The following story is submitted by Gary Palush of Hobucken.
Gary and his wife live in the former Capt. Charles and Mary Alice Spain home in Hobucken.
Happy Seven Year Anniversary of living and loving Goose Creek Island!
Why Goose Creek Island?
by Gary Palush
I grew up in a small town in New Jersey that is at the end of Raritan Bay, across from Staten Island, New York. I had my first taste of North Carolina as a teenager with the Boy Scouts. I spent a month at a Boy Scout reservation in the mountains.
When my father retired, my parents moved to Lenoir County and I enjoyed coming down for holidays to visit. Eventually, two of my sisters moved down to North Carolina near my parents. With the high taxes, crowds, crime and rude people up North, not to mention the cold and snow, I decided it was time to head South myself.
Being an avid fisherman, I got onto a website called N.C. Waterman. I asked questions about fishing and the different areas of the coast. I was getting an education of the coastal North Carolina area. A gentleman by the name of Bill Hitchcock was the originator of the website and was the host of a local television program called Coastal Carolina Fishing. Bill was also a real estate broker. We talked and I gave him the criteria of the house I wanted which included how much property, how close to the water, etc. Bill went to work.
For about two and a half years every long weekend or holiday weekend, Bill would line up some houses for us to see. We covered quite a bit of area. I remember well the Labor Day weekend in 2005. Bill had about eight houses for us to see. A few in Craven County but most where in Pamlico. The ones in Oriental were a bit out of my price range and too many Yankees. We soon traveled over this tall, big bridge with a beautiful view. A mile down the road we pulled into a driveway.
My wife (fiance at the time) and my sister were with me. Bill got out of his car and instantly his tan pants turned brown. We were swatting skeeters! My wife loved the house. I loved the property even though it was a little soggy since there had been a recent storm. I also loved the area, so this property moved well up the list.
As we were on our way to see the last house in Craven County, we pulled over. We asked Bill why the stop. He informed us the listing realtor had called and said the house in Craven County had been in flood water. We instantly dropped it from our list to visit.
On our ride back up to New Jersey, my wife and I made up our minds to make an offer on "the skeeter house". Since my sister had lived in North Carolina for five years, I asked her to ask her friends about Hobucken. Most of her friends did not know such a place existed in Eastern North Carolina. One person even said that it was a part of North Carolina that God forgot!
After almost a year of negotiations and a few more trips to the house and speaking with Ms. Mary Alice Spain and her housekeeper at times, we made a deal! I drove my big boat down the first weekend in October 2006. It was a nice three day ride. The boat still sits at the marina (for sale). We moved in Halloween Weekend 2006 and have enjoyed it ever since.
The quality of the people we have met on the Island can not be matched anywhere. We were welcomed with open arms even though some people on the website said we would never be accepted. I think part of it is because I didn't move here to be a Yankee. I moved here to become part of the community.
When I lived up North, I was a "do for" person just like my father. What I mean is I was always helping my neighbors any way I could. When I came to Hobucken, I brought that same mind set with me. My wife has told me many times that what ever problems or stress she has a work, as soon as she crosses the highrise bridge they are gone. Same holds true for me.
Learning the history of the Island and it's people, speaking first hand to those like Mr. Odell Spain, who has a personal attachment to where we live and to others, makes it great to be able to live here. I also had the chance to be part of history and to be part of a bunch of amazing people that pulled together when were hit by Hurricane Irene. Heard it told that it was the worst storm anyone could remember and I was part of it.
We love it here and would not give it up for anything. I don't think God forgot about Goose Creek Island. I think it's his own little secret!
