Just a vacation or a home??

[Beachmom]

I can only ditto what everyone else has said so far. Moving here was the absolute best thing we have ever done. I moved from Atlanta when I was expecting our 1st child- didn't want the rat race life for her. Moved to a smaller town in south Ga. It did have its advantages, but talk about keeping up with the Jones's....we spent every waking moment improving our home into that perfect place, so much so that we totally forgot how to play!
Today as my children were driving me crazy with the summer "what do I do now.....?" I happily told them to get their bathing suits on and go to the beach- read, catch crabs, whatever... It's just so nice to give them a taste of what life should be like. I do have changing neighbors some times, but as I see it- the core group will be the ones they grow up with, the transient ones teach them how to meet people and go the the flow. I am eternally graytful for this life I have been blessed with.

 

[BrownEyedGull]

The more I read from everyone about making the beach your permanent homes - the more reassurance I get for myself and family to make the move. We are feeling the same way in regards to making the house just so!!! We've got 4 kids and feel like we just do not spend enough quality/fun time with them. Can't wait to be there and build sandcastles!!!
.

 

[seacrestkristi]

Me too. These locals sound suhweet too.

 

[beachmouse]

It's not perfect here- the local job market can be a little wonky in the white collar sector, and every so often there will be things you'd want from a bigger city that you can't just order over the internet. But for us, the plusses so far outnumber the negatives that we're probably here until retirement age (then something like Naples or Sarasota where the winters aren't so cold)

And there's something to be said for living in a place where people are there because they made a conscious decision to move there, not just because it happens to be the place they were born or ended up. You end up with a lot of people who seem genuinely happy to be here, and it carries over into how everyone interacts. It's a very different vibe than the careful Midwestern reserve of where I grew up, or the two-faced nature of Southern hospitality. (had a really bad couple of years in Tennessee dealing with that)

 

[scooterbug44]

If you have the jobs/means to move here, I strongly suggest it! The quality time you'll get to spend w/ your kids and at the beach more than make up for the lack of certain big city amenities.

I think it's a great place for kids............and those of us who are kids at heart!

 

[dunelover]

This was a super thread!! So encouraging and nice to hear that the reasons/dreams many of us are using in our minds to relocate are actually realities for so many locals.. can't wait to "help" my kids catch that dream when we spend some time there in August.. Hoping that leads to a move as well. Thanks for all the quality responses and supportive people posting on this board....Y'all are grayt!

 

[cooleydog]

Thanks so much for all the great replies! We are headed down to South Walton this weekend to take a look (without the kids). Any additional recommendations on good family neighborhoods to take a look at??

Thank you all so much!!

 

[dunelover]

Thanks so much for all the great replies! We are headed down to South Walton this weekend to take a look (without the kids). Any additional recommendations on good family neighborhoods to take a look at??

Thank you all so much!!

Cooleydog--curious as to your results over the weekend? I would love to hear what areas you liked. We're working on a move from afar as well.