Most of this post was written on May 8, 2006. At the time I was still dreaming about being on the North Carolina coast.
I did not let go of my dream, and in September of 2006, we moved to western Carteret County to a place on the shores of the White Oak River.
Moving to a new place is never easy, but a lot of the best things in life are that way. In the nearly two years since we moved down here, I have grown to love the area even more.
I now know that the dreams were what got me here. They kept me moving until I got to the point of finding the right spot and buying it. My kayaking requires only sliding it into the water.
Now I have become a boater and can enjoy this waters whenever I want as long as the wind and weather cooperate. We walk the beaches sometimes several times a week. Our coastal scenery never fails to excite my soul.
Once in a while, like the other night, we go for an ice cream over on the beach. The girls in the store know we are locals so we often get to hear about their day.
Becoming a "local" has been worth all the effort, all the worries, and all the challenges.
My new thought is that if it is worth dreaming, it is worth working to make the dream come true.
Someone once said if a dream is really important to you, you will figure out how to make it happen.
I did, and I am proud to be a resident of the Crystal Coast. I love living near Swansboro, Cape Carteret, Emerald Isle, and Cedar Point. The small town feel of the area is just what I wanted.
The following was written over two years ago. Today our temperatures are headed for the mid-eighties which feels pretty good when you are near the water like we are. The water temperatures are right at 70 which is just right for fish.
Roanoke May 8, 2006
This morning the temperature is the same as when we went to bed, 44 degrees Fahrenheit. The view of downtown Roanoke is still fog enshrouded.
I decided to stick up a picture of where I want to be instead of where I am. We just attended the graduation party of a neighbor's son. He's just managed to snare a job in an area where he's dreamed about living. That's actually a great way to start a career. If you can find a job where you want to be, it makes life a little happier each morning.
We love the Roanoke area, but I've had this life long love of the ocean. I moved to Nova Scotia after college to own a chunk of short frontage. I think the salt seeped even farther into my blood up there. The challenge with the salt water there was that the only creatures who enjoyed swimming in the water were Labrador Retrievers. While we lived in Canada our kids thought that turning blue was a natural result of going swimming in the ocean.
Then one year we took them to Wrightsville Beach which isn't my favorite beach by any stretch of the imagination, but the water was warm. It wasn't too many years later when we moved back to the states, and while living in Columbia, Maryland, we made the trip to Cape Hatteras.
My addiction returned. Except for the period that I lived in Canada, from the time I was three years old until now, I've pretty well managed to stick my toes in the warm salt water of the Carolina coast every year. I've camped on Ocracoke, and in fact was there during the first moon walk. I had to check into the only motel there at the time to catch it on television. Our family stayed on the idyllic Bald Head island. We've wander the sands of Corolla, and most recently enjoyed the waters near Cape Lookout which is where the photo was shot. I do have a Beaufort, NC travel guide posted for those interested.
I may be on the verge of my 35th college reunion instead of just graduating, but a fellow has got to have dreams, and mine is to warm my feet in some Carolina salt water on a regular basis.
If I were walking on a beach with warm salt water I might not care so much about all the stuff going on in the world where I can only control my actions.
Warm salt water with a few gentle waves and a pleasant breeze has a way making a lot of your troubles go away.
I am all for that.
