I know a lot of folks in real estate are happy to see 2010 behind us… but viewing 2011 with a rather skeptical eye.  Me, I’ve been surprised to find that somewhere along the way, I’ve become an optimist.

I’m looking at 2011 with the belief that it will be a better year than 2010 was, because as tough as 2010 was for the real estate market in our local community, statistically, it was still far better than 2009 when this market seemed to hit absolute rock bottom.  So to me, from an analytical point of view,  it can only get better.

A few weeks ago, I was installed as president of the Golden Isles Association of REALTORS® for 2011, so perhaps my optimism is tainted by the position where I feel I have to put a positive face forward… perhaps I am. In all honesty,  however, I think that’s what all of us in real estate should be doing.  We need to send out the unified message to the public that we still have faith in home ownership, that we still believe in the American dream despite the beating it’s taken over the last few years, that we are in this profession because we are dedicated to helping people and improving our communities.

There is nothing worse than hearing a REALTOR® rattle off their litany of woes in public.  People hear it.  People believe it. It perpetuates the fear and doubt in the public psyche.  It does no one any good.

Just like a smile, optimism breeds optimism.  You know what I mean… you see a stranger and you smile.  99.9% of the time, that stranger will smile back.  So try it with optimism and see what happens.

Happy Optimistic 2011 Everyone!!!

That's me getting installed as 2011 President by John A. Kaufmann, a member emeritus for our Association. Special thanks to Amy Mooney for this photo!

Good Eatin’ and Safe Travels!

As with any community, change is always in the air.   I’ve noticed changes occur most frequently in the restaurant business… so this post should bear no surprises when you see that it mostly has to do with places to eat…

Noticed the other day that the two empty store fronts next to Target was being combined into one space.  They had formerly been home to a mattress store and a discount shoe store.  I did a general Twitter call out to see if anyone knew what was going in and a friend said she thought it was a buffalo wing place.  Seems my friend might be right.    I just did a search of the Buffalo Wild Wings site and while Brunswick didn’t show up on their ‘Coming Soon’ section, I did find two job openings for a Buffalo Wild Wings ‘opening soon in Brunswick’ on Indeed.com, a job search site.  We’re always excited when there’s a new place to eat around here!

More on the food front, Pranzos has taken up the spot in the small retail center along Frederica by the Shops at Sea Island, behind Oglethorpe Bank at 44 Midway. It had been home to Frankie G’s, which started out with some promise for me but ended up being fairly inconsistent in their quality.  Some other restaurant went in and I can’t even recall the name – all I know is that it didn’t last very long.  So now, Pranzos has taken over that location.   I’m assuming they are expanding and haven’t closed their downtown Brunswick location which I really like.  But the one on the Island is much closer to home!

They’ve torn down the facade of the old Gisco Seafood building which was most recently the home of Southern Soul Barbecue which burned down at the end of March (See post).  Not sure what they’re doing with the place but I find it sad that the bit of character that old building brought to the ‘new’ traffic circle is gone.  I’m sure whatever the owners build on that spot will never have the campy charm that the old seafood shack turned into a bbq joint did.

Down in the Village, I’ve noticed the empty space where Subway used to be now has a sign saying that ‘John’s Pizza’ was coming.  Don’t know when… and don’t know who this John is.  Subway, by the way, moved into their new digs on Mallery sometime earlier this year or at the end of last year… under Rafter’s.  The space had been empty ever since.  I’m particularly intrigued as it’s in the building next to the one my office is in… so any decent lunch place in walking distance is always welcome!

So aside from my on-going gripes about the new entrance to the Island with the psuedo-traffic circle – which I’ve decided is more of a jug-handle turn (anyone from New Jersey out there?) than a circle… and the fact that no one seems to pay any attention to the yield sign as they merge from King’s Way… that’s all for now!

Do people even like receiving Christmas cards? At 44 cents a pop for a stamp, are they even worth sending in this digital age when I can wish one and all a Merry Christmas or a Happy Hannukah with one status update on Facebook?

Now, for business purposes, I send out one of those magnetic calendars  to the folks in my farming area, the ones whom I regularly send real estate updates throughout the year.  I considered passing on the calendars this year but I ran into several people who specifically asked me if they were going to get my calendars this year and how much they liked them.  How could I say no?

But in regards to the standard personal Christmas cards we send to friends and family: I have to ask myself how I feel about the Christmas cards I receive.  I mean, do we even like getting them? Each year,  we dutifully line our fireplace mantle and shelves with them… and every year, we collect them all and pitch them in the garbage once the holidays have passed.

Then, we started receiving the photo cards, you know the ones… line up the kiddies in matching sweaters and take a picture and send them to everyone you know. Now, I used to like these as they were the only time in the year I would see pictures of my friends’ progeny.  Once again, social media has made that obsolete.  I now routinely see pictures of my friend’s kids in real time.  No longer the kids lined up against a phoney baloney Olin Mills backdrop with a forced smile.  These photos on Facebook are varied and ‘real’ – like Camille at an annual corn maze/fall festival,  Alex playing Xbox in the basement, Grant as a triumphant blur on a soccer field, etc.

Yet, each year, after Christmas, Hubby and I ride up to Target and pick up wrapping paper, Christmas cards and other assorted holiday junk for next year at 50% off. Well, last year, I couldn’t find the cards I’d stashed away the year before… so we didn’t send any out.  Well, this year, we found them PLUS the ones we bought last year so I’m up to my eyeballs in two season’s worth of Christmas cards. Therefore, it seems only fitting I write some greeting inside, sign them, stamp them and send them out.

But it still begs the question: why?

• Facebook,  Twitter, LinkedIn: Free.
• US Postal Service: 44 cents a pop.
• Saving money to put towards a new pair of  boots: Priceless.

Perhaps the fiscal soundness of the digital thing will make the decision for me.

p.s. Since I began this post a few days ago, I’ve noticed something.  By this point in the season, I would normally have received a lot Christmas cards by now… to date, I’ve received 2.  So perhaps I am not alone in my contemplation of withholding business from the US Postal Service… and relying solely on social media to pass on my Christmas Greetings.

Sounds odd, right? The Big TurnOff Event…  Well, the St. Simons Island Lighthouse is going to be turned-off (hence the name) on Sunday, Sept. 27th and apparently, it’s going to get a big send-off!

Why? Because our 150 year old lighthouse is undergoing renovations and this will be the first time since World War II that the light has been turned off!

The current lighthouse, built in 1872,  replaced an earlier one built at the beginning o f the 1800′s that was destroyed during the Civil War during an invasion of Federal Troops onto St. Simons Island.  Today, it is still a functioning lighthouse… but I suppose as of tomorrow, those big container ships full of cars coming into Colonel’s Island better be extra diligent coming into the Sound!

Hosted by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society, Sunday night’s event will be complete with entertainment and refreshments at the new Casino pool.  Should be fun.  I’m planning to be there!