St Joe SummerCamp

Shelly
I edited out comments I'd made about how I hope you do more (in your private life) about your anti-development feelings rather than drop cryptic hints and troll on the messageboard. But that's really none of my business and I don't want to get into it with you. I actually do respect your stand about this stuff.

I've been married for many years to a guy who has always worked for developers and I myself always had mixed feelings about the whole thing.
But when I look back at his body of work in Colorado and other states, his aesthetics shine.

I think it was Paula who said she tried to be realistic rather than pessimistic.
This is how I try to be. I neither shout with glee over rising property values nor point my finger derisively when it stagnates.

I, too, will look into that book, Dreamstate.... Sounds fascinating. I've read many other books recommended on this thread (Green Empire, a book about the sea, and many novels) and they've all been very good. Thanks.

As for optimism/pessimism, based on personality surveys I'm both an optimist and a "defensive pessimist" (which means I tend to worry about everything that could go wrong and then come up with a plan to help buffer it -- and then I turn into an optimist and relax -- I almost always have a back-up plan, though).

To take an online assessment to see if you're a defensive pessimist go to:
http://www.wellesley.edu/Psychology/Norem/Quiz/quiz.html (Julie Norem is a well-respected researcher who makes a good case that too much optimism is over-rated and that some kinds of pessimism can help solve problems and reduce anxiety in some people. Defensive pessimism is not the same thing as being negative toward others, not seeing opportunities, or complaining but not doing anything about the situation. Rather, it is about taking actions to reduce the risks of worse-case scenarios).

To take an online assessment to assess your optimism, go to:
http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/ (Martin Seligman is also a well-respected researcher and former head of the American Psychological Association. He is one of the founders of the positive psychology movement which is based on the assumption that we can learn as much or more by focusing on what is good and effective about people than by focusing on what makes people dysfunctional. Psychology has historically focused on what's wrong with people and trying to fix it. Positive psychology is focused on finding what people do well -- e.g., best practices -- and then helping people learn to use these ways of thinking/acting to increase their well-being and effectiveness -- and that of others around them. The movement has its critics, no doubt, but also has a lot of good research and advice.)

In short, the research suggests that both excessive optimism and excessive pessimism can lead to problems and that a good decision-making process avoids being excessively one or another.

Fun stuff...

PS: If I had lived in SoWal or the area for a long time and saw many of the changes, I'd be concerned and very sad, too, no doubt. I don't know how I would express that concern or what I would do, though.

First test was interesting "You may use both strategies or neither strategy consistently"

Had to have password for the second. There are quite a few interesting tests there.

Pirate: I think you can register for free at the authentic happiness site and then have access to the readings and assessments. It's fascinating stuff.

It seems as though this thread has digressed from the original post.

Is something happening or going to happen with the SummerCamp development? :confused:

:idontno:

Today I got an email from St. Joe advertising their upcoming release of SummerCamp. Some highlights include...

On May 5, SummerCamp's new "Welcome Center" will debut.

The homesites are priced from $260,000 for Camp Hall to over $1 million for beachfront. To view the homesites available for purchase, click here.

http://www.joe.com/NR/rdonlyres/00000c53/nscsfpphsnsrfapnevsejzvqqsclvejj/2006ReleaseMapsMay.pdf

For Sale: Rivercamps Lot 18 - Great View - Rare in it also has "NO" BUILD OUT TIME. fgerson@pmpjt.com or cellphone 731-697-8028

Today I got an email from St. Joe advertising their upcoming release of SummerCamp. Some highlights include...

On May 5, SummerCamp's new "Welcome Center" will debut.

The homesites are priced from $260,000 for Camp Hall to over $1 million for beachfront. To view the homesites available for purchase, click here.

Carbelle is a cutesy little town but there's not really much beach to speak of over there and no dunes if I recall. :idontno: It will be interesting to see if that area east of Mexico beach takes off. I heard that employees of Arizona chemical have been told they have 2 years left and it's shutting down. Anybody else hear this?

Very interesting about possible closure of Arizona Chemical. Has to happen at some point. Hard to develop the old mill site tracts in the way proposed with the chemical plant (and its odor) so close. Down side is higher unemployment in a community where unemployment is already high.

There are no dunes in the SummerCamp area. The property is very close to sea level and the houses are being built on stilts. The water is somewhat cloudy because of the nearby rivers.

During a walk earlier this week I passed a St. Joe employee wearing a SummerCamp hat. I inquired about the status of SummerCamp and he indicated most of the roads are in and construction on several houses was under way. Lawsuits to prevent the development have been settled and they (JOE) are moving ahead with the community.