Hi everyone...

[mrs.rocket]

Lisa, Walton County has been a balm for my aching soul. There is something so spiritual and wonderful about this area. Do consider it. We've been here for almost seven years and we're never leaving. This is our forever-home now.

 

[SHELLY]

Have you crunched the numbers?

.

 

[Cork On the Ocean]

Hi Lisa,
You won't be sorry. It wasn't the spirit of Sowal that brought me to it because I didn't know the community before I moved here but it was the spirit of the people that saved me. I had moved there for my boyfriend. We broke up 2 weeks later and I cried for nearly 2 years because I didn't know a soul and I was soooo lonely. Then I got onto the Sowal board and met so many wonderful people. My life elevated far above what it was before I moved here. I've never known such great people and my heart is here forever.

My sister (Outtathebox) made the brave move a couple of weeks ago. She visited me over the holidays (first time to sowal), went home, sold her house and moved to sowal. Email her and she will tell you all about the move - Finding a school for her son, finding a place to stay etc.

You'll love it and sowal will love you. Happy Easter

 

[lisaloebmalone]

Have you crunched the numbers?

Well, we're working on that now. I don't expect to move down there and live in luxury. Fact is, our present house is already on the market; we have a contingency contract on it and are waiting for a) the contingency people to sell their house, or b) for someone else to come along and make a firm offer. We were going to be moving anyway... and going into something siginificantly smaller than we are presently in.

So, if we're moving anyway, the little beach bum on my shoulder keeps whispering, why not just move to 30A?

Trying to get a grasp on the cost of a decent 3BR 2BA home (not anything fancy, not right on the beach, something that I could move into and fix up and make mine) and the associated costs, especially insurance.

Also trying to figure out what my salary requirements would be to make the move.

It's exciting and scary thinking along these lines!

My sister (Outtathebox) made the brave move a couple of weeks ago. She visited me over the holidays (first time to sowal), went home, sold her house and moved to sowal. Email her and she will tell you all about the move - Finding a school for her son, finding a place to stay etc.

Ooh, thanks! I will!

 

[scooterbug44]

It sounds like you've already made the decision, but are trying to justify it. ;-)

You love it here, your kids love it here (and have suggested the move), your house is already for sale, you're posting on Sowal - the fat lady done sung!

I don't know Huntsville that well, but I know Sowal, so I say MOVE HERE NOW!!!

 

[seacrestgirl]

So... I am somewhat embarassed to admit it, but I am one of those stereotypical 'need to make a change in my life' girls. Only I'm not really a girl... maybe it's more of a mid-life crisis?

All I know is, the first time I drove down 30A I fell in love. I've visited many times since that first time; this year, I've been several times in the winter and, oddly, love it even more than the summer.

My children love it too. They sense, I think, the need to make a change and this past week while we were soaking up a few stingy rays on Santa Rosa Beach, my eldest daughter (almost 13) said to me 'Mom, I really think we should move here'. This is NOT something I had discussed with her, but I've found that she possesses a disconcerting ability to read my heart...

I currently live in the city where I grew up and where my father still resides (my mother now lives south of Tampa). I have a job I love, with the college I graduated from and have worked at for almost 15 years. And yet... every day that passes brings an increased sense of being in the wrong place. When I explore this feeling, I always end up at 30A.

So I'm wondering -- how crazy am I to be thinking about this? There is so much I need to learn. What are the middle/high schools like and where are they? What is the best way to find a job? A home?

Thanks for listening to my rambles. Any advice or suggestions are appreciated.

With many thanks,
Lisa

I am SO jealous! I have always wanted to live at the beach!!!! We have a house in Seacrest and visit part time and it kills every time that I have to leave! Last year, I had convinced my husband to just try it for 2 years....I was so excited, then we got home and his son announced they were expecting their first child........now, it's too hard for Grandaddy to leave! Maybe oneday-

Good luck to you!

 

[SHELLY]

Trying to get a grasp on the cost of a decent 3BR 2BA home (not anything fancy, not right on the beach, something that I could move into and fix up and make mine) and the associated costs, especially insurance.

You should already have about a bazillion PMs from realtors in your In Box by now. Did you know that now is a great time to buy? ---but it is a smart move to rent first.



.

 

[Mystified]

I'd rent for a year then decide. But then I'm a NY'er and never want to give up my home, just in case I get homesick...

Well my children are gown and settled here. They're all I have as far as family. I guess thats why I intend to become a Snow Bird (is that 1 word or 2?).

 

[lisaloebmalone]

You should already have about a bazillion PMs from realtors in your In Box by now. Did you know that now is a great time to buy? ---but it is a smart move to rent first.

Actually (and very surprisingly) I haven't been contacted by ONE SINGLE real estate agent. Was beginning to wonder if REA's were banned from SOWAL....

We've been browsing the availabilities on the SoWal real estate link which, by the way, is EXTREMELY helpful. We're very encouraged by what we're seeing.

 

[Outta the box]

Well lisa,

My husband and I visited for Christmas just this past Dec. We moved within 60 days of our first visit. Not because we could afford to, not because it was the wise thing to do. But strictly because we WANTED TO. Mid Life Changes....Maybe, But we have never felt so complete in our lives then we do now, and we still aren't settled, I've been here 3 wks, with just me and "The Prince"(our 17 year old son) and hubby has been back at the other house struggling to get it closed. (was suppose to close in Feb. prior to the move) things have not gone perfect, but I believe things have gone exactly as they were suppose to. Even if I or someone else feels differently.
You are more then welcome to PM me, I love chatting in general and I'm just down right excited to chat about our SoWal experiences at this point! If it was not for those on this board and "Cork" it wouldn't have gone as smoothly as it has.
Good luck on your decisions!