As bad as I hate to, I am going to cancel our family vacation for the week after next (7/16-7/23). I would like to remain as optimistic as possible, but I can't be blind to the facts. This thing is going to hit near enough to SoWal that power outages and damage are going to create major problems,IMO. I don't know how to break it to my little girl, but I only get so much time away from work, and I have to make a decision now in order to make the proper arrangements. I will keep all of you locals in my prayers. Oh well, another year of slaving and stress, and just MAYBE we'll get to go next year.
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91
Beach Fanatic
Well said, Kathy. I also tried to leave this one alone, but just couldn't. A lot of people would love to have their own beach house to rent graciously and even to board up if necessary.
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
I was just trying to put missing a week's vacation into perspective as compared to a longer-term loss. Not to mention being exhausted after boarding up and driving 7-hours (for a normal 4-1/4 hour drive). Sorry, kathydwells and anyone else whose feelings I inadvertently hurt.
No hard feelings here. I understand. I wish for all of you the best. I am sending good vibes your way.
Beach Lover
Having just spent nearly all of yesterday in the 90+ degree heat putting up boards (and discovering that "Easy-Clip" fasters neither are easy nor clip) and leaving the house 1/2 unboarded, followed by a nearly sleepless night, followed by a 6 hour drive west on I10 with two screaming cats who puked and pooped all the way home, I can share some of phdphay's frustration. In our neighborhood, we had a group of renters who were partying, bringing in cases of beer, and still hadn't left before we did at 5 this am. That's even though there was a mandatory evacuation yesterday. That's even though their rental house was being boarded up. That's even though as the hurricane approaches evacuation routes need to be as clear as possible. Mountains of trash had been piling up all week and I have little doubt they will just leave it--to be projectiles in the wind.
This is not a jibe at renters, generally. Nor is it disrespect of people whose plans to visit have most likely been scratched. But, I really felt that some renters really did not respect what owners were going through in the last day or so. Nor did some seem to appreciate the ramifications of a hurricane, for example that the beach chair thrown on the beach can be launched straight into my bedroom. It's a bit disconcerting, when owners are having every emotion thrown at them, fearing the worst, working themselves to exhaustion, and worrying about damn near everything, to have a drinking festival going on a few doors down.
Again, I have no anti-tourist horse in this race.
There is no gas really anywhere along I10 west at least until Alabama.
This is not a jibe at renters, generally. Nor is it disrespect of people whose plans to visit have most likely been scratched. But, I really felt that some renters really did not respect what owners were going through in the last day or so. Nor did some seem to appreciate the ramifications of a hurricane, for example that the beach chair thrown on the beach can be launched straight into my bedroom. It's a bit disconcerting, when owners are having every emotion thrown at them, fearing the worst, working themselves to exhaustion, and worrying about damn near everything, to have a drinking festival going on a few doors down.
Again, I have no anti-tourist horse in this race.
There is no gas really anywhere along I10 west at least until Alabama.
Beach Fanatic
Re: Thanks to Those Who Care About Us
We own a house that is in the rental program at Grayton and we live in an area of CA, the wine country, that is also enjoyed by large numbers of visitors. Sometimes when we are inconvenienced or overly stressed, it's easy to forget all we have that is largely possible because of tourism. Hopefully, communities balance tourism with quality of life, but the two are not mutually exclusive. I have been checking in with this message board daily since pre-Ivan and am so impressed with the devotion that our visitors have to the area and its beaches. I have seen vacationing visitors cleaning trash off the beaches after storms and am aware of numerous donations to local causes from people who live far away. I feel that we are so lucky to have visitors who love our beaches, even though they have no vested (real estate) interest there. And I grew up in the area and remember when it was much less populated/visited.
We want our renters to feel that "The Conch Out" is their own house at Grayton Beach, so that those families will come back year after year and develop their own traditions here. With rare exception, this has been the case. People have largely respectful of our home and we have holiday cards and nice notes passed along from our management company, both of which delight us. Can it get much better than this?
After so many stressful hurricane incidents, there may be a 1031 exchange in our future. However, I doubt that we will find an investment property in any area of the country that is as beloved by its visitors as the South Walton County beaches are, nor nearly as successful financially. Thank you to every single one of you who has taken the time to log onto this board with your concerns, hopes and prayers. We will get through this and welcome you again at Grayton, hopefully with little more from Dennis than a healthy deposit of snow white sand on our beautiful natural beaches.
