New Insights into Dad, Real Estate, and Swansboro, NC

As kids, during the late 60's and 70's, we visited various sailing ports of North Carolina with our Father, Seth Hiller. We camped on Ocracoke Island, sailed over to Beaufort to meet some of his friends, or moored the boat in Oriental's harbor for the night and rented bikes for some sightseeing the next morning. Swansboro, Bayboro, Morehead City.... "where are we today, Dad"?

Later in life, my Dad left his architectural firm in NYC to create some long-term projects for Duke University. One of those assignments brought him back to the coast of N. Carolina to Beaufort. Inset is a photo of the North Carolina Maritime Museum designed by my Dad circa 1989.

After being estranged from the area for almost 2 decades, he fell in love with 'the sailing capital of the world' all over again. He also fell in love with Pat, a beautiful blue-eyed Beaufort Realtor

:-)

Last night at my birthday dinner, my brother brought out a pile of old drawings of my Dad's and it was amazing to glean some unusual insight into his ideas and future dreams just prior to his departure. To my surprise and delight, there was sketch after sketch of a future rejuvenated Swansboro; replete with a boardwalk, restaurants, cafes, shops, townhomes and docks for nautical visitors!

Also just prior to his passing, unbeknownst to me, he and Pat were in the process of refurbishing an historic beauty on Elm St. in the quiet downtown waterfront area. He had also recently purchased a gorgeous chunk of that now prized waterfront land! Isn't that the one we had to sell for a pittance in 1993?

Apparently, he was planning a very busy 'retirement' in Swansboro.

I am sure his heart is warmed, as mine is, by the knowledge that this 'Friendly City By the Sea' has just about grown up and lived up to his dream over the last decade. He's probably enjoying a good 'I told you so', as well. What would that waterfront commercial Real Estate be worth if we kids would have held on to it???