“Never say never.” Charles Dickens first recorded this phrase in 1837, and while I’ve heard it said time and time again, I don’t think I ever took the notion very seriously. But one year ago, when I said I was NEVER moving back to St. Simons Island, I meant it.
My husband and I were unwavering in our decision. Whether it was the solid career he settled into after college or the potential for inevitable familial drama that kept us away, I’m not really sure. But island life was not in the cards for us.
Like all things nowadays, COVID probably had something to do with our decision to come home. But a 40th birthday weekend celebration for my brother-in-law in 2023 is what officially sealed the deal. Surrounded by immediate and extended family celebrating a milestone, we realized we simply didn’t want to miss this stuff anymore.
When I called my dad to tell him, his voice rose an octave, “Are you serious? I just told someone that you’d never be back here after that wild weekend.”
But here we are. And I could not be more glad about it.
Lindsey Christian Photography
Whittingslow Family
Our time away gave us many things, like valuable career experiences and life-long friends. But after having two boys, we started considering the whole “it takes a village” idea and returned to ours.
Now I am rediscovering this gem of an island with fresh eyes. I spend more time in the Village than I imagined I would, reminiscing about sweaty summer bike rides with my best friends years ago. All towns have a Main Street or strip malls. Not everyone has a pier. And ours is extra special, with frequent dolphin cameos and a pelican who patiently waits to be fed fish by hand.
I appreciate our access to the beach now more than ever. When I pick the kids up from school, I can’t believe that instead of going to the playground, we can just play on the beach for an hour. I just make sure to keep a few towels on hand these days.
Dining out is a favorite family pastime, and honestly, something I always looked forward to the most when returning for visits throughout college and later, hoping my dad would offer to treat us to a night at The Crab Trap. This town is brimming with exceptional chefs and delicious fare.
We’re thrilled to return to classics like Halyards, where my husband was a busboy fifteen years ago, and we still find the same excellent quality food. My three-year-old and I have become regulars at Beachcomber BBQ, sharing a pulled pork sandwich and mac n’ cheese before we pick up big brother from school. I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed partaking in dishes at joint that are new to me, like Indigo Coastal Shanty
I never truly appreciated the environment of the Golden Isles. People sometimes question the color of our water, but it comes from the alluring, expansive marsh that surrounds us. The moss-covered live oaks and streams that creep through the marsh grass leading out to the Atlantic are enough to consistently stop me in my tracks.
We are raising our kids to appreciate our island’s extraordinary landscape and rare wildlife, taking hikes at Cannon’s Point Preserve, or walking through the dust-gray driftwood monuments on Jekyll. We’ve spotted manatee in the Frederica River and have also had to stop traffic for the occasional stubborn heron. The St. Simons Land Trust offers ample opportunities for us to teach them the importance of conservation.
I am compelled to get involved and give back and am so pleased to have joined 100 Women Who Care, which has opened my eyes to the numerous local nonprofits directly benefiting our community, so many of which I was completely unaware.
So, as we move into summer, I urge you to “never say never.” Look around at all the things you’ve never done in our community and do them. Climb to the top of the lighthouse (one of only five surviving in Georgia). Eat seafood straight off the boat at Skipper’s Fish Camp in Darien while you watch the sunset on the Altamaha. Board the ferry boat and spend a day unplugged on Cumberland Island. Find ways to give back. Explore new surroundings or rediscover old loves.
The salty air and practically perpetual breeze are reason enough to love this place. How lucky are we to experience everything else that comes with it? Savor it all.
