People, especially our families, ask us why we stay living here on Hatteras Island, especially as we age. They see hurricanes, medical inconveniences and all those stairs! “Is it your love of the ocean?” they ask. Well, yes, but it is really the love, internal warmth and compassion shown to us, by you, this community.

As the latest hurricane strengthened and my husband was away, my daughter Kelsey and I spent two days securing our house and boat. We evacuated with our dog, cat and snake. After that, I did suggest to Alan that we should consider moving. “How can we?” he said. “We haven’t paid back the community for all they did for us. We have to stay!” He was so right and here is why.