Jumping in with both feet is what we did when moving to Tybee. In fact we did more social activities in the first month here than we did in the two-three years prior living in VA. No Lie. I really am not making this up. We do have several close friends and people we love in Virginia. However, many friends that we were closest to, had moved away several years ago…they had doors open earlier on to seek new opportunities. Many times though, when we were in Virginia, it was hard to even meet your neighbors, much less strike up a close friendship. Most people spend 3-5 hours a day in their cars. Something we were more than happy to leave behind. Tybee is a much different place than Stafford VA. Three miles from end to end is our community. Most of the time we just walk or ride our bikes wherever we are going. The resident population here is 3,000. We not only get to meet our neighbors, but we can stop and talk with them and get to know them. We can even run into them at the local grocery store, our little IGA that everyone love to support. It is where I shop daily for our dinner ingredients. It was really funny when we first met people here, once we said say we moved here, the conversation immediately changed. Since we were not just tourists in for a few days, they wanted to get to know us. They asked where we live, about our kids, their schools, how we found Tybee….etc…they were genuinely interested in knowing us. Sorry to my family and friends back in VA, but that just doesn’t happen there, at least not on a consistent basis with everyone you meet. After being here just over one month, I was adopted into the Real Tybee Island (light)House Wives. A fun diverse group of ladies, that really know how to have a good time and can put together a party like no other!
I say all that to say this…yesterday was my birthday, and the ladies got together and planned a celebration for me on Friday night. I knew that we were getting together, but not quite sure what they had planned. Jen picked me up in her little blue bug, we then headed to get the second birthday girl, Rene. Holding deep blue mermaid cocktails, we arrived to the Atlantis Inn and were directed to Poiseodon’s Palace. The party was already underway, a full spread of food and a bar set up on the balcony. Steam rising from the in-room hot tub and girlfriends lounging around the platform canopy bed laughing and sharing, like good friends do. I knew it was going to be a special night when Rene and I were greeted with a tiaras being placed on our heads. Here are just a few shots of the evidence. Since the room was rented for the night, the girls insisted that Sean and I stay overnight. Who am I to argue that?
On Sunday, the morning of my birthday, Kyleigh and Ava brought breakfast to me in bed and later pampered me with a pedi and massage. All of my kids texted me or called me. Then I checked facebook to find over 200 birthday wishes!
Not knowing at all what we were getting into when we moved here, I am overwhelmed at times with gratefulness that we arrived to this piece of sand so rich with life and love. Each day there is serendipity and surprise. Golden sunrises, pastel sunsets painted with peace that reaches deep in my soul, walks on the beach holding hands with the love of my life, full moon celebrations every month, girls’ nights out, parades for everything imaginable…it is just the most amazing social and visual place to live. I know some of you have experienced this in your lives in your hometowns, but the level of friendship and companionship that we have experienced here is quite amazing.