Friday Five: Getaway Island Edition

Cathy from RevGals writes:

We snitched a bit of time on an quiet island nearby this week. It was a last minute plan, escaping with a minimal amount of preparation. One must have essentials that make it a relaxing time. Perhaps you have had this opportunity to escape, or maybe it's only been a thought to get away. However, suppose you were told to pack some essentials for a trip to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Describe your location, in general or specific terms...

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Ah, I know the ideal place. And my quandary NOW is - do I tell all of you WHERE this magical place is and have you come too (and then it would be overcrowded) or do I keep it to myself??? I guess in the spirit of community, I'll share...

I love LOVE LOVE going to Harbor Island, SC. It is a gated community on a barrier island near Beaufort, SC. It's about 10 miles south, heading towards the very posh "Fripp Island" and near a state park, Hunting Island. It has everything we need to unwind: a pool, the beach, and peace and quiet.

NO boardwalks (that's not "the beach" that's a mall with sand!)
NO golf course (but you can practice putting if you want! LOTS of sand traps!)
NO loud nightlife (yes, I am boring.)
God shows up every time we visit... I can feel His heart beat there.

So now, to the questions...

1) What book(s) will you bring?
Believe it or not, only my current devotional books. The beach house (it is owned by my mom) has a full library. Just about everything and anything you could want. I usually do have to take my school books though, unless we go in August. It's the only month all of us are off school!!

2) What music accompanies you?
iPods R us! Between us, there are 4 iPods and we each have our faves. Just about anything you could think of, we will likely play. We've got adapters to plug them into the stereo. Way fun.

3) What essentials of everyday living must you take (as in the health and beauty aids aisle variety)?
Sunscreen. Bug repellent. That's about it.

4) What technological gadgets if any, will you take with you or do you leave it all behind?
Well, there is a PC there, so I do tend to check my email and blog. Usually I take my laptop so that I can work on devotional writing for church. A cell phone only because it helps cover service when the landline goes out...

5) What culinary delights will you partake in while there?
Close by is a fishing company, and the sea life they catch is quickly processed and sold. FRESH means less than 24 hours from surf to plate. YUM. Depending on the season there is AMAZING fresh fruit. This picture is from Easter 2006 when I picked these beauties myself. It is not hard to say "strawberry daquiri" and "porch swing" in the same sentence... In the summer there's corn and peaches, but the produce season is pretty much done by mid-July.

As a bonus question, what makes for a perfect day on vacation for you?
No alarm clock. Staying in my jammies until noon (OR getting up early and doing errands before the tourists hit the town...) Hanging out. Reading. A swim in the pool. The optional sand castle or other sand creation. A walk on the beach close to sunset. Playing games like Scrabble or Apples2Apples or Dutch Blitz. Did I mention strawberry daquiris on the porch swing???

SIGH....

Wistfully yours...
Deb