Right where that flag is on the Connector when I come up over the peak, and I can see the Atlantic, my wife says my shoulders drop 3 or 4 inches because I start to relax,” relayed John Kauffeld about his love for the island and his gratitude for each visit here. Kauffeld continued, “The vibe is just incredible here. It’s what drew us from vacationing here to living here. Any time I can walk a beach, to me, it’s one of the best things I can do with my time.”
Kauffeld described he and his wife Merry’s first trip to South Carolina. “I went to junior high school with a young lady in New Jersey. We came down to visit her and after our first stay, which was in Charleston because I’m a Civil War buff, I had to see Fort Sumter. After staying with them, our next trip down was to Wild Dunes in 2009.”
Having spent a great deal of time on the beach in New Jersey and driving to the shore, Kauffeld said he and his wife were surprised by all the differences in the way of life here versus New Jersey. “The idea that you didn’t have to pay to be on the beach just floored us. If you’ve ever been up in New Jersey, beach badges are something you pay for. You have to pay to have a badge to go on the beach. Never mind the parking. It’s actually a pay to play in most of the towns. If you want to come and spend time on their beaches, you have to buy a day pass, a week pass or a seasonal pass.”
The freedom to bring dogs to the beach was also a nice bonus for the Kauffeld family, having owned Portuguese water dogs before moving to South Carolina and purchasing their Boykin spaniel, Dixon, from Suzie Sheets of Cedarway Boykins. Kauffeld explained, “We had Portuguese water dogs prior to moving here. Our first dog was named after Shiloh Battlefield and our second was named Hunley. I had been to the Hunley as a Civil War junkie and now I volunteer at the Hunley. Dixon is named after the commander of the Hunley, George Dixon. I appreciate the off-leash hours in the early mornings because Dixon needs his exercise and it’s not good for him to be walking at one in the afternoon in this heat, or me either for that matter. Dixon is the perfect water dog.”
In addition to walking on the beach, the Kauffelds enjoy island restaurants and frequent Long Island Café and Acme Lowcountry Kitchen. Golfing in Wild Dunes and looking for new places to launch their kayaks are among their favorite island adventures.
Kauffeld continued, “After vacationing on the island for years before finally moving to Mount Pleasant, it still feels like a vacation coming over that Connector.”
Welcome home, Kauffeld family.
By Laura Fogarty
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