We own a house that is in the rental program at Grayton and we live in an area of CA, the wine country, that is also enjoyed by large numbers of visitors. Sometimes when we are inconvenienced or overly stressed, it's easy to forget all we have that is largely possible because of tourism. Hopefully, communities balance tourism with quality of life, but the two are not mutually exclusive. I have been checking in with this message board daily since pre-Ivan and am so impressed with the devotion that our visitors have to the area and its beaches. I have seen vacationing visitors cleaning trash off the beaches after storms and am aware of numerous donations to local causes from people who live far away. I feel that we are so lucky to have visitors who love our beaches, even though they have no vested (real estate) interest there. And I grew up in the area and remember when it was much less populated/visited.
We want our renters to feel that "The Conch Out" is their own house at Grayton Beach, so that those families will come back year after year and develop their own traditions here. With rare exception, this has been the case. People have largely respectful of our home and we have holiday cards and nice notes passed along from our management company, both of which delight us. Can it get much better than this?
After so many stressful hurricane incidents, there may be a 1031 exchange in our future. However, I doubt that we will find an investment property in any area of the country that is as beloved by its visitors as the South Walton County beaches are, nor nearly as successful financially. Thank you to every single one of you who has taken the time to log onto this board with your concerns, hopes and prayers. We will get through this and welcome you again at Grayton, hopefully with little more from Dennis than a healthy deposit of snow white sand on our beautiful natural beaches.
Beach Comber
Thank you Donna and others for being sensitive to those of us are that are only lucky enough to spend one week a year there. We so look forward to it each and every year. We have stayed in your house once and had the most wonderful time. It is one of the last really fun memories I have of my Mother (who also loved going to the beach) before she died. She especially loved the kitchen!! And we all loved the "Red Bar". For the first year after she died we could not seem to come back to the area because of the many memories, but now we feel that in some way when we are there, she is with us laughing and having a wonderful time. I truly hope that everything is OK in South Walton and that we do not have to cancel our plans for coming on the 16th. I am holding out until the last minute.
Beach ComberAuthor
PHDPHAY,
It is time for you and I to clear the air and bury the hatchet. I completely understand how you would be stressed out in this situation, and I certainly respect the fact that you sacrificed through time to accomplish what you and your husband have together. By no means could I even fathom that cancelling my vacation is even in the same universe as what you guys are facing, I have stated that since the beginning of my threads regarding DENNIS. I too have sacrificed for education and built a business from the ground up, and being self-employed has its stresses and rewards as well. I hope that someday I can be like you and enjoy the finer things in life for all my hard work, but I realize that those things come with a price, both on the front end and in the future. I wish you and all of you down there God's blessing for safety and health, and maybe we can all enjoy this place together in the aftermath. As a matter of fact, you are welcome to come to Georgia and stay with us till the smoke clears, as long as you don't wear any Gator apparel. I cook a mean pulled pork Barbeque!
It is time for you and I to clear the air and bury the hatchet. I completely understand how you would be stressed out in this situation, and I certainly respect the fact that you sacrificed through time to accomplish what you and your husband have together. By no means could I even fathom that cancelling my vacation is even in the same universe as what you guys are facing, I have stated that since the beginning of my threads regarding DENNIS. I too have sacrificed for education and built a business from the ground up, and being self-employed has its stresses and rewards as well. I hope that someday I can be like you and enjoy the finer things in life for all my hard work, but I realize that those things come with a price, both on the front end and in the future. I wish you and all of you down there God's blessing for safety and health, and maybe we can all enjoy this place together in the aftermath. As a matter of fact, you are welcome to come to Georgia and stay with us till the smoke clears, as long as you don't wear any Gator apparel. I cook a mean pulled pork Barbeque!
Beach Fanatic
I think we're all through throwing sand and only hope for the best for everyone.
Travel2much, that really was a horrible situation for you---How are the cats?
Travel2much, that really was a horrible situation for you---How are the cats?
Beach Lover
Travel2much... How are the cats?
Well, the one who screamed bloody murder and tried to claw her way out of her carrier the WHOLE DARN DRIVE is quietly resting at my feet, like nothing happened. Mr. Pukey is hiding from me somewhere. Doesn't want much to do with me right now. I am being shunned, apparently.
They'll get over it. Such drama, like they were being boiled in oil or something.
Beach Comber
I too have a place rented already for july 17th - 23rd in seagrove. If everything is back up and running me and my girlfriend still plan on coming down and we'll probably take some of the time of our vacation to help with various clean up projects. I guess we'll just wait it out for now and see what happens in the next couple of days.
