Good Morning and Welcome to my Atlantic Life in Hatteras 😊
So, this started as a journal entry, that turned into a blog post, that morphed into a blog series...."Living in Hatteras - my island sanctuary"
Having lived in many different towns and cities throughout my life, the two that are by far the closest to my heart are, my hometown of Ayr in Scotland, and my adopted hometown of Hatteras Village, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.....but if you ask me which is the place where I feel most "me"....where I feel I "belong" (certainly at this point in time), it would most certainly be Hatteras 💗
My Atlantic Island Sanctuary....
There is just a certain "je ne sais quoi" about this island, and for me, Hatteras Village in particular.....that speaks to my soul.
On Monday, I was chatting with one of the most delightful ladies I have had the great fortune of meeting here in Hatteras. She has lived in Hatteras all her life....and can remember when there was no Highway 12, and even a trip to Avon, a mere 18-mile journey now, would have been a day-long adventure, with stops along the way to push your car when it got stuck in the sand.
The "road" before NC12
There are many similarities between my homeland of Scotland and my adopted homeland of Hatteras - the beautiful and often wild landscape, the endless sandy beaches, the incredibly resilient people that choose to live here full time - hard-working "down to earth" folks.
The National Seashore designation that we have here is a blessing, as it provides us with a certain amount of protection against over-building on the beaches.....although some still manage to cram huge homes onto existing tiny lots, distorting the natural landscape.
One of the many, many reasons I love living in Hatteras Village, is that it's still remarkably uncommercialized. In the off-season, you really can get away from it all, I can walk on the beach and never meet another soul, just me, myself and I 💗
Just me, myself and I...
Unfortunately, my hometown of Ayr in Scotland, like many beach towns, has become a victim of its own beauty and popularity - with large buildings and housing developments regularly popping up, whilst some older buildings are left to decay....
The Station Hotel as was...
The Station Hotel now....😥
What happens to hotel bedrooms when left to decay...The Station Hotel in Ayr
Deserted dining areas....
Seafield House as was....
Seafield House abandoned...
Ayr is still a beautiful place, but as my parents were reminded when the moved back to Scotland after living in Spain for many years - it has most definitely changed....and not all for the better.
Many of the smaller, family-owned businesses that used to thrive in the town have now closed down, replaced by large, centrally controlled retail chain stores, in sprawling business parks that are located on what used to be the outskirts of the town. These business parks run into each other, and ultimately join towns that used to be separate entities, making for the beginning of the dreaded "urban sprawl".
I'm not opposed to new structures being built in the right place - in fact as a lover of architecture.....some new buildings are absolutely incredible structures, with unique and beautiful features.
Cool new architectural designs...
I just wish that a little more thought was put into the possibility of saving and repurposing existing historic structures, instead of simply leaving them to fade away, neglected and abandoned until they are beyond repair, when they will then be scraped off the landscape to make way for the latest and greatest...something that could easily have happened to our beautiful and historic inn. I'm so thankful that we "found" our incredible home and business when we did.
Established 1928
Our Atlantic Home 💗
Re-established 2021
I know for some, the quirks of living in an historic property would be annoying, the creaky floorboards, the often squeaky doors, the non-standard size windows - what am I saying.....the non-standard size of everything in our century-old building 😄.....but there is a "feeling' of calmness and serenity, when you enter this old building - one that washes over me every time I walk through the front door.
Recently, the old Hatteras Inlet Coastguard building, that sits oceanside, just before you enter Frisco has been put up for sale. It would be a huge historical loss if these buildings were to be taken down (hopefully they would be relocated somewhere else intact).....and replaced by yet another hugely massive rental property. Hopefully whoever buys the property will be sympathetic to our incredible island and its history.
Pics of old Hatteras Inlet Coastguard Building
Before I leave you today.....I managed to get to my beach yesterday - it was absolutely spectacular 🥰
Here are some pics from my afternoon...
Until Next Time...
Take care, Stay Safe and....maybe think about where your "sanctuary" place is?
Love and Hugs,
Pam
PS. As the war in Ukraine continues, I'm keeping the incredibly resilient people of this country in my thoughts and prayers 🙏
If you would like to receive notifications directly to your in box, you can sign up on the homepage by clicking the button below.