What's A Tybee Island?

“Islands in the stream” sings Dolly Parton.  “Sail away with me, to another world,” croons Kenny Rogers.   And that’s what runs through my mind when Spencer says, “Let’s go to Tybee Island.”

Tybee Island?  What’s a Tybee Island?

Put your wheels on I-74 South and keep going until you hit ocean, the Atlantic Ocean.  By then you’ve passed through Savannah and Thunderbolt. Tybee is one of two.  You have to pass through Wilmington Island to get to Tybee Island.

Citizens of Tybee work on Wilmington. Those that live on Wilmington work on Tybee!  It’s a conundrum.

Spencer falls in love.

He loves the air.  He loves the people.  He loves the beach.  He loves the accommodations.  He loves the golf cart.  He loves the grouper.  He loves the sightseeing.  He loves the seafood.  He loves the stories.  He loves the golf cart.  Oh, I said that before didn’t I, ha, ha.  He’s in love.

You can order Boom Boom Shrimp at the restaurant where one of the waitresses said she originally came from Michigan.  She came to Tybee on vacation, loved it so much she went home, packed up everything, sold everything else, came back and never bought a coat again.  That was eleven years ago!  Spencer’s eyes are excited.

The tall black-haired lady at the convenience store said she came, she stayed, she swims EVERY DAY!   Spencer’s eyes get moony.

“Spencer, you can’t leave home.  You’ll break your mother’s heart,” I say.  “Twenty miles is already too far away,” I am the mom.

A gentleman near by hears our conversation and tells us his story.  He was twenty some years old when he left home (Illinois) to live in Tybee. He came down for vacation, fell in love with the place and stayed.  His mom, too, hated to see him move.  He invested in a rental property, and then invited his dad to come check it out. His dad came and stayed so long that he lost a months rent!

And now his parents come every year!

Aunt was no help.  She flew in to join us on Tybee.  She flew right to his side, “No one in between”.  She helped him check out the babes. Their eyes scanned available properties. They dreamed of living on “Islands in the stream.”

 His eyes stay moonstruck.