SoWal Expert
...and we'll probably take some of the time of our vacation to help with various clean up projects.What a gem! :clap_1:
We should have a clean up day and give out Bloody Marys to everyone pitching in. I can bring the supplies and bartend. Pick a morning. (hmm, I wonder if I need a liqour license???)
I have a feeling that we may have more Bloody Mary Mournings on the way this year.
Beach Comber
What a gem! :clap_1:
I can bring the supplies and bartend.
you bring the supplies and i'll bring my liver!
SoWal Expert
you bring the supplies and i'll bring my liver!It won't be a drunk-fest, just a refreshing treat for everyone's good deeds. We could call it SoWal's Bloody Mary Mourning, in honor of, of course South Walton's loss, but also for SoWal.com, which Kurt has donated his time to keep running. Sure it is a business idea, but it is directly responsible for bringing so many people together from different backgrounds, and provides a great link for many people. Kurt could give out stickers at the bar.
Beach Comber
It won't be a drunk-fest, just a refreshing treat for everyone's good deeds..
trust me i know that, it was really just a joke to try and lighten the mood with everything going on.
Beach Fanatic
Travel2Much---They sound like normal cats to me!
We also plan to come down ASAP since we had to delay this week's plans. Probably within the next 2 weeks and we will gladly volunteer to help with anything or anyone...We have pretty good barbeque here in Tennessee too
although it may be served with a big orange soda..
We also plan to come down ASAP since we had to delay this week's plans. Probably within the next 2 weeks and we will gladly volunteer to help with anything or anyone...We have pretty good barbeque here in Tennessee too
although it may be served with a big orange soda..
SoWal Expert
Travel2Much---They sound like normal cats to me!... as long as I don't have to drink the soda. I could care less what color you wear, as long as you cook some good Q. Wet or dry is fine as long as I don't have to cook.
We also plan to come down ASAP since we had to delay this week's plans. Probably within the next 2 weeks and we will gladly volunteer to help with anything or anyone...We have pretty good barbeque here in Tennessee too
although it may be served with a big orange soda..
Beach Fanatic
Memphis style dry with our own mix of dry rub, smoked all day.
Beach Fanatic
Paula
Next year I think I would like to rent from you. How lucky some people are that they don't have to depend on tourism. I never felt like I was doing anyone a favor by coming there. I really felt like they were doing me a favor to allow me to come and visit their home. We have never been destructive or disrespectful. I have learned a lot by reading this message board.
Thanks, Physes. I'm sure there are many people who rent their places to guests in SoWal who welcome their guests -- including you -- with open arms, and we'd certainly welcome you and your family, too.
And I'm sorry to hear about your mother -- it's great that SoWal has given you such sweet memories. We bought our cottage a few months after my mother died and we now give 5% of our rental income to cancer research because cancer takes so many lives, including her's. The ocean and the area brought and continues to bring wonderfully peaceful feelings because of its timelessness. Especially after Ivan last year, the ocean and beach give me perspective and peace because it just keeps going and renewing itself in so many ways despite -- perhaps because of -- the storms.
Granted, I might be much less philosophical right now and more panicked if the eye was heading right toward us (it seems to have shifted west) or if the cottages blew away...
Beach Lover
Ok we have been coming to this beach for 15 years and it is a part of our family tradition, and a very special one just before our Mother was diagnosed with cancer in August of 1998. She was soooo thrilled because that year every single one of us were there -- and the "Conch Out" was our "home' that year....THANK YOU DONNA!
We have stayed in condos "across the street from the beach", "houses on the beach", and every year they become a part of our family. SO this storm and its danger are very close to our hearts even though we dont "own" any of them.
WE ARE PRAYING FOR ALL of you and your homes...and hope for many more years of our annual pilgrimage to the GRAYTON BEACH! and may all of our grandchildren enjoy that time of family after us***maybe they will own one and be as welcoming as soooooo many of you have been!
( And it is an area that we enjoy because of the family atmosphere and PG rated beaches!
T*H*A*N*K* Y*O*U
Jennifer
beach.owner.wannabe!
We have stayed in condos "across the street from the beach", "houses on the beach", and every year they become a part of our family. SO this storm and its danger are very close to our hearts even though we dont "own" any of them.
