What defines a "local" and does it really matter?

There is native, local, property owner, tourist, snowbird, visitor, friends of locals, family of natives, etc. etc.

None of my family was born in South Walton. We are property owners/transplants/locals/lovers of Grayton Beach.

I think it is funny though how whoever lives in sowal really doesn't want anyone else to move there....really....be honest. The newest residents complain about the traffic and construction, while the older residents complain about the newer residents. It is the life cycle...or the resort cycle! Speaking of cycles - bi!
Except for you jdarg and Allifunn!

I like your stories too Steelemama. I really have enjoyed getting to know the locals/natives/residents/tourists/friends, etc. that have great stories and experiences to share from this area. The history and local lore that we have picked up over the last year will really help us settle in, I think.

There is native, local, property owner, tourist, snowbird, visitor, friends of locals, family of natives, etc. etc.

None of my family was born in South Walton. We are property owners/transplants/locals/lovers of Grayton Beach.

I think it is funny though how whoever lives in sowal really doesn't want anyone else to move there....really....be honest. The newest residents complain about the traffic and construction, while the older residents complain about the newer residents. It is the life cycle...or the resort cycle! Speaking of cycles - bi!
Except for you jdarg and Allifunn!

how true it is wise steele mama... jdarg will be a local "newcomer" and there is nothing wrong with that. kind of like being a "beach crab" when you first come to sowal... we will celebrate the dargs moving to town. but there are those that we do growl about...

What's great about memories is that they last a lifetime. I remember waiting on the draw bridge on 331 for what seemed like a lifetime, anticipating being knee deep in the gulf at sunset with a crab net. I remember when the Grayton Store got Pac-Man. I remember street dances in Seagrove on 30-A and the 1st 4th of July celebration at Seaside when they only had the market and a Post Office. I remember when the only goal my friends and I had was to dig out Big Redfish Lake so we could ride the rapids into the gulf. I remember the smell of aloe on little burnt shoulders.

The great thing is that my children will remember digging out Eastern Lake so they could ride the rapids into the gulf. They will remember attending Bay Elementary. They will remember when Alys Beach was just a couple of sand castle looking buildings and Fonville Press. They will remember trick or treating at Seaside. Hopefully they will remember the smell of shrimp and crab boils and not as much aloe.

No matter where you come from or where you are now, we all have memories of this area burned deep into the happy part of our brains or we wouldn't spend time on SoWal. I can't wait to see what future memories await myself, my children and generations to come.

Thank you Kimifunn for starting this thread. I'm not really sure how I got in the middle of all this, but I want to be very clear on something- This is the most special place I have ever lived, I feel lucky everyday to teach my children about the life that is here (Crabs, fish, butterflies) My daughter asked me last night why the moon was so bright here and why there where so many more stars. How lucky it is that I live in a place where the sunset is a priority in the day, that we can watch the cycles of the moon without the city lights, and that the "old timers" can teach us so much about the land and sea and we hang on their every word.

I've lived in other places with traffic and construction, but never anywhere has that ride been this beautiful.

I'm glad to call myself one thing- LUCKY!

Thank you Kimifunn for starting this thread. I'm not really sure how I got in the middle of all this, but I want to be very clear on something- This is the most special place I have ever lived, I feel lucky everyday to teach my children about the life that is here (Crabs, fish, butterflies) My daughter asked me last night why the moon was so bright here and why there where so many more stars. How lucky it is that I live in a place where the sunset is a priority in the day, that we can watch the cycles of the moon without the city lights, and that the "old timers" can teach us so much about the land and sea and we hang on their every word.

I've lived in other places with traffic and construction, but never anywhere has that ride been this beautiful.

I'm glad to call myself one thing- LUCKY!

The moon and stars on the beach mean more to us than any day on the beach... it's just part of our life. you are right - lucky is the word.

The moon and stars on the beach mean more to us than any day on the beach... it's just part of our life. you are right - lucky is the word.

Toots...I like Beachmom. Y'all should take her under your wing.

Thanks K!

KFunn, I was lucky enough the other day to meet Beachmom at the LOCAL meeting about planting LOCAL plants in your yard!! She was a pleasure to talk to as well as beautiful. I hope that she (as well as her 3 kids) come and join in on all the sowal activities....:clap_1: especially Oct 14 party!!!!

Toots...I like Beachmom. Y'all should take her under your wing.

Thanks IBD!! I will- I NEED more adult conversation!! Talking to 2 dogs and a 2 yr. old most of the day has me talking to myself!!!!

Thanks IBD!! I will- I NEED more adult conversation!! Talking to 2 dogs and a 2 yr. old most of the day has me talking to myself!!!!

Don't worry, when you start answering yourself, you'll really know you're in trouble. I personally changed the names of my alter egos, so I don't feel like I am answering myself. :funn:

:funn:

I see SoWalSally posted a new thread entitled Counseling Clinic in Grayton
http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?p=155235#post155235

I think they should have day classes........
Something like this:

1) COURSE: Am I a native, local, part time local, transplanted native?
Hypnotists will be on site to take you back to a former life to see where you really came from.

2) COURSE: How to control your anger or loss when a local business closes.
Therapists on site with pictures of items for you to describe. Scratch and sniff of food items available so you can work through the withdrawal.

3) COURSE: Bicyclists on the road- tempering your desire to pass them or run them over
A Plasma full screen with Nintendo like simulations including bicyclists of all sizes and shapes wearing different types of activewear.

4) COURSE: Crap on the beach
half day sessions where therapists will assist you in finding your inner child. Crap on the beach on site and creative methods of usage will be inspired.
:funn:

Mango I you!

