Saw this on a sign at the Frog and Toad- a gift shop on 95th and Third Avenue in Stone Harbor:Â
 The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea. ~Isak Dinesen
I agree!
Category: Life at the Shore
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The Color of Winter
At the shore, the color of winter is gray. The sand, ocean, winter gulls, jetty rocks, and sky are all a different hue of gray. Today, Mother Nature provided a snow shower during my walk on the beach- blurring the lines between the damp sand, ocean, and horizon even more.
I just purchased a new winter jacket in a bright color (okay…it was on sale so I compromised on the slightly loud color). I am doing my part to add color to the winter months!
See you on the beach 🙂
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Time to Buy Yet?
December is a challenging month in the seashore real estate market.  Traveling to Avalon and Stone Harbor to see homes often conflicts with family events and holiday shopping.
So why look now? Interest rates have fallen below 6%; there are a variety of properties to see; and sellers are more reaslistic.Â
Another possitive indicator: a few builders are back in the market purchasing in prime locations for future projects.
We are not unrealisitic. The down turn in the early 1990’s caused our prices to remain level for several years. But a vacation home at the beach is not your typical “investment”- the personal use has huge value. And, history assures us that we will once again see tremendous property appreciation along the coast.
I’m here when you are ready!Â
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Altitude is for the Birds
I live at sea level, happily breathing in moist salt air year round. In order to visit our youngest son, we have to fly to Denver (elevation 5600), and then drive up a mountain pass to Winter Park (elevation 9000). That’s almost 2 miles straight up from the beach!
I had never heard of altitude sickness before 1st traveling to Colorado- not a common problem along the east coast. But I now know more about it than most…because it’s an issue each time I visit.
Not sure why people actually live in this environment- no ocean nearby, the temperature is below zero on a regular basis, you need a hat and gloves even in the summer, and the humidity level is so low (the famous “dry cold”) that your nose bleeds and skin peels.
The scenery is beautiful, and the sun shines more there than here…yet, it’s still hard for me to understand the appeal.
But, Colorado is the home of our son and his family (including our new grandson- just 3 weeks old), so I am determined to find a solution.
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It’s a small world…
While waiting at the gate at CDG/Paris Airport for a flight home, I started talking with 2 women about our experiences during our vacation in France. Ironically, the one woman’s daughter owns a home in Avalon, and we have mutual friends. So funny…
It seems like everywhere I travel, I see someone that I know, or meet someone with a connection to Avalon or Stone Harbor.  Our small 7 mile island has an expansive adoring audience!
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Home Exchange/ Travel
http://www.homeexchange.com/      If you enjoy traveling, and prefer to stay in a home rather than a hotel, you will find this web site interesting.
It’s a great concept- especially for those of us with a house at the shore.
The key is to find “like minded” exchangers. I am fussy (okay, obsessive) about my home- and thankfully, there are other owners out there who live in interesting places and appreciate that quirk!
My husband and I just completed our first exchange- with 5 additional trips planned over the next 2 years.  We are traveling to locations from our wish list, and a few others that weren’t even on our radar until a request arrived.
An exciting way to see the world!
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Ann = Nan!
I understand I am allowed this one pass to brag. Our son and daughter in law welcomed their baby boy to the world this afternoon! 8 lbs, 6 oz, and 22 inches “tall”. They live in Colorado- so we have to survive on pictures and phone calls for now…until our planned visit in 2 weeks (it will seem like forever!)
“Nan and Poppy” are thrilled to enter this new phase of our lives.
     Jenny and baby! -
Mother Nature
It’s so frightening to watch the news reports about the wild fires in the San Diego, California area. We were out there just 1 week ago, so the images are very familiar. Heartbreaking…
Every location has its share of natural events: hurricanes, mud slides, wild fires, earth quakes, tornados, floods, blizzards, etc. For each beautiful area in the country, there is an associated weather issue. We prefer to focus on positive side, and hopefully, are smart when dealing with the reality of Mother Nature.
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East Coast vs. West Coast
Just returned from a week’s vacation in the San Diego area. We are so fortunate to live by the beach, and naturally make comparisons as we travel to other coastal communities. Southern California wins on the weather- low humidity and comfortable, sunny days almost year round.Â
But as I looked up from the rocky beach to the homes hanging on the edge of the cliffs- with obvious erosion below- I thought about the successful efforts by Avalon and Stone Harbor to maintain the environment while respecting property rights. The controversy about the construction in the dunes seems minor when compared with the development issues on the west coast.Â
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Gossip from the Shore
The Avalon Sunoco Gas Station is closed. The repair crew is relocating to the end of Avalon Blvd. The 220′ X 110′ parcel is owned by Sun Oil. Not certain of their plans for the site.
Henny’s Restaurant is closing, too. The liquor license was sold to the owner of the Shelter Haven project (corner of 96th and Third Avenue). Best guess is that Henny’s will be torn down and replaced with retail shops on the lower level, with residential condos above. The Shelter Haven parcel has been vacant for many years- so it will be a step forward to see it improved.
The restaurant addition next to Fred’s Liquor Store is still in limbo. We were looking forward to another quality eating establishment along 96th Street- maybe next year.