WE ARE PRAYING FOR ALL of you and your homes...and hope for many more years of our annual pilgrimage to the GRAYTON BEACH! and may all of our grandchildren enjoy that time of family after us***maybe they will own one and be as welcoming as soooooo many of you have been!
( And it is an area that we enjoy because of the family atmosphere and PG rated beaches!
T*H*A*N*K* Y*O*U Jennifer
beach.owner.wannabe!
SoWal Expert
Ok we have been coming to this beach for 15 years and it is a part of our family tradition, and a very special one just before our Mother was diagnosed with cancer in August of 1998. She was soooo thrilled because that year every single one of us were there -- and the "Conch Out" was our "home' that year....THANK YOU DONNA!
We have stayed in condos "across the street from the beach", "houses on the beach", and every year they become a part of our family. SO this storm and its danger are very close to our hearts even though we dont "own" any of them.
WE ARE PRAYING FOR ALL of you and your homes...and hope for many more years of our annual pilgrimage to the GRAYTON BEACH! and may all of our grandchildren enjoy that time of family after us***maybe they will own one and be as welcoming as soooooo many of you have been!
( And it is an area that we enjoy because of the family atmosphere and PG rated beaches!
Jennifer
beach.owner.wannabe!
You are so right. It is not the beach so much in Grayton as it is the people and family atmosphere. Mother Nature is going to displace some sand, but that is how these beaches formed to begin with. The white fluffy sand is what remains from the quartz, washed down the rivers from the Appalachian Mountains over thousands of years. The Appalachian Mountains were larger than Mt Everest at one point in time. They are the some of the oldest mountains around. Let Mother Nature do her thing, and remember that we will never know the good that comes from it in the future.
Beach Comber
Jennifer is my sister and she is the "nice" one in the family. Her post says what I was trying to say I just seem to come off as a little more abrasive. I am sorry if I seemed ugly I am just worried and our time there is so very important to all of us. You know when we first started coming to the area we had the opportunity to buy one of the condos at Beachwood Villas ( I think they were selling for about $50,000.) I was single and thought that I could not afford to buy one and still have the money to raise my children. Oh migosh how I wish I hadn't been so stupid, then I could be a homeowner instead of a "tourist". Well, I have to go and check the Weather Station again. Luck and prayers to everyone there. Thanks Jenna.
Beach Lover
ok I saw it posted on another thread here that the weather channel has downgraded the area to yellow--and that is good if it is true! (sometimes we know the media likes to make it up as they go
Smilin JOe ! your name has become a part of our conversations around here today and I do hope you and other 'natives" are gonna let us know how it goes!
I gotta get a Beachy name...
Jennifer
Smilin JOe ! your name has become a part of our conversations around here today and I do hope you and other 'natives" are gonna let us know how it goes!
I gotta get a Beachy name...
Jennifer
Beach Fanatic
Yes, I posted that. But a few minutes ago the red/orange/yellow zones for predicted damage shifted slightly east. 
We're still yellow on 30-A, but really close to orange.
We're still yellow on 30-A, but really close to orange.Beach Lover
Yes, I posted that. But a few minutes ago the red/orange/yellow zones for predicted damage shifted slightly east.
PhydphayDont guess "they" will know till it is done...I am in Marietta Ga and it is gloomy and 'bout to rain and it makes me feel very connected as we watch the winds blow and the rains ponder their arrival time.
went to the grocery and couldnt wait to get back and see what was happenin on the SOWal thread!
well we are all watching and waiting with you...
Beach Fanatic
Yes, I posted that. But a few minutes ago the red/orange/yellow zones for predicted damage shifted slightly east.True.dat
Phydphay
Edited
Beach Crab
What a gem! We should have a clean up day and give out Bloody Marys to everyone pitching in. I can bring the supplies and bartend. Pick a morning. (hmm, I wonder if I need a liqour license???)
I have a feeling that we may have more Bloody Mary Mournings on the way this year.
As another pending vacationer waiting in a holding pattern to see if we'll be able to visit on June 16-23... I would be very interested in hearing about any clean-up projects next week in the area we'll be staying: Eastern Lake Road, beachfront. We have 11 members of the extended family planning to visit.
What items would folks suggest we bring along to be ready for cleaning up around the house and beach where we're renting, assuming we get to visit? Gloves? Trash bags? Tools? more? less? We don't have hurricanes in Kentucky so I'm a beach-cleanup novice; we only have tornados, landslides, and floods... Dennis is supposedly going to work on the latter for us later this week.
Emailed suggestions are welcome.
KyGeologist
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