What happened to South Walton

[Waterbaddrinkwine]

Compared to last year at this time everyone is happier, not to mention the tourists are back in record numbers and the investers are diving in like bottom feeders. There is loads of SH here and maybe it's the toursists that are becoming more uppity. I think Walton County TDC should adopt the same thing they do in St. Thomas and tell people being happy and friendly is a local custom! Smile, life is good!

 

[Waterbaddrinkwine]

Ya just gotta love Publix.....

 

[BeachbumAggie]

We started coming to SoWal about 7 years ago and as the crowds have grown dramatically I have seen folks become a little less friendly as well. I have never met a stranger and will talk to anyone even semi willing to talk to me but everyone is certainly not like that!! I still feel the locals are friendly, it's some of the tourist or seasonal home owners that seem less friendly to me. Fighting the crowds can create a bit of stress for folks as well as too much family time so maybe that's the issue!!! he he

 

[mputnal]

The St. Thomas customs use to exist naturally in Tallahassee, in my home town 80 miles SE of Tally and especially in Sowal but it is fading. As a realist I can accept this and still be happy to have what we have. As an optimist I can set the example for something better. As a pessimist I would have feelings of hopelessness. Our society (god forbid but maybe even our community) has symptoms of a "cold". Maybe the cure is more "sunshine". Oh, that is what Kurt was saying to me...or is it??? Okay, okay I am smilling!

 

[Lake View Too]

Maybe we just need to have free margarita stands on every corner... from the two "doom and gloom" threads you've started lately, it might just be you are in a bad mood. The movement you need is on your shoulders.

 

[mputnal]

Maybe we just need to have free margarita stands on every corner... from the two "doom and gloom" threads you've started lately, it might just be you are in a bad mood. The movement you need is on your shoulders.

Hey I like the margarita stand idea. I wave at people in passing. I smile a lot. I can also take your opinion of my "doom and gloom" threads and carry the weight of what I see happening all around our community and in Washington. I can accept that I may be wrong about forming an opinion based on what I see and hear. I can tell you for certain that I admire people with optimism. Optimisim is contagious so keep it coming. Being a realist all the time is frustrating and no fun. I have to go now and make me a margarita...

 

[tistheseason]

I'm all for the margarita stands! For the most part people are very friendly -- however that doesn't mean everyone that walks by is going to want to chat -- sometimes they are lost in their own thoughts. I noticed this as my kids worked the lemonade stand at gigi's store on Saturday. Sometimes people would walk right by the kids asking if they wanted lemonade. Once they realized what they had done, they'd come back to make a donation and get some lemonade. They certaintly weren't rude, just daydreaming!

 

[idlewind]

Most people have moved on from the BP problem and are moving forward with their lives. I see cautious optimism among most locals with the only drag being the continued difficulty with real estate sales. But my experience is that locals draw closer to each other in bad times and are as friendly and helpful as ever. In good times everyone is doing their own thing but the underlying values are still there.

 

[Kurt]

Most people have moved on from the BP problem and are moving forward with their lives. I see cautious optimism among most locals with the only drag being the continued difficulty with real estate sales. But my experience is that locals draw closer to each other in bad times and are as friendly and helpful as ever. In good times everyone is doing their own thing but the underlying values are still there.

That's my take. I'm wondering who mputnal is talking to. There were a ton of locals on the beach yesterday. I'm thinking there was a little pent up demand there also, along with visitors. And maybe we got a look at how precious and fragile it all is and some folks are getting out to enjoy it more. Wouldn't that be cool?

 

[Lake View Too]

Everybody is a little on edge because the government is about to collapse... we'll be alright once the margarita stands are operational.