Revisiting SoWal

[Miss Kitty]

I know there is some humor in there Sheep...but, frankly reading your posts gives me a headache.

 

[Indigo Jill]

I haven't been back in about 5 years and I am so afraid of everything you've just posted. I'm pretty sure it would be my sentiments exactly. I am so hesitant to return. Improvement and development is a good thing, up to a point. I can remember when Seaside was first going in, many thought it was already getting too crowded then! Knowing of all this development, we explored a beach vacation elsewhere last summer. We liked it (didn't love it) but we still missed "the beach." The beach being sowal, at least as we once knew it.

I understand as it sounds as if you have come to Sowal to escape but wear the shoes of someone that lives here year round for a minute.

As a year round local (and there are only what...7800 of us?), I am SO happy to have access to the things cityfolk have and take for granted - a local grocery store, dry cleaner, school (before SWHS was in, people were driving to FWB or PC for high school), STARBUCKS (I don't feel bad about saying that either ), more restaurants...the list goes on and on.

And yes, there has been an explosion of development but so much of Sowal is state forest and restrictions are tight on things like building heights. More deveopment, also, means more people who will come visit our area and spend money which for a lot of us is critical to our livelihoods. I know it is personal perspective but I can say for me, I don't mind the changes.

 

[Indigo Jill]

To me it isn't about the asthetics of the place. It is about the beautiful blue ocean, the soft white sand between my toes, the sounds of the ocean, the beautiful night sky, the beautiful sunsets and moonrises. My goodnes that is what I come here for. Once you get to where you are going who freaking cares about the houses, and condo's and all? Really? I think the only way to avoid all of that is going to a deserted island somewhere!!!!! IMHO!

Amen.

 

[jessifunn]

Holy`Shmoley, my SheepGod, I couldn't believe it.

It had been since the early 90s when I and Mrs. TheSheep escorted the rams to play baseball in nearby P.C. We left those wooly ballplayers and wandered off to the Grayton/Seaside/Etc. area. We found this quaint little fourplex and settled into the fourth of it. Off 30, back roads made of shelltails and cocklepuppies , few neighbors, wide beaches, paradise found.

What the focken happened?

We recently turned off the Monster Highway to Rosemary Beach to be granted by stacked housing stacked on stacks of housing. TheSheep is a developer of barns, mainly commercial sheep centers, but I had no idea what those empty, "overpriced" lots of the early 90s were going to turn out looking like.

Before you get your knickers in a knot, ThisTheSheep is not criticizing in terms of "nonny nonny boo-boo, what the hell are you thinking about", your choice of stable, each to his own.

I can positively comment that the architectural diversity is rather eye-catching; WaterMark (sp??) is iris-candy, Alys Beach is supreme in its abstractness and that boat house thing, what Conspicuous Consumption Cooglehead is building that retina burner?

Seaside (square) looks like it got boxed in like Central Park (hey, why not build a few more and higher whatevers off the Square too..or, you are, my baaaaaaaaaaaaad).

It was a really dizzying experience for TheSheep; the Missus simply projectile vomited to perform her displeasure.

What a mix, a sense of community, crampness, beauty, distortion, investment value, serious $ to value outofunk ratios, luxury, cheepy (cheepy?), quaintness, soon-to-be-dead bicyclers, pedestrian friendliness, dogs n cats sleeping together........

I feel like I missed something and nothing all at the same time.

What I am trying to understand is the composite mentality of this living style. That is, what draws shee, er people to live on top of each other (careful........) and pay such inordinate sums for the privilidge?

you are the black sheep and i like it.

 

[KISH7374]

To me it isn't about the asthetics of the place. It is about the beautiful blue ocean, the soft white sand between my toes, the sounds of the ocean, the beautiful night sky, the beautiful sunsets and moonrises. My goodnes that is what I come here for. Once you get to where you are going who freaking cares about the houses, and condo's and all? Really? I think the only way to avoid all of that is going to a deserted island somewhere!!!!! IMHO!

All of this from an owner and party planner. You are just amazing. :clap_1: :clap_1:

 

[Mermaid]

To me, not liking a place because it's changed in the years/decades/centuries since you've seen it last is like telling your spouse you don't like them because they don't look like the 20 something you married anymore.

Nothing in this life is static and that includes beaches, especially one as lovely as ours. I'm in agreement with Darlene and OL who said it perfectly: when you look at that beautiful water, what do you have to complain or worry about?

 

[KISH7374]

I agree with Mermaid but also I think for me it is the sense of peace when you are near or on the beach. It allows you to escape from everything that is stressful and allows you to really relax and recharge.

 

[kathydwells]

All of this from an owner and party planner. You are just amazing. :clap_1: :clap_1:

Neither of which I am. I guess I do own in my heart though, and for a week out of the year, and this year I get to 4 days in March which is an extra blessing.

 

[KISH7374]

Neither of which I am. I guess I do own in my heart though, and for a week out of the year, and this year I get to 4 days in March which is an extra blessing.

I was hoping you were still there. I was trying to add a little humor to your mood. Seeing that you are one of the more famous SoWallers.

 

[kathydwells]

I was hoping you were still there. I was trying to add a little humor to your mood. Seeing that you are one of the more famous SoWallers.

Thank you. You did good!!! ;-) We are all famous in my book!!!!!!