We try to go at least once a year--and plan to be there twice this year--once just hubby
and myself next month, and once in July with our boys and their partners.

The town is almost all single family houses, duplexes, and a few low rise condo buildings.
No high rise hotels or resorts. It's very family oriented. Great beach. I spend hours
sitting on the (covered) deck of whatever house we rent for a week and watch pelicans
fly by and dolphins swimming offshore. I walk my dog every morning on the beach.
I bring lots of books. It's so relaxing...except when fighters or helos from nearby Camp Lejeune
or Cherry Point fly by...but that's the price we pay.

But it's Republican country. Carteret County voted 72% for McCrory in 2012. I do not
understand how/why people don't get how elected Republicans are out to predictably screw
everybody. The only hope I have is that enough Republicans in the state will be so pissed
off about the damage that has been done that McCrory won't stand a chance of being
re-elected.

Tourism is life blood to Carteret County. Maybe now they'll understand.


Here are a couple shots I've taken the last couple of trips to EI

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Yes, most of these places voted Republican. I remember looking it all up on the map, after the last election.

There are a lot of "kill the drill" petitions out there. I signed the one at the League of Conservation Voters.

Growing up, my family owned a home on South Topsail Island before it got a bit overbuilt IMO. I remember looking at the sea oats and red-winged blackbirds flying around and perching on them. We took photos of sunsets, too. Yours capture that beautiful softness and diversity of color I remember. Mesmerizing.

I will say the growth of Topsail Island did, in away, help the sea turtle hospital. When it just was getting off the ground, a lot of wealthy families started contributing, along with school children, etc. Now it is world renowned. When I was more physically active, I volunteered there from time to time.

Roy Cooper should get on this oil drilling thing. He's from Rocky Mount, and must surely feel an affinity for coastal NC. Played in those oceans as a kid, I imagine. How can you grow up so near and not feel it. Good political issue for him.

I sure hope so. No other Dem seems to be stepping up.

I signed the petition from the League of Conservation Voters, too.


We only moved to NC in 2000. Lived in Southern California for many years--Santa Monica Canyon
about 5 minutes from the beach-- before we left in 1988. Love Hawaii and many of the Caribbean islands.
In the 15 years we've been here, we've tried Nags Head, Topsail, Bald Head Island, Wrightsville Beach, but
keep coming back to Emerald Isle. I've also heard Corolla is nice--and not as expensive as EI has become--
but we have yet to try it. EI is closer for us (Chapel Hill).

It seems that Republicans don't understand something unless it hits home to them personally. Maybe
the drilling offshore is something that will wake up these folks in the beach communities that seem to
think Republicans will represent their interests, when all the Republican politicians really care about is keeping the Popes/Kochs of
the world happy.