This beach house was built in the early 80's - right around the time I moved to the island. As SPI beach houses go - it is certainly not new, but not exactly a relic either. She is a sturdy old thing that has successfully weathered 80 mph winds, hail, rain and even snow.

When I first moved here - as a renter, circa 1994 - the only thing growing in the back yard was sticker burrs. The neighborhood consisted of mostly empty lots and Blackbeards' was half the size it is now.

The salt air is refreshing to the lungs and the spirit -- but it is hard on structures. The sliding glass doors don't slide as smoothly as they once did and the deck has a mellow, weathered patina; those who require sterile, gleaming new everything might ought to look elsewhere. But nowhere will you find an island rental with more character. The furniture is comfortable and there is little that can be damaged by rowdy dogs or happy children. I expect you to track sand into the place, and if I don't hear billiards banging or other happy noises from up there, I start getting worried...