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New & eager to Meet People

Beach Comber
4,156 views
Hi Everyone!

I have been enjoying the forums since February when I started planning my move to SoWal from New Orleans. Now I am finally here in sunny Seacrest Beach!

I moved to the area for work, and do not know anyone, so I could really use the advice of the forum on how I can get out and about in the community, get involved, and meet people. Know of any social groups, clubs, volunteer organizations????

I will really look forward to hearing all of your great tips, and hopefully bumping into you some time in SoWal!!!

Sharon Vaughn

Replies

31
Beach Fanatic
#2
:welcome: volunteers are alway needed in the schools, the library, the gift shops at Eden and the hospital...the list goes on. Explore an area you are interested in and soon you will have more to do than you can fit into a day.

Remember, go to the beach often:D
DD avatar
SoWal Expert
#3
:welcome:Talk to Allifunn.
Gypsea avatar
Beach Fanatic
#4
:welcome: Sharon, enjoy paradise!
InletBchDweller avatar
SoWal Insider
#5
:welcome: are you located in Seacrest Beach Subdivision?? There are alot of wonderful people on SoWal and in SoWal who can help you out!!!:wave:
wrobert avatar
Beach Fanatic
#6
I guess it depends on what your interests and ideas of fun are.
Beach ComberAuthor
#8
I am interested in volunteering of any kind, the arts and music and FOOD, FOOD, FOOD!!!
JustBeachy avatar
Beach Lover
#9
Sharon, welcome to paradise!
Beach ComberAuthor
#10
I definitely am in paradise! I went to a meeting the other day to get involved with CVHN and the Cottags for Kids fundraiser, that will be great fun for a great cause! I am going to the wine tasting tonight at Wild Olives... I will be continuing to search the forums for new and interesting things to do!
~Sharon
CPort avatar
Beach Fanatic
#11
:welcome:you will love living there!
4dogs avatar
Beach Lover
#13
Welcome

:welcome:
Jdarg avatar
SoWal Expert
#14
I definitely am in paradise! I went to a meeting the other day to get involved with CVHN and the Cottags for Kids fundraiser, that will be great fun for a great cause! I am going to the wine tasting tonight at Wild Olives... I will be continuing to search the forums for new and interesting things to do!
~Sharon

Look for Bdarg at the Cottages meetings- and :welcome:
Truffle Anne avatar
Beach Fanatic
#15
:welcome:
Teresa Cline avatar
Beach Fanatic
#16
I am interested in volunteering of any kind, the arts and music and FOOD, FOOD, FOOD!!!


:welcome:
you are invited to visit my studio gallery and the studios of all the other
artists that are part of the NOrth of Grayton Artist Group!!
check out the web site

www.NorthofGraytonArtistGroup.com

we all are located of of Bay Dr. ---just off hwy 98 a few miles from Grayton
Beach ComberAuthor
#17
I will definitely check out the gallery, Teresa, and the others in that area! I haven't quite ventured that far yet, I need to purchase one of those cool beach cruiser bikes that I see everyone riding up and down 30A!!!
lsucajuns avatar
Beach Lover
#18
Hello yet another great Louisiana transplant.
We just moved here from BR. If you get home sick, we love to cook cajun foods, and watch LSU sports.
Scott and Lori
Miss Critter avatar
Beach Fanatic
#19
:welcome: from a fellow native New Orleanian!
Lane Rees avatar
Beach Lover
#20
There are a variety of organizations you can join depending on various levels of interest and time (have to have plenty for enjoying the Gulf!). Arts -- the Cultural Arts Association and plenty of ways to get involved with things like Arts Quest, Flutterby, etc. Community -- the South Walton Community Council is a group interested in the area. Business -- the Walton County Chamber of Commerce and related events, lunches and business after hours. Politics -- both the Republican and Democrat parties have organizations that are open to the public to get involved. Other -- Friends of Eden, Children's Volunteer Health Network, local churches, etc. .. list is endless.
Beach ComberAuthor
#21
Aggie, Thank you, thank you thank you!!! exactly what I was looking for. Fortunately I stumbled on a CVHN meeting on this board earlier last week so I am very excited to be working with them! I will surely get involved in the Cultural Arts group and wherever else I can as far as the local culture!
Mark Partington avatar
Beach Lover
#22
Even though were somewhat of a gladiator camp of sorts...local arts & music scene is pretty fun.
Gotta meet Debbi & allison at BigMamas in grayton....get topcb(spinnaker) for rock & roll w/ no lines...lots of New Orleans Bands at peir par this summer....If ya need a "pirate map" of sorts shoot a mssg....not all the fun is on 30A; faux real...so tank up.
Welcome ...I remember seeing your moving mssgs.
YOUR HERE!
m
Beach ComberAuthor
#23
Thanks Mark! I'm glad the move finally happened and I'm starting to realize that 4 wheels are required to get the full experience.... thanfully my trusty Toyota gets great mileage!
Beach Fanatic
#24
The Publix grocery store at Watercolor seems to be our "marketplace". Stop in for a sushi roll or sandwich and see tons of potential new friends at once. Go midafternoon on a weekday to up the locals to visiters ratio. It won't take long to start recognizing the regulars- it is actually a small town in disguise.
TreeFrog avatar
Beach Fanatic
#25
Welcome Sharon :welcome:

As a relative newcomer myself, here only 3 years now, I can say that whatever your interests, you will find the locals and regular visitors welcoming. Very few of us in SoWal are natives, so we're all accustomed to making new friends. No offense intended to genuine natives, I just haven't met them yet.

You'll see lots of folks at the local eateries, Publix, the Seaside ampitheater events, the various art/wine/market/charity events at Seaside and Rosemary, the outdoor events at Gulf Place, Seaside Rep events, at Sundog Books. I haven't enjoyed the events at Alys yet, but they'll be handy for you. Trivia night sounds like fun.

As for me, I'll be contentedly munching some Q at Jambone. As a long-time Memphian, I've finally found a BBQ that has a pork shoulder I like. Now, if I could just persuade them to dump that Carolina sauce for a good Memphis recipe. :D
bluemtnrunner avatar
Beach Fanatic
#26
The Publix grocery store at Watercolor seems to be our "marketplace". Stop in for a sushi roll or sandwich and see tons of potential new friends at once. Go midafternoon on a weekday to up the locals to visiters ratio. It won't take long to start recognizing the regulars- it is actually a small town in disguise.


I have been invited to more parties while shopping in Publix. I also get the latest updates on local politics, weather, gossip. It definitely depends on when you go though. When the vacationers are stocking up the locals can only be seen as blurs running down select isles and then out the door.

Sharon if you are interested in food, my husband is a chef and we are planning to start doing cooking classes for small groups at our home. I have only been in the area for a year and we think it would be a great way to get to know our neighbors. I'll keep you posted on when we get a date set. We are looking at late July for the first one.

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