Bill:

Your post caught my eye because from 1990-1999 I lived in Savannah and from 1999-2007 I lived in Hilton Head SC. At first I was working a computer admin day job on the island and playing keys at night and then I went to just playing fulltime. I was lucky to have some steady gigs on HHI and private parties and stuff in Savannah so I had it made for a while. I also played in a trio but eventually just played solo. Island life was excellent and I bought a condo near the beach at a good time.

Sounds crazy but eventually I got tired of Hilton Head - the good gigs that I used to play at went away and the condos all around me turned into timeshares. The whole island started out as friendly retirees and eventually became short-term drunk vacationers... life on the island lost it's charm and I got bored with the beach so I sold my condo just before the 2008 housing market collapsed (I was lucky). I bought myself one last chance to start over. The housing market was soft in Atlanta and I bought a nice house and found another computer job. Soon after I found a really good blues/rock band, and even though I will turn 60 this year I feel like a kid again when I play out.

The band has lifted me and I really enjoy playing with peers once more. I always have my solo gig in my back pocket (all my music is on my iPad and I still have a Yamaha 900 Pro, Tyros 3 and a Korg Microarranger) but these days I rock with a Hammond SK2 more than anything else.

So of course I miss Hilton Head a little but starting over in Atlanta has been good. And BTW, a plumber told me privately that he was seeing water rising in the foundations all over Hilton Head little by little, and that was back in 2008. My own condo had a little water in the first floor bathroom that we could never get rid of. I believe that the oceans are rising around the island and if that doesn't sink the place then one day the island will get hit by a hurricane - even a Category 1 will flood all the way to I-95. So enjoy "the low country" while you can and good luck!