensive about living here than anywhere else. maybe groceries are more expensive (so I hear). gas is more here than other areas to the north. dining can be expensive, sure. but we're cooks and prefer to dine in mostly. yes, a glass of wine at seaside is about $12 (and it's half full). but, we know where to go and enjoy our own vino, and do so quite often, at the beach or on the bay, or down the street at jdargs house...

I think you have to live here to really experience the amazing community feel, the incredible people, and especially the beautiful natural environment all around us.

the only reason some folks may not quite like sowal is they may feel it doesn't offer enough to do as far as cultural events and such. some folks like the big city life. but for me, I like the smaller community. heck, this place is hardly big enough to be called a town yet. that's what I like.

You didn't answer the question but moving on...SoWal compared to many other places is quite expensive for instance the Cape San Blas area which is nestled into St. Joseph Aquatic Preserve and State Land Preserve. The beaches are much wider (overall), the people are friendly as is possible; SoWal has no lock on any of what you have mentioned and you pay a dear price in cost of housing, less natural environ and much, much higher density living.

I :wub: you sis!

Smooches!! :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub:

You didn't answer the question but moving on...SoWal compared to many other places is quite expensive for instance the Cape San Blas area which is nestled into St. Joseph Aquatic Preserve and State Land Preserve. The beaches are much wider (overall), the people are friendly as is possible; SoWal has no lock on any of what you have mentioned and you pay a dear price in cost of housing, less natural environ and much, much higher density living.

So, maybe The Sheep needs to graze Cape San Blas more often.

Smooches!! :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub:

I was NOT talking to you:nono1: :nono1:

You didn't answer the question but moving on...SoWal compared to many other places is quite expensive for instance the Cape San Blas area which is nestled into St. Joseph Aquatic Preserve and State Land Preserve. The beaches are much wider (overall), the people are friendly as is possible; SoWal has no lock on any of what you have mentioned and you pay a dear price in cost of housing, less natural environ and much, much higher density living.

Sheep, I was reading my treasured book of stories by Somerset Maugham and one had a passage that might explain something to you. In the story, Maugham commented on a book about travelling and the two kinds of travellers there are: the armchair traveller who never leaves his room or his imagination, and therefore suffers no loss of illusion, and the other, which he describes as such:

"...there are people who take salt in their coffee. They say it gives it a tang, a savour, which is peculiar and fascinating. In the same way, there are certain places, surrounded by a halo of romance, to which the inevitable disillusionment which you must experience on seeing them gives a singular spice. You had expected something wholly beautiful and you get an impression which is infinitely more complicated than any that beauty can give you. It is like the weakness in the character of a great man which may make him less admirable but certianly makes him more interesting."

Maybe those of us who love SoWal, despite or because of what it has become, are those who can take the salt in the coffee. Maybe you are of the no-salt variety, that's all. What we love in our coffee ruins it for you.

I think we all can agree that living in SoWal is expensive. I doubt that one could find an "economical" coastal community (maybe there is one but I live in NoAL so what do I know?). The confusing thing Sheep is that you have gone from lamenting your disappointment with you last visit to apparently trying to convince others that they should feel the same way. The best "source" on how one should feel about living in SoWal is from those who live in SoWal. I believe many have answered that question. Those who reside in SoWal but do not frequent this board have answered the question too...they choose to live in SoWal.

I realize that sheep are white and of course we've all heard of "black sheep" but me thinks TheSheep has a tinge of green.

You didn't answer the question but moving on...SoWal compared to many other places is quite expensive for instance the Cape San Blas area which is nestled into St. Joseph Aquatic Preserve and State Land Preserve. The beaches are much wider (overall), the people are friendly as is possible; SoWal has no lock on any of what you have mentioned and you pay a dear price in cost of housing, less natural environ and much, much higher density living.

I said I DO live in a private place already, in the middle of a state forest, in fact, with plenty of woods and space all around, on the water with marsh land, bayou and bay as far as the eye can see. -so, no, I have no need to move. it's about as private as you can possibly get.

we love cape san blas, especially indian pass, and visit often. it's so relaxing because there is almost nothing to do there unless you fish or scallop, or drive up to the apalachicola for some shopping. the piggly wiggly is charming. and some good seafood too (something sowal is quite lacking). it is an ideal vacation destination for those who enjoy a real get away (I do!). take your own food and plenty of reading material! and take your dogs - they love the wide open beaches and you have them all to yourself.

Sheep, I was reading my treasured book of stories by Somerset Maugham and one had a passage that might explain something to you. In the story, Maugham commented on a book about travelling and the two kinds of travellers there are: the armchair traveller who never leaves his room or his imagination, and therefore suffers no loss of illusion, and the other, which he describes as such:

"...there are people who take salt in their coffee. They say it gives it a tang, a savour, which is peculiar and fascinating. In the same way, there are certain places, surrounded by a halo of romance, to which the inevitable disillusionment which you must experience on seeing them gives a singular spice. You had expected something wholly beautiful and you get an impression which is infinitely more complicated than any that beauty can give you. It is like the weakness in the character of a great man which may make him less admirable but certianly makes him more interesting."

Maybe those of us who love SoWal, despite or because of what it has become, are those who can take the salt in the coffee. Maybe you are of the no-salt variety, that's all. What we love in our coffee ruins it for you.

Yes, I would agree but add that there is salt in all of Life's coffee and in this thread I have sought why it is that the SoWal coffee, particularly heavy salted, is so preferred since the alternatives exist. Therein lies the Keys To The Kingdom (of Understanding).

