Surviving NJ

I grew up going to LBI every year as a child, and even learned to walk at the beach house. I always thought I'd retire to LBI. After all it's like a second home to me, having been going for close to 40 years. It's that place that says serenity to me; a second home.

LBI (Long Beach Island) used to be a blue collar neighborhood, but now it's a white collar playground with million dollar homes slowly over taking the smaller cape cods and such. I'm glad it's kept up so nicely, but on the other hand, the prices are forcing families out. That makes me sad. Retiring there isn't such an option now, because I'm not going to have a cool million to shell out on a home!

I was sorting through rentals online and realized even the rentals in season are asking for $2,000 and $3,000! Crazy how things have escalated. We now go off season to save some money or do long weekends at hotels, but it seems sad that families who grew up going here are being priced out.

For that many clams, I'm stretching my wings and going other places...we did Florida and Disney this year and we may be straying a bit more...