Why We Choose to Build Our Lives Here
in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
People often ask locals if living at the beach feels like being on a full-time vacation. For me, the short answer is no. The long answer is that living here is even better.
How We Got Here
My Husband’s Childhood
My Husband’s Childhood
My husband, Rob, and I both landed in Gulf Shores by way of other small towns in the South. He grew up here, while I grew up visiting.
Rob moved to Gulf Shores from Monroe County when he was 11 years old, and he’s had a ringside seat to the evolution of our beach communities over the last four decades. He’s lived all over the island, and his childhood memories include a much smaller local population, the original Hangout, surfing in the Gulf, and catching the school bus at Scoops every morning. He and the other island kids attended middle and high school in Foley because, at the time, there weren’t enough full-time residents to warrant building more schools.
Vacationing on Alabama’s Beaches
Vacationing on Alabama’s Beaches
My perspective is different because the beach was a destination for me for much longer than it was home. My family vacationed on Alabama’s Beaches for years before moving to Baldwin County in the mid-90s from a small town outside of Jackson, Mississippi. I was in the tenth grade, and even then, the beach still felt like a special destination–somewhere we spent spring breaks and long summer days. We were within easy driving distance of the island, but not close enough to be considered locals.
Moving Back to the Coast
Moving Back to the Coast
As adults, Rob and I both ventured out from the Alabama coast for a few years. He spent time in Costa Rica and Southern California, while I attended college in Tuscaloosa and started my career in Phoenix, Arizona. It didn’t take long, though, for the Gulf to call us back.
As fate would have it, I was hired at Saunders Yachtworks—where I met Rob. I commuted from Fairhope to Gulf Shores for eight years before realizing that my personal and professional life had gradually shifted to the island. Eventually, I made the move permanent.
Why We Stay
Planting Roots
Planting Roots
Rob and I have lived together in Gulf Shores for 8 years. Sure, living on the coast is challenging at times. The influx of visitors and traffic during high season and the threat of storms during hurricane season can be difficult to navigate. But all it takes is a little introspection to find a list of reasons to love this community that far outweighs the downsides of building your life in a popular vacation destination.
The Vibrant Community
The Vibrant Community
We stay because raising your family in a kind and compassionate community where the residents look out for one another is one of the greatest things you can offer them. We stay for the opportunities our son will have in the city school system. We stay because our first responders work diligently to keep our community safe, regardless of how many visitors are in town. We stay because our city government is working hard to manage growth and maintain our quality of life.
And we stay because of our proximity to some of the most beautiful, diverse, and accessible outdoor elements you could imagine. Where saltwater soothes the soul, and the warm sun nourishes our bodies.
While we’ve watched this area grow and change over the years, the things that make our area special have remained. And so will we.
Ashley Andrews
Ashley Rainer Andrews is a Gulf Coast local who writes from the perspective of someone who has experienced Alabama’s Beaches both as a visitor and as a place to call home. She is the Marketing Manager at Saunders Yachtworks in Gulf Shores and serves on the Junior Board of the Baldwin County Child Advocacy Center and the Session at First Presbyterian Church of Gulf Shores. She enjoys time with her family, reading, staying involved in the community, and never getting tired of a good sunset over the water.