I have to say though the thing that truly inspired my family was (yes!) the crabs!! We had the best time out on the beach catching the ghost crabs and the blue crabs. My son was five the first time we visited and he could not get enough of catching the crabs. It was a bit tricky at first, but we quickly learned the art of catching crabs! It may sound a little silly, but it really brought us back to good old fashioned family fun. It wasn't about going out and having to have our children "entertained." We all spend time together catching crabs, laughing, and playing. As I stated earlier, just good old fashioned fun that did not cost a penny! We had never been able to experience anything like this until the Outer Banks. Not to knock Myrtle Beach, but it is always so crowded there. We were hooked on the Outer Banks!

So, each year for the past three years, we have come back to visit the Outer Banks. My kids wouldn't have it any other way! All of the houses we have rented have exceeded our expectations. We've always had a hot tub and stayed close to the beach for a reasonable amount. Each year we notice that once we pay for house, that is about all the money we spend while vacationing there. We just get to relax, enjoy the house and beach and of course go crabbing! I guess you could say that is what vacationing is all about! It's an easy decision each year, the Outer Banks is for us!

~ Kelley Wood, Outer Beaches Realty Guest

As always, we had made our reservations for the following year before leaving the islands, but about six months before our scheduled trip, my mother-in-law had knee replacement surgery. We had not reserved a handicap-accessible cottage because we had no prior knowledge that we might need one. Knee replacement surgery is fairly common, and most people recover in much less than six months. In the case of my mother-in-law, however, no recovery seemed to be taking place.

Further examination revealed a golf-ball-sized calcinate mass pressing against her spinal cord in her neck. She again underwent surgery, again with the expectation of a fairly quick recovery. As before, however, she showed no sign of recovering her ability to walk. In fact, she began to gradually lose other functioning as well, shortly becoming all but paralyzed. Additional studies finally concluded that she had contracted Lou Gehrig's Disease, and that the use of anesthetic in the two prior procedures had greatly accelerated the development of the disease.

We assumed that we would need to cancel our vacation for the year, but when we spoke with my mother-in-law about it, she was insistent not only that we go but that we take her with us again as well. She knew that this would be her last year of life and was determined to have one more trip to the Outer Banks. We called Outer Beaches Realty looking for a way to move into a house with an elevator, but few such houses remained available and this late in the year we were contractually locked into the home we had previously reserved unless someone else rented it. The staff at Outer Beaches immediately put our reserved house back up for rent and kept us informed of any transactions involving the small list of homes with elevators. They even offered a significant discount for anyone who would rent the home we had reserved. As the weeks passed, however, and the struggling economy resulted in no interest in our reserved home, it looked increasingly as if we would be faced with choosing between paying for two homes or staying in a home without an elevator.

On the day we were due to arrive at the Outer Banks, we left our home, some 7 hours away still uncertain what we would do. About 3 hours into our trip we received a call from Outer Beaches Realty. Another family had added people to their vacation at the last minute and were interested in the house we had reserved. They were looking at 3 different homes at the very moment and would call with their decision shortly. Unfortunately, they decided on one of the other homes. When we were about 2 hours away, we received another call from Outer Beaches Realty. The owners of the home we had reserved had another home, this one with an elevator, which had suddenly become available. The only drawback was that the house we had reserved was oceanfront, and this new one was sound front. We quickly talked it over, and my mother-in-law made clear that it was very important for her that she be able to see the ocean from the deck.

As we were crossing Roanoke Island, now only about 30 minutes from our destination, we received our fourth call of the day from Outer Beaches Realty. One of the owners of the company had an oceanfront home with an elevator that was still available. The home was much larger than the one we had reserved and the rental price was substantially higher, but the owner was willing to let us use it essentially free of charge since the money we had sent in was contractually obligated to the owners of the first home we had reserved. We immediately, gratefully, and tearfully accepted the offer.

It was, without a doubt, the best house we have ever stayed in. My mother-in-law has since passed away, but one of the best memories we all have is of her sitting in her wheelchair on the third floor deck of this gorgeous home in Hatteras, a stiff wind blowing her hair, and a wan, contented, almost imperceptible smile spread across her face as she stared longingly out into the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean. I like to think she was having peaceful visions of the glorious world she would soon depart for.

~ Scott Owens, Outer Beaches Realty Guest

I watched the two of you, walking in the distance and I knew, even then, how richly blessed I was. As the years went by, annual vacations to Hatteras continued and this bond deepened during your daily beach walks with Grandma. I watched you with your Grandma. You grew from a chubby toddler, to a bubbly preschooler; to a gangly schoolgirl and into the lovely young lady you are now. In my mind’s eye, I see you with your Grandma; the rolling surf against the blue sky as the two of you walked along admiring your latest find. Now, Grandma is older and arthritis has left its mark upon her. She moves stiffly, more slowly. Her hair is now almost white, but her dark eyes and keen mind is as sharp as ever. She still treasures those walks on the beach with you. The main difference is that, now, you are the one to go to Grandma and ask, “Are you ready to take our walk?” How she loves knowing that you desire her company and value her! How wise you are to recognize her unique spirit! And, how blessed am I to watch two people I love so dearly, love each other.

