Smiling JOe said:
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! the last laundromat I found was about 20 miles away (probably more)!
Full time residents
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Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! the last laundromat I found was about 20 miles away (probably more)!
aquaticbiology said:I'd never tell anyway - might be the tax man!
:funn:
ShallowsNole said:...or someone who works next door.aquaticbiology said:I'd never tell anyway - might be the tax man!
:funn:
The Complex that our condo is in (Seamist at Seacrest Beach), has one full time resident (a man who is in his upper 30s) and even he has his condo up for sale so that he can trade it up for a home at either Watercolor or Watersound.
Another full-time resident point-of-view...
I grew up in SoWal. My parents bought two government lots on the Bay in the late 1940's / early 1950's for $10 an acre. Most of the land was sold long before it was "worth anything." This is the property that now comprises the subdivisions of Bayou Creek Estates and The Shallows, part of the land that was annexed into Eden State Park, and all the smaller metes-and-bounds parcels not in the subdivisions. My father's ancestors, the Wesley family, were among the early settlers of Point Washington. If my parents knew what homes and land around here were priced at now (and taxes and insurance!), there would be some serious spinning occurring in the Point Washington cemetery.
When I was a child and a teenager, we operated a grocery store in Santa Rosa Beach. The building stands where Bea's Interiors was for many years. My dad often stated that, in winter, you could fire a cannon down Hwy 98 and not hit anything. He was right. There was NOTHING to do. Working in that store - and my other early jobs - was the basis of my social life.
Fast-forward: I am college-educated and have a relatively good job, for this area. My husband grew up in the north part of Walton County (Glendale!) and is a law enforcement officer. If not for inheriting the property I was raised on, there is NO WAY that I would be able to live where I do. In the middle of building our new home here, my husband's career and salary took a nosedive from which it hasn't fully recovered (note: I am not a fan of our sheriff). Had we known what would happen with my spouse's career, we wouldn't have built this house. Things are much better now, but it is still hard to make ends meet - especially with waterfront property!
Many of my old schoolmates have become millionaires by selling out and leaving SoWal. To be honest, we have considered it. However, I don't want to! SoWal is my home, we fought a hell of a fight to get back over here (from Freeport, which was actually quite nice for ten years) and I will fight tooth and nail to stay here. If it becomes too much of a struggle, we have property in the north part of the county - but I would prefer to move away completely rather than watch someone else move into my home.
This is why my viewpoint is often different from most of the posters on this board. I see a different SoWal than many of you do. I haven't been to the beach at all this year, due to surgery in the spring, hurricanes in the summer, and an incredibly busy life all the time. However, I enjoy reading this board and discovering what drew most of you to live here or invest in vacation homes here. It reaffirms what I have known all along - this is one of the most special places on the entire planet.
P.S. I adore Publix! I can finally buy ice cream and make it home before it melts!
I grew up in SoWal. My parents bought two government lots on the Bay in the late 1940's / early 1950's for $10 an acre. Most of the land was sold long before it was "worth anything." This is the property that now comprises the subdivisions of Bayou Creek Estates and The Shallows, part of the land that was annexed into Eden State Park, and all the smaller metes-and-bounds parcels not in the subdivisions. My father's ancestors, the Wesley family, were among the early settlers of Point Washington. If my parents knew what homes and land around here were priced at now (and taxes and insurance!), there would be some serious spinning occurring in the Point Washington cemetery.
When I was a child and a teenager, we operated a grocery store in Santa Rosa Beach. The building stands where Bea's Interiors was for many years. My dad often stated that, in winter, you could fire a cannon down Hwy 98 and not hit anything. He was right. There was NOTHING to do. Working in that store - and my other early jobs - was the basis of my social life.
Fast-forward: I am college-educated and have a relatively good job, for this area. My husband grew up in the north part of Walton County (Glendale!) and is a law enforcement officer. If not for inheriting the property I was raised on, there is NO WAY that I would be able to live where I do. In the middle of building our new home here, my husband's career and salary took a nosedive from which it hasn't fully recovered (note: I am not a fan of our sheriff). Had we known what would happen with my spouse's career, we wouldn't have built this house. Things are much better now, but it is still hard to make ends meet - especially with waterfront property!
Many of my old schoolmates have become millionaires by selling out and leaving SoWal. To be honest, we have considered it. However, I don't want to! SoWal is my home, we fought a hell of a fight to get back over here (from Freeport, which was actually quite nice for ten years) and I will fight tooth and nail to stay here. If it becomes too much of a struggle, we have property in the north part of the county - but I would prefer to move away completely rather than watch someone else move into my home.
This is why my viewpoint is often different from most of the posters on this board. I see a different SoWal than many of you do. I haven't been to the beach at all this year, due to surgery in the spring, hurricanes in the summer, and an incredibly busy life all the time. However, I enjoy reading this board and discovering what drew most of you to live here or invest in vacation homes here. It reaffirms what I have known all along - this is one of the most special places on the entire planet.
P.S. I adore Publix! I can finally buy ice cream and make it home before it melts!
Thanks for sharing your story, ShallowsNole. It's good to hear a bit of the history of the area first-hand and to hear some tell their sentimental story. I wish you the very best with your home in SoWal!
Appreciate it, Paula!
I am a bit embarrassed this morning that I wrote a novel...but I reckon that if that's all I have to be embarrassed about, I'm doing pretty good!
I am a bit embarrassed this morning that I wrote a novel...but I reckon that if that's all I have to be embarrassed about, I'm doing pretty good!
ShallowsNole said:Appreciate it, Paula!
I am a bit embarrassed this morning that I wrote a novel...but I reckon that if that's all I have to be embarrassed about, I'm doing pretty good!
ShallowsNole, there is no reason for embarrassment. Your story is just beautiful.
I, too, was very excited to have a decent grocery store built close by. The three closest ones all popped up around the same time. Before that, I drove to the Publix in Destin, across from Destin Commons. I disliked doing that, and could forget about buying frozen items unless I brought my cooler, especially in the summer time.
ShallowsNole said:Appreciate it, Paula!
I am a bit embarrassed this morning that I wrote a novel...but I reckon that if that's all I have to be embarrassed about, I'm doing pretty good!
I hope you can be a little more embarrassed and write some more stories for us! I am enthralled with the insights of those of you that have grown up/lived in the area for a long time. Plus, you write from the heart and I thank you for sharing it with us.
Sueshore said:
Hey SS, did you read the story on the home page. It is about early Grayton Beach history. This is the story that drew us to the area. It is really interesting and I wonder if the writer is on the board.