Are the tourist here (South Walton) suicidal ?

[scooterbug44]

Kathy, I was being totally serious - I may not know people by name, but you get quite familiar w/ the joggers, bikers, etc. you see on a regular basis and the odds of a local doing something stupid and NOT getting called on it are pretty low (because we love to give each other grief even more than we like to pick on the tourists). I got a flat tire on 30-A once and it was less than 5 minutes before someone who knew me stopped - and I'd only lived here for a couple years then.

I actually have funny descriptive names for the regulars - older asian guy w/ the dog and giant tricycle, guy in tight red bike outfit whose legs stick out funny because his seat is too low, lady w/ the cute black & white exercise skirt, lady who walks her dog in her bathrobe etc.

 

[seagrovegirl]

but I take great offense that everytime someone is doing something stupid down there it is automatically assumed that it is a tourist. I don't believe that all of the locals know every single local that lives there. Don't locals ever do anything stupid? Perhaps there is a local that likes to run in the middle of the street, perhaps there are local families that like to walk out in front of cars, or not watch their kids closely, or whatever. The comments like some of the ones that I have seen posted here, and elsewhere about us tourists on this board really crawl under my skin.

Because locals work very hard at not acting like tourists. Living in a tourist town and seeing stupid stuff everyday.....I don't act like a tourist when I am visiting somewhere else because I know what those locals would think. Not being a tourist, and not wanting to be catagorized as one...I don't want to act like one. Have you seen how stupid a tourist can act???? If you act stupid, sorry...but your a tourist.

 

[NoHall]

but I take great offense that everytime someone is doing something stupid down there it is automatically assumed that it is a tourist. I don't believe that all of the locals know every single local that lives there. Don't locals ever do anything stupid? Perhaps there is a local that likes to run in the middle of the street, perhaps there are local families that like to walk out in front of cars, or not watch their kids closely, or whatever. The comments like some of the ones that I have seen posted here, and elsewhere about us tourists on this board really crawl under my skin.

Sowalgayboi has a lovely blog about this that might make you feel better...

 

[kathydwells]

Because locals work very hard at not acting like tourists. Living in a tourist town and seeing stupid stuff everyday.....I don't act like a tourist when I am visiting somewhere else because I know what those locals would think. Not being a tourist, and not wanting to be catagorized as one...I don't want to act like one. Have you seen how stupid a tourist can act???? If you act stupid, sorry...but your a tourist.

:roll:

 

[Minnie]

There is a very important word being left out of this discussion. "Some" tourists exhibit stupid behavior, everyone will agree. But not "every" tourist does.

Just as "some" locals exhibit stupid behavior, as I have personally witnessed this.

I would never though come on this forum and say What is up with the locals, are they all stupid?

Due to one trying to run me down while driving the speed limit along 30-A and when I did, pass me on a double yellow line and scream obsenties at me and shoot me the bird, while driving a local delivery truck with a sign on it.

That would be wrong to paint all locals with the same stupid brush.

 

[kitlit]

I got a flat tire on 30-A once and it was less than 5 minutes before someone who knew me stopped - and I'd only lived here for a couple years then.

I am very well known for running out of gas in awkward places... 100 yds west of the Texaco at 98/30-A... 50 yds east of the Tom Thumb on 98/331... Swafia likes to tell me, "Baby, the 'E' doesn't mean 'Enough'..." but I never worry because I know that I won't have to wait too long before somebody stops to laugh at me and drive me and my 5 gal. gas tank to the Sto'...

My particular favorite was at about 11:00 one night when I ran out of gas just as I pulled up to the stop sign at 30-A/395... Richard Flowers was behind me and he walked up to my window and said, "Ok Kit, get out so I can push you out of the road..."

I do stupid stuff all the time, Kathy, and I'm not ashamed to admit it!

 

[ktschris]

very well said Minnie

 

[30abob]

No, seriously I don't know what they were looking at!

I've never thought other people would think I'm "gawking"... but I look at everybody that I drive past, men and women alike (I guess I should be more aware that other people perceive my actions differently). Before you jump to conclusions, I'm no "Uncle Pervy." I guess it's just conditioning, I grew up with a mother that NEVER went anywhere that she didn't see someone she knew - no matter how far we got from home. Since I moved here a little over a year ago I've seen dozens and dozens of people that I know from other places. In fact earlier this week I saw my former neighbor (200 miles from home) pushing his bicycle across 98 in front of Camping on the Gulf. This happens so often that I really do expect to see someone I know everyday. So... if I'm ever seen "gawking" at women or men (or kids for that matter - seen some of them that I know too) while driving around SoWal please don't assume I'm up to no good! I'm just followin' in Mama's footsteps of "knowing everybody!";-)

 

[kathydwells]

I am very well known for running out of gas in awkward places... 100 yds west of the Texaco at 98/30-A... 50 yds east of the Tom Thumb on 98/331... Swafia likes to tell me, "Baby, the 'E' doesn't mean 'Enough'..." but I never worry because I know that I won't have to wait too long before somebody stops to laugh at me and drive me and my 5 gal. gas tank to the Sto'...

My particular favorite was at about 11:00 one night when I ran out of gas just as I pulled up to the stop sign at 30-A/395... Richard Flowers was behind me and he walked up to my window and said, "Ok Kit, get out so I can push you out of the road..."

I do stupid stuff all the time, Kathy, and I'm not ashamed to admit it!

I do stupid stuff all the time myself, but not because I am a tourist, but because I am human.

 

[kathydwells]

And one more thing......

If there are any soon to be tourists reading this thread, that are as excited about your vacation as I am, let me just tell you that I can personally attest to the fact that not all locals think we leave our brains at home, or that we are morons, or idiots, or stupid, or some other adjective some people use to describe us. There are some locals that truly appreciate us, and love us and are thankful and happy we are there. So go and enjoy your vacations, enjoy every minute of it. Just don't walk out in front of any cars, don't jog in the middle of the road, keep an eye on your kids, and by all means spend all that money in the local establishments!!!! Have Funn!