So, the upshot is that no where in America is socially isolated anymore. Cable TV and the Internet have brought remarkable homogeneity to us all.
Second, Oriental is not an isolated NC hamlet as you would expect elsewhere, it is a few life-long residents and a lot of relatively affluent Northeast retirees thrown together. Many are educated and ran successful businesses and have escaped to a serene and bucolic life on the shores of Pamlico Sound. The yankees are paying the taxes, by and large. Sailing has brought a recreation/tourism dimension to the town, also
If it were warmer in the Winter, it would have an appeal to us. There are, on the other hand, difficulties with living in a rural place that are foreign to us....the remoteness from services, shopping, transportation, associations would be disconcerting to us. But the thing we feared the most, provencial thinking leading to brain rot of all who move there is not a worry.
Last night we were given a treat. We were picked up by Paul Mascaro and taken to the home of Doug Daniel. We had a great Italian dinner together, and great company. These pictures are of the outside of Doug's house. Paul showed us a patent he holds for improved engine efficiency. Maybe we'll help him market it.
What we've learned so far is that all people share more than things that divide us.
Elise flies out on Monday and Pete flies in on Monday to take her place. Then the journey restarts in earnest Tuesday for the last push to Maryland.
Love Oriental! Love, love, love it! Where's Elise going? Happy rest of the journey, guys. You'll be glad, we know, to be settled somewhere and have a change to gather your wits. Awesome hearing about everything so far.
ReplyDeleteWe are also in the "Oriental Rocks" fan club. We grew up in that kind of rural isolation and found it very easy to go back. If you're walking the docks at the Oriental Harbor Marina and happen across a boat called Wild Haggis, stop and say hello to Jim and Beth, GOOD people.
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