It’s true, we live in paradise. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it. The beaches of South Walton and Destin, Florida are among the most beautiful in the world. I’ve been to many other beaches and I’m still awestruck by ours. About 13 years ago, I decided that if I have to work hard – and I do – that it may as well be with a great view and close proximity to the beach. I’ve never looked back. Back then (back in the old days of the 90s), there were few entertainment options or shopping venues and only few restaurants that were open year-round. Boy oh boy, what a difference a decade makes. To give that statement a little more perspective, in 1996 there were no blogs, no Facebook, Google, Twitter was a nervous tic, laptops were uncommon and cell phones were much larger as where computers (some of you know exactly what I’m talking about!). Anyway, there wasn’t much going on in the Destin or Walton County areas. So when places like Silver Sands began to grow and then - fast forward 13 years - for our area to be able to sustain a mixed-use development, such as Grand Boulevard, with so many nationally-recognized stores and restaurants, is a pretty amazing testament to the growth of our beach community. It was too much of a utopia to stay a secret and growth and development have been inevitable. What I’ve come to appreciate and respect is when development within a community is done correctly, with care, mindfulness and long-term goals for sustainability and community stewardship. I love living the dream here at the beach. After work today, I think I’ll head down to the beach and watch the sun set.