My Why
This site is inspired by my friend, Steve Thomas. When Steve suddenly passed away in 2009 he left a huge hole on the Outer Banks. I said to myself, "We just lost an Outer Banks treasure." Since then I have met more "treasures". The web site name is a tribute to those people on the Outer Banks that make this place special. Some of these people and places you may have heard of, while others may be totally new to you. Either way, I hope you enjoy your visit.
I Was Just Walking Along The Beach When....
I realized I had spent the last 20 years on this sandbar. This would have been a cause of concern for my younger, more nomadic self, but the older me looked back with fond memories.
In the movie Cool Hand Luke the character, Dragline (played by George Kennedy), says to Luke (played by Paul Newman), "All that time, you was plannin' on runnin' again." Luke responds with, “I never planned anything in my life."
Like Luke, I didn't have a plan. I didn't plan to live in a beautiful place for 25-plus years, have a great family, and meet amazing people. That would have been a tall tale back in 1997. But here we are.
I've had the opportunity to do some incredible things during my time here; from fishing to sailing to exploring. I've seen the sun rise and set over the horizon and I've watched the stars twinkle in the night sky. I've seen the beauty of nature and I've seen the power of the sea.
I've also seen the power of community. I've seen people come together to help each other in times of need and I've seen people come together to celebrate life. I've seen people come together to share stories and I've seen people come together to share laughter.
This sandbar has been my home since 1997 and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm grateful for the time I've spent here and I'm excited for the future. I'm ready to see what else this place has to offer.
Best wishes, John Van Lunen
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