Long after Grandma is gone, you will always have the special gift of these memories. Someday, you may be blessed with your own granddaughter and, just maybe, you will have the joy of rediscovering the beach through the eyes of an eager child. As for me, I sincerely thank God for the joy I feel because you have each other. I am so very proud of you and I hope ZTA is everything you hope it will be. I love you, Mom".

Of course, life continued on, and so did our Hatteras family vacations. For many years we rented the perfect cottage (in Brigands Bay) with our extended family. We called it “our cottage” and we have a treasure chest of wonderful memories. Most of our days were spent fishing, crabbing, swimming and sunbathing at Hatteras Inlet or Buxton Point. Most evenings were spent sitting around the table on the screened porch mesmerized by nature’s entertainment of heat lightening and storm clouds dancing across the sky perfectly reflected in the sound below us, or sitting around the dining room table playing penny ante poker while viewing the ever changing night sky through the glass doors. There was even a 3 legged bunny that visited us for many years! Eventually, we outgrew that wonderful cottage and searched for years to find a cottage as perfect. During those years, life marched on. Our daughter and son married and provided us with the most wonderful gifts of all – grandchildren!

Jackson’s introduction to Hatteras family vacations was at age 6 weeks, Haleigh’s was at age 2 weeks and Audrey’s was at age 6 months. Once again, we found ourselves looking for the perfect cottage to fit our ever growing family. Then, on Nov. 19, 2007, we received the shock of our lives. My husband, a lifelong non-smoker and the absolute picture of health, was diagnosed with Mesothelioma. This is a type of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure. To this day, we remain unsure of his asbestos exposure. The initial prognosis was uncertain at best and I questioned even attempting our Hatteras family vacation. However, early in those days of uncertainty, I decided to plan our Hatteras vacation, just as I always had. My daughter found a cottage, Spy Dog at the OBR website. Spy Dog was in the process of being constructed, so there was only a “similar to” description. However, it was located in Brigands Bay, and that was good enough for us. In December, I made our August 2008 reservation for Spy Dog.

In January, my husband underwent an extremely difficult operation at Duke University Medical Center in which his right lung and surrounding tissues were removed. In March, we were advised by other cancer families to “take a small vacation” prior to beginning radiation therapy. It was good advice. My brother just happens to own a cottage in Avon, (the Blue Mere, rented by OBR) and he offered it to us. While we were there, we drove to Brigand’s Bay, just to take a trip down Memory Lane and of course, take a look at Spy Dog. It was a sun filled, crystal clear Hatteras day reflected perfectly in the blue water of the sound. As we neared the under construction lot of Spy Dog, we saw a car parked in the driveway. Being the adventurous types, we entered Spy Dog and met the builders who invited us to look around. They didn’t have to ask twice!!! As we explored the cottage, my heart and spirit began to lift with each trek into a new room. This cottage seemed to have everything – including an elevator for my husband, because stairs are a challenge with one lung. I was quickly calculating the cottage amenities to my family’s needs (including my elderly parents, a toddler and two infants) and Spy Dog was coming out on top!

Could we have found our perfect cottage? I couldn’t wait to tell our family all about it! I didn’t have to wait long. Our daughter, son-in-law and grandbabies surprised us with a family visit that very weekend and, you guessed it, we all went to peruse Spy Dog. They loved it! We had a wonderful pre-radiation vacation that week in March. We laughed, reminisced, walked the beach, cuddled during the cool late winter nights and enjoyed the company of our daughter, son-in-law, grandson and granddaughter. Isn’t that what happens at Hatteras? But, for me, the best was the remark made by my husband when we left Spy Dog after the first tour. He looked me in the eye and said, “Now this (meaning Spy Dog) gives me something to look forward to.” In a flash, I was reacquainted with all that he had endured and all that he had yet to endure.

We had our August 2008 Hatteras Vacation. He was in the middle of Chemotherapy and OBR even helped to find a local clinic to do his weekly blood work. He felt well enough to go fishing two days. Once again, our family enjoyed sun filled days of sunbathing while watching the babies play in the sand and shallow tidal pools left by the ocean. We read, sat on the screened porch, enjoyed the sunshine from the decks, strolled the babies around Brigands Bay, played Poker, had fun and enjoyed life. What a joy it was to have my 80+ year old grandparents rocking their fretful great-grand babies so dinner could be prepared! It is easy to realize how incredibly blessed we are.

You guessed it – we have found our perfect cottage. Life is ever changing, but for now, we are ready to continue making memories for many years.