Island Time(ier)

is·land time  

noun \ˈī-lənd\ \ˈtīm\ 

The time vacuum created by the ocean's presence.

Similar to stoner's time, everything moves nice and slow.
This carefree aura even has the ability to travel with islanders and can engulf you in their presence.

* via urban dictionary *

* * *

One of the my favorite things about Ocracoke is the feeling of being on island time. The pace is slow and relaxed. The atmosphere is as casual and carefree as you desire.

Ocracoke traffic

Island time is really the only explanation for hundreds of cars lined up for the ferry in the hot summer sun for hours - and folks are still smiling, snoozing, or chatting like it's the best summer bbq of the year.

Island time is pretty dang good. Makes one feel happily "Stranded on Purpose."

Ahhhh.....

Even the political signs on Ocracoke are a bit more mellow

Unless, of course....

You need to get something done fast. Or there's another wrench in the mix....like, say, a hurricane.

As I said earlier, Hurricane Sandy was relatively kind to the island, but there were some regional repercussions. The main road through the Outer Banks (Rt. 12) had so much sand wash over it they had to close it in places. Route 12 is the road that leads to the Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry. And while the ferry was back up and running within days, the other routes into (and out of) Hatteras were shut down.

Road delays on Ocracoke are minimal

Weeks ago we had contacted the Lowes in Kill Devil Hills to coordinate delivery of our roof shingles and other supplies. No problem! They'd run right down Rt. 12, hop on the Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry, and hook us up.

Until that darn Sandy blew through.

"Sorry guys, you know how it goes here....can't get through 'til 12 opens back up," the nice guy at Lowes said.

"Oh, yeah,yeah....of course!" we said. Trying not to sound like total newbs who had owned a place in the OBX for all of one month. If.

No problem. We run a construction business. We've got trucks and trailers. We'll just take it all down there.

Except some of our intended projects needed more measuring to make a final material list.
There are two other ferries that run to and from Ocracoke to the mainland of North Carolina. We'd just have to find a Lowes near one of those and make a material run.

Run? More like a marathon.

A "quick" trip to Lowes took about twelve hours start to finish.

Plenty of time waiting for the ferry

Hoo boy. Island time.....and then some.

After a very productive week we were ready to head home via the 10:00 a.m. Swan Quarter Ferry. Until the ferry worker informed us there would be a slight hold up.

See, the milk truck was on the ferry coming from Swan Quarter to Ocracoke. He needed to deliver his milk around Ocracoke and get back to the mainland (without a 12 hour turnaround time!). So we all waited for about twenty minutes for the milk to be delivered and the milk truck to load back on.

Can you see the black and white cow flying by?

Bet that was the fastest milk delivery ever!

All in all, island time(ier) is just part of the package. And I'll take it!

I just don't expect overnight delivery.

Betsy xoxo