Winter on the Outer Banks is the anti-summer, not that there is anything wrong with summertime. Frankly, if you live here and don’t love the summer, well, maybe you’re living in the wrong place. The summer is the reason we can live here—it provides jobs, income and it doesn’t hurt that “. . .this island had . . . in the midst of summer . . . incredible abundance.” (That’s a quote from either Barlowe or Armadas, the first English explorers to set foot upon the Outer Banks.)

But at some point you have to recharge, you cannot keep going at the manic summer pace but so long and then it’s time to slow down. That’s what winter is all about. It’s a time to recharge and reconnect with friends, family and the community in general. It is a time when this thriving summer tourist city, returns to its roots and becomes a village. It is a part of life in any village that when someone needs help, the community as a whole responds. That sense of community involvement is what we are examining in this edition.

There is a marvelous sense that no one is alone in this place we call home, for one of the most remarkable pieces of life on this sandbar, is the sense of community that pervades everything. Take a look at Kelly Byrd’s lead article in the retail section, A Sense of Community.

There is, of course, more to write about. The Outer Banks community, just like communities across this nation, has been affected by the implosion of the economy. Although it has certainly impacted us, there seems to be a lot of evidence that we are weathering the economic storm better than most. The final chapter in this one has not been written, but there is reason for hope and cautious optimism. The Sky Is Falling, the Sky Is Falling takes a look at the local economy in our real estate section.

As always, our regular features continue to be a part of the North Beach Sun. Gordon Jones writing his Property Manager’s Notebook, gives some very pointed, direct and useful advise for rental property owners.

Mild mannered Rick Ostlund, who has been writing our Tennis Tips for more years than I have been with the paper, goes on a rant about instant replay. Rant or not, it’s well-reasoned and worth a read. Take a look at it and let us know your opinion.

This is just a sampling of what is in our Winter edition. We’re always interested in what you, our readers, think about what we have written and what you would like to see in the North Beach Sun. Write to us, and let us know.

                                                            Kip Tabb

                                                  editor@northbeachsun.com