I moved here in 1981, I was amazed at how friendly people were. The first thing I noticed that was different from other places I had lived was that everyone waved at you when they drove by. You would walk in a store and feel as if they knew you. The tourists and locals would hang out together at the local bars making for some of the fondest memories!
A few years back I went to St. Thomas Island and before we got off the plane they explained local customs one of which was when you walked pass someone on the street it was customary to ingage in small talk, not just pass by or give a nod. Once you got used to that it actually became fun and was a great way to meet and learn about people.
My point is, I feel like a lot of people here just aren't friendly. I've worked in Seaside, Rosemary, Watercolor and everywhere else on 30A (Painting and maintenence) and have noticed this trend since about 1996. I know there are still a lot of friendly happy people it just seems like there are a lot more grumpy ones.
So I thought, from here on out I'm going to do like they do in St. Thomas and smile, wave and talk to people. If we all did that you wouldn't believe how infectious it is.
Sorry, just had to semi rant!
WaterbaddrinkwineWaterbaddrinkwineBeach LoverPoint Washington112 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
WaterbaddrinkwineBeach LoverPoint Washington112 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover2,597 views
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DDDDSoWal Expertgrapevine, tx. /On the road to SoWal23,871 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
DDSoWal Expertgrapevine, tx. /On the road to SoWal23,871 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertYou go, wbdw! Spread the love!
KurtKurtAdminSoWal2,473 postsJoined View profileMessageAdmin
KurtAdminSoWal2,473 postsJoined View profileMessageAdminIt is a completely different world from the 80s or even 90s. Even so most people from other parts of the country or world say it's very friendly around here.
As small town grow larger they tend to lose some calm and charm I suppose. SoWal used to be more laid back. The biggest change took place with the run up of real estate. People chasing money came here. Some have since left or chilled out. But many are still around and are like fishies out of water.
Also the bubble popping, storms, and BP have taken their toll on some folks.
Everyone here gets worn out this time of year from heat and months of visitors. Overall though the people I know are happy beach folk and would dig ditches to live here.
As small town grow larger they tend to lose some calm and charm I suppose. SoWal used to be more laid back. The biggest change took place with the run up of real estate. People chasing money came here. Some have since left or chilled out. But many are still around and are like fishies out of water.
Also the bubble popping, storms, and BP have taken their toll on some folks.
Everyone here gets worn out this time of year from heat and months of visitors. Overall though the people I know are happy beach folk and would dig ditches to live here.
WaterbaddrinkwineWaterbaddrinkwineBeach LoverPoint Washington112 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach LoverAuthor
WaterbaddrinkwineBeach LoverPoint Washington112 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach LoverAuthorI agree Kurt, southern hospitality is still alive and well in SoWal. Also, your other point about the real estate is probably the #1 culprit. I love it here and won't ever leave so I guess I'll just keep smilin and wavin and lovin life!
ameliajameliajBeach FanaticSoSpal (figure it out)/Seacrest1,253 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
ameliajBeach FanaticSoSpal (figure it out)/Seacrest1,253 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticWBDW, I'll be happy to small talk with you...keep the good feeling moving. It'll catch on.
mputnalmputnalBeach Fanatic2,396 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Growth has always created changes within communities but I have noticed something much worse following the BP disaster. I have a lot of customers in South Walton who for the first time believe that things will get worse and not better. Some have left the area because of economic stress. Some have left because of fear that our paradise will never be the same. Others are just plain stressed. I also have a business in Tallahassee and I can assure you that stress has also dramatically changed what used to be Southern Hospitality. SH still exists but it is becoming an exception to the rule. Compared to Tallahassee, South Walton is still a community paradise full of SH but I have a real concern that the BP disaster has seriously damaged our confidence in the longevity of our coastal paradise.
KurtKurtAdminSoWal2,473 postsJoined View profileMessageAdmin
KurtAdminSoWal2,473 postsJoined View profileMessageAdminGrowth has always created changes within communities but I have noticed something much worse following the BP disaster. I have a lot of customers in South Walton who for the first time believe that things will get worse and not better. Some have left the area because of economic stress. Some have left because of fear that our paradise will never be the same. Others are just plain stressed. I also have a business in Tallahassee and I can assure you that stress has also dramatically changed what used to be Southern Hospitality. SH still exists but it is becoming an exception to the rule. Compared to Tallahassee, South Walton is still a community paradise full of SH but I have a real concern that the BP disaster has seriously damaged our confidence in the longevity of our coastal paradise.
That's an interesting perspective since I have seen huge smiles from locals as the summer has gotten better and better. A lot of people are getting well this year and I don't hear pessimism except from a few folks who, as I posted earlier, are never going to be happy.
mputnalmputnalBeach Fanatic2,396 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Kurt, I am not judging you or our community. I am only repeating what many of my customers have said to me as well as my humble opinions. You can disagree with me and I can accept that. Maybe the local people I talk to are not always located off of 30A but some are. You seem to be a good person who is genuinely protective of our community and I admire your optimism. I do not think I am a pessimist but more a realist.
DDDDSoWal Expertgrapevine, tx. /On the road to SoWal23,871 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
DDSoWal Expertgrapevine, tx. /On the road to SoWal23,871 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertIt is a completely different world from the 80s or even 90s. Even so most people from other parts of the country or world say it's very friendly around here.
As small town grow larger they tend to lose some calm and charm I suppose. SoWal used to be more laid back. The biggest change took place with the run up of real estate. People chasing money came here. Some have since left or chilled out. But many are still around and are like fishies out of water.