I just picked up 3 beach chairs and an umbrella that had been sitting in the same spot all piled up since I arrived. It is outa here!

By the way I'm not a native or a local........

Mango I you!

I just picked up 3 beach chairs and an umbrella that had been sitting in the same spot all piled up since I arrived. It is outa here!

By the way I'm not a native or a local........

Oh my gosh, she's a DDT! ;-)

Locals Unite in the Spirit of Divisiveness


Heavens, I stay off the board for a few days and look what you people have sunk to.

What are we supposed to convey from this thread? SoWal: You are either with us, or you just visit us occasionally. How lame and uninspiring. Pffft!

Well if we are going to goose step down this path lets at least do it right. Fortunately for you all, I have just polished up my dominatrix outfit and am ready to lead you down this path to a better SoWal!

First: Let?s review: In a world of 5 billion people, how the hell are we going to co-exist unless we first categorize, pre-define, and then divide ourselves into manageable clumps?

Second: Locals vs. Tourists

Now; since everyone agrees that a person?s validity only starts once they have crossed south of the 331 bridge, let?s first categorize and identify the visitors.

And just how are we going to identify these SoWal wanna-bees? Oh sure, there are the old stand bys: look for the pasty white folks, out of state plates, or the way they mispronounce Alys; but clearly we need a better way to pick ?em out. Let?s require that all tourists wear arm bands, say with a yellow starfish on it to identify them. So we will know who to be rude to while waiting in line for our grilled oyster po-boys.

Ok, now let?s simply define what these tourists are all about; although it is plainly obvious. They are all slow driving, bicycle in my way riding, hogging all the good parking spaces, littering on my beach, eating my paneed chicken, stomping on my sea oates, lazy ass pseudo-foreign sub-locals. They have NO redeeming qualities, at all.

And finally we need to quarantine them on a small plot of land to keep them out of the locals? hair. How about Camp Creek? We can concentrate all the tourists in Concentration Camp Creek and wall ?em in.

Problem solved!

Third: Now we turn our attention to other annoying issues like race, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, politics, and Tv viewing preferences ? We?ll simply define what the proper SoWaller needs to look, act, and think like and set about cleansing ourselves of the rabble.

Sud Walton Uber Ales!

Meet me at the Seaside Amphitheater Tuesday evening for a South Walton Tourist Guidebook Burning Party!

Where is the greater SoWal metro area? hmmmm.....Bruce? ;-) I've always wondered...is that NoWal or MidWal? What about DeFunk...definitely NoWal?

I knew you wouldn't disappoint us 30gAy. Now where is your insight regarding Rep. Mark Foley?

Where is the greater SoWal metro area? hmmmm.....Bruce? ;-) I've always wondered...is that NoWal or MidWal? What about DeFunk...definitely NoWal?

Are you questioning my status as a pure SoWaller?

Why you slanderous little wench.

Retort this slander or I shall challenge you do a duel, SoWal style- You know where we walk 5 paces, turn and hurl life threatening portions of garlic mashed potatos at each other.

SoWal is SoBay, but Freeport is lobbying to have SoWal = South of the interstate.

Are you questioning my status as a pure SoWaller?

Why you slanderous little wench.

Retort this slander or I shall challenge you do a duel, SoWal style- You know where we walk 5 paces, turn and hurl life threatening portions of garlic mashed potatos at each other.

Hey, that sounds like fun! Shall we use Red Bar potatos or Pandoras? Does Pandoras do potatos?

I am not questioning anything except your location under your name. I have to get my mind around where the "greater sowal metro area" would be. Maybe Black Creek???? I know what it is in Atlanta...Newnan!

Are you questioning my status as a pure SoWaller?

Why you slanderous little wench.

Retort this slander or I shall challenge you do a duel, SoWal style- You know where we walk 5 paces, turn and hurl life threatening portions of garlic mashed potatos at each other.

All Sowal wench duels require permission of the MOFO wench committee and as per Rule 32, Section 1.03 of the handbook, SPAM is now used for hurling. :funn: The winner gets a cake specifically made in a special form

Hey, that sounds like fun! Shall we use Red Bar potatos or Pandoras? Does Pandoras do potatos?

I am not questioning anything except your location under your name. I have to get my mind around where the "greater sowal metro area" would be. Maybe Black Creek???? I know what it is in Atlanta...Newnan!

I understand your confusion, however I can not give away specific information regarding my whereabouts; as I am in the witness protection program hiding from members of Florida's congressional delegation following a series of unwanted amorous advances.

Let's just say it's below 125th Street.

All Sowal wench duels require permission of the MOFO wench committee and as per Rule 32, Section 1.03 of the handbook, SPAM is now used for hurling. :funn: The winner gets a cake specifically made in a special form

:clap_1: :clap_1:

Mango you are crackin me up today....

All Sowal wench duels require permission of the MOFO wench committee and as per Rule 32, Section 1.03 of the handbook, SPAM is now used for hurling. :funn: The winner gets a cake specifically made in a special form

Mango you are crackin me up today....

It's the Mango/30gAy show!!! it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I understand your confusion, however I can not give away specific information regarding my whereabouts; as I am in the witness protection program hiding from members of Florida's congressional delegation following a series of unwanted amorous advances.

Let's just say it's below 125th Street.

water spewed!

All Sowal wench duels require permission of the MOFO wench committee and as per Rule 32, Section 1.03 of the handbook, SPAM is now used for hurling. :funn: The winner gets a cake specifically made in a special form

I love how we make up the rules as we go...