I said I DO live in a private place already, in the middle of a state forest, in fact, with plenty of woods and space all around, on the water with marsh land, bayou and bay as far as the eye can see. -so, no, I have no need to move. it's about as private as you can possibly get.

we love cape san blas, especially indian pass, and visit often. it's so relaxing because there is almost nothing to do there unless you fish or scallop, or drive up to the apalachicola for some shopping. the piggly wiggly is charming. and some good seafood too (something sowal is quite lacking). it is an ideal vacation destination for those who enjoy a real get away (I do!). take your own food and plenty of reading material! and take your dogs - they love the wide open beaches and you have them all to yourself.

You are more the rare SoWallian with so much freespace, my queries are directed to those that have chosen, say, Rosemary Beach than your estate.

So, maybe The Sheep needs to graze Cape San Blas more often.

So, maybe if one only grazes where one is most comfortable, one learns much of nothing? :shock:

I was NOT talking to you:nono1: :nono1:

Oh comeon,let me in the sorority, I have ciggies we can smoke and tell each other about our periods and act like we really really really give a flying fock about one another!! :clap_1:

Sheep, I think you have a whacked-out view of life in SOWAL if you think that the only living options are Rosemary Beach or something north of the bay among the mere mortals. Might I suggest you take your next holiday in Mossy Head-BYOKY:funn:

There are, of course, too many beautiful places on earth for any one person to visit in a life time -- ten lifetimes. I think we all choose where we want to find our beauty, friends, peace, etc. If we're really lucky, we get to know some of these places more deeply and become part of the community with friends, family, and even a history within that community and some contributions to that community.

Clearly, what works as beauty and the good life for some people doesn't work for others. I like having people next door to me and I like sitting on the porch watching people walk by, talking to them, inviting them up for a snack -- it's the kind of environment I want our kids to grow up in as well. I like the kids hopping on a bike or taking a walk and knowing they can go to the beach, the market, a store, a fountain, a place to snack, a state park, etc. As an adult, I like being able to have all those things as well as many different kinds of restaurants, shops, a fantastic bookstore, outdoor concerts, even massages a few times a year. And all this within 6 miles of our cottage. And I know that most of the year -- September - May, I can get exceptional peace and quiet as well (with the exception of spring break). In the late fall, it's often just me and those I'm with at the beach and the Monarch Butterflies that migrate through for hours on end unless I/we seek out company. We've been connected to SoWal for over 4 years now and we're still looking forward to exploring some of the other areas nearby -- Cape Blas, etc. -- the nice thing about having a place here is that I'm not in a hurry to do those things because I figure we'll have decades to explore the area and for now we're just so happy right on our porch/beach/pool with each other and the wonderful people we've gotten to know in SoWal.

As some people on this board know, my two other favorite places on earth are a little town in Tuscany where my father was from and the coast of Maine. But SoWal has my heart - sigh :wub: Of course, SoWal has plenty of growing pains, but I'm happy to be part of it as it continues to find its way (that little town in Italy and the coast of Maine have changed, too, in the decades I've known them, but they're still awesome to me).

Frankly, my favorite threads on this board are not those that focus on complaints/insults/snide remarks, but those that share good humor, good will in good times and bad times, beautiful photos, and good ideas about places in SoWal and elsewhere to go, things to do, food, etc. But that's the beautify of SoWal.com -- there's something for everyone!

There are, of course, too many beautiful places on earth for any one person to visit in a life time -- ten lifetimes. I think we all choose where we want to find our beauty, friends, peace, etc. If we're really lucky, we get to know some of these places more deeply and become part of the community with friends, family, and even a history within that community and some contributions to that community.

Clearly, what works as beauty and the good life for some people doesn't work for others. I like having people next door to me and I like sitting on the porch watching people walk by, talking to them, inviting them up for a snack -- it's the kind of environment I want our kids to grow up in as well. I like the kids hopping on a bike or taking a walk and knowing they can go to the beach, the market, a store, a fountain, a place to snack, a state park, etc. As an adult, I like being able to have all those things as well as many different kinds of restaurants, shops, a fantastic bookstore, outdoor concerts, even massages a few times a year. And all this within 6 miles of our cottage. And I know that most of the year -- September - May, I can get exceptional peace and quiet as well (with the exception of spring break). In the late fall, it's often just me and those I'm with at the beach and the Monarch Butterflies that migrate through for hours on end unless I/we seek out company. We've been connected to SoWal for over 4 years now and we're still looking forward to exploring some of the other areas nearby -- Cape Blas, etc. -- the nice thing about having a place here is that I'm not in a hurry to do those things because I figure we'll have decades to explore the area and for now we're just so happy right on our porch/beach/pool with each other and the wonderful people we've gotten to know in SoWal.

As some people on this board know, my two other favorite places on earth are a little town in Tuscany where my father was from and the coast of Maine. But SoWal has my heart - sigh :wub: Of course, SoWal has plenty of growing pains, but I'm happy to be part of it as it continues to find its way (that little town in Italy and the coast of Maine have changed, too, in the decades I've known them, but they're still awesome to me).

Frankly, my favorite threads on this board are not those that focus on complaints/insults/snide remarks, but those that share good humor, good will in good times and bad times, beautiful photos, and good ideas about places in SoWal and elsewhere to go, things to do, food, etc. But that's the beautify of SoWal.com -- there's something for everyone!

Paula--:wub: :wub:

And DD:wub: :wub: You're one of the reasons I love SoWal and SoWal.com (even though we don't see each other much, but that should change over time beginning in late April!).

I'm not sure but I think I may have seen TheSheep this weekend in SoWal! An angry looking man wearing a "I visited SoWal and all I got was this lousy shirt." , flipped me off at the 395 intersection.