A summer home owner recently said to me “I don’t know how you live down there in the winter”. I laughed, and gave my usual list of benefits of seashore living.
But I have to admit – I do not like the wind.  Last night, the sustained roar of the 20 to 30 mph west wind was accented by the freight train sound of the 50 mph gusts. I expected our roof to blow off any minute.Â
 Our roof stayed put, but the huge tarp on the 13th Street water tower in Avalon did not survive. It was in shreds this morning around the scaffolding 🙁
 It’s that time of year…still dark at 7am. The sky, ocean, and sand are various shades of gray. Dreary and damp best describe today…
 Thank goodness for Christmas lights and colorful December sunsets 🙂
 Once the rain stopped yesterday, a walk to the beach was in order. There were hundreds of birds floating around just beyond the wave break- an odd sight.
 I was driving north along Dune Drive this morning, and as I approached downtown, the sun was shining on a huge object in the distance. Did I miss something? Was Donald Trump granted permission to build a high rise in Avalon?
 A sign of the times: a 1980’s vintage contemporary home undergoing a complete renovation. In recent years, this type of home was considered an official “tear down”. Now, a buyer is just as likely to renovate rather than demolish and build new.
 The picture is actually from Florida…but it works for the Jersey Shore, too!
    Thankfully, I have a few more days in the warm Florida sun to ease the pain :)  Hope to be back on line later this week…
Stone Harbor Realty Owners Association
http://www.stoneharborroa.com/
SHROA a citizen’s group of Stone Harbor property owners (a combination of summer and year round home owners) created to keep all taxpayers informed of local issues and events.Â
Avalon has a similar organization: The Avalon Home and Land Owners Association http://www.ahloa.com/