Also the bubble popping, storms, and BP have taken their toll on some folks.
Everyone here gets worn out this time of year from heat and months of visitors. Overall though the people I know are happy beach folk and would dig ditches to live here.
I think this is all so true....even though I'm not a local, I can totally understand. I have to say that after dealing with the rain crazed crowds this past week, I can really relate to how the locals must feel about half way through the season. A double edged sword I imagine. That said, I have never found the folks of SoWal to be anything but brimming with SH.
hkem1hkem1Beach Fanatic349 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
I think Sowal is great partially because of the people. I'm "local" who goes to school in a different part of the country and I was back earlier this summer after being gone for a year. I was checking out at Publix, and the cashier says to me, "I saw you were back in town. How are you enjoying being back here?". I was shocked because though I could recognize this cashier woman, I was definitely not expecting that.
WaterbaddrinkwineWaterbaddrinkwineBeach LoverPoint Washington112 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach LoverAuthor
WaterbaddrinkwineBeach LoverPoint Washington112 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach LoverAuthorCompared to last year at this time everyone is happier, not to mention the tourists are back in record numbers and the investers are diving in like bottom feeders. There is loads of SH here and maybe it's the toursists that are becoming more uppity. I think Walton County TDC should adopt the same thing they do in St. Thomas and tell people being happy and friendly is a local custom! Smile, life is good!
WaterbaddrinkwineWaterbaddrinkwineBeach LoverPoint Washington112 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach LoverAuthor
WaterbaddrinkwineBeach LoverPoint Washington112 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach LoverAuthorYa just gotta love Publix.....
BeachbumAggieBeachbumAggieBeach FanaticArlington, TX799 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
We started coming to SoWal about 7 years ago and as the crowds have grown dramatically I have seen folks become a little less friendly as well. I have never met a stranger and will talk to anyone even semi willing to talk to me but everyone is certainly not like that!! I still feel the locals are friendly, it's some of the tourist or seasonal home owners that seem less friendly to me. Fighting the crowds can create a bit of stress for folks as well as too much family time so maybe that's the issue!!! he he
mputnalmputnalBeach Fanatic2,396 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
The St. Thomas customs use to exist naturally in Tallahassee, in my home town 80 miles SE of Tally and especially in Sowal but it is fading. As a realist I can accept this and still be happy to have what we have. As an optimist I can set the example for something better. As a pessimist I would have feelings of hopelessness. Our society (god forbid but maybe even our community) has symptoms of a "cold". Maybe the cure is more "sunshine". Oh, that is what Kurt was saying to me...or is it??? Okay, okay I am smilling!
Lake View TooLake View TooSoWal InsiderEastern Lake7,000 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Insider
Lake View TooSoWal InsiderEastern Lake7,000 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal InsiderMaybe we just need to have free margarita stands on every corner... from the two "doom and gloom" threads you've started lately, it might just be you are in a bad mood. The movement you need is on your shoulders.
mputnalmputnalBeach Fanatic2,396 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Maybe we just need to have free margarita stands on every corner... from the two "doom and gloom" threads you've started lately, it might just be you are in a bad mood. The movement you need is on your shoulders.Hey I like the margarita stand idea. I wave at people in passing. I smile a lot. I can also take your opinion of my "doom and gloom" threads and carry the weight of what I see happening all around our community and in Washington. I can accept that I may be wrong about forming an opinion based on what I see and hear. I can tell you for certain that I admire people with optimism. Optimisim is contagious so keep it coming. Being a realist all the time is frustrating and no fun. I have to go now and make me a margarita...
tistheseasontistheseasonBeach FanaticAtlanta, GA1,072 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
tistheseasonBeach FanaticAtlanta, GA1,072 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticI'm all for the margarita stands! For the most part people are very friendly -- however that doesn't mean everyone that walks by is going to want to chat -- sometimes they are lost in their own thoughts. I noticed this as my kids worked the lemonade stand at gigi's store on Saturday. Sometimes people would walk right by the kids asking if they wanted lemonade. Once they realized what they had done, they'd come back to make a donation and get some lemonade. They certaintly weren't rude, just daydreaming!
idlewindidlewindBeach FanaticWalton/Okaloosa County and a little south alabama 2,687 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Most people have moved on from the BP problem and are moving forward with their lives. I see cautious optimism among most locals with the only drag being the continued difficulty with real estate sales. But my experience is that locals draw closer to each other in bad times and are as friendly and helpful as ever. In good times everyone is doing their own thing but the underlying values are still there.
KurtKurtAdminSoWal2,473 postsJoined View profileMessageAdmin
KurtAdminSoWal2,473 postsJoined View profileMessageAdminMost people have moved on from the BP problem and are moving forward with their lives. I see cautious optimism among most locals with the only drag being the continued difficulty with real estate sales. But my experience is that locals draw closer to each other in bad times and are as friendly and helpful as ever. In good times everyone is doing their own thing but the underlying values are still there.
That's my take. I'm wondering who mputnal is talking to. There were a ton of locals on the beach yesterday. I'm thinking there was a little pent up demand there also, along with visitors. And maybe we got a look at how precious and fragile it all is and some folks are getting out to enjoy it more. Wouldn't that be cool?
Lake View TooLake View TooSoWal InsiderEastern Lake7,000 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Insider
Lake View TooSoWal InsiderEastern Lake7,000 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal InsiderEverybody is a little on edge because the government is about to collapse... we'll be alright once the margarita stands are operational.:blink:
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