Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the message board. The first and only time I vacationed in the area was way back in 1995 when we stayed at Seaside. We're finally going to return this summer.
I'm 50 years old and a stay-at-home Mom with a 15-year-old daughter. My husband just completed 30 years with the school system, so he's eligible to retire. We live in the suburbs of Washington, DC. The county where we live is ranked as the 3rd most affluent in the country. Working and getting your kid into a great college seem to be priorities and it's a crazy lifestyle around here. Houses here cost at least $700K and it seems like all we are doing is working to pay our mortgage. The Beaches of South Walton seem like a world away!!
I'm a true beachaholic. I grew up spending my summers at our beach house in Maryland swimming, crabbing, and sunbathing. We sold it back in 1992 and I miss it so much. We go on beach vacations at least 1-2 times every year. We've been to beaches all over the US. We've vacationed at the Maryland and Delaware beaches, VA Beach, the Outer Banks, Ocean Isle Beach, Bald Head Island, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island, Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, the Keys, Naples, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Anna Maria Island, Clearwater Beach, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, Oahu, Maui, St. Thomas, St. John, Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. The most beautiful beach I've ever laid eyes on was Lanikai on the island of Oahu. I feel as if I'm still searching for my "perfect beach."
Every time we go on a beach vacation, I find a special sort of peace that I don't experience anywhere else. When I take a walk on a beautiful beach by myself, it's as close to heaven that I can get. I find myself thinking more and more of the beach and wanting to have a place for ourselves there. I guess you could say I'm having a mid-life crisis of sorts.
Lisa