The largest private employer in this area is an 800-pound gorilla. For several generations, locals largely accept the company gets what it wants.
Thus when it became GW's turn to host the Group of Eight (G-8) world economic conference, he called on the old family friends at said company and a deal was done. The peasants were told after the fact.
George and Babs honeymooned here and hang out in these parts on a regular basis, as do many of the senior business types associated with the current administration. They know the golf is good, so why not?
The site of the world leader summit, Sea Island, is also, according to Money magazine, one of the wealthiest communities in America. To get there you have to cross a narrow river from St. Simons Island. St. Simons is roughly size of Manhattan and is home to 18,000 residents.
To get to St. Simons you cross five miles of marsh and rivers on a causeway from Brunswick on the mainland.
In the short journey from downtown Brunswick to Sea Island, you travel the complete demographic spectrum, from absolute poverty to obscene wealth with a bunch of self-satisfied, upper-middle-class Republican retirees in the middle.
So isolated are we that the initial reaction to the announcement was a lot of flag waving and speculation about how we'll all be fabulously wealthy by renting out our homes to major dignitaries.
Protestors? No sweat. They are going to assign them and the media to Savannah and only bus in pool reporters. They will apparently also hide all maps from potential protestors to keep them from finding this place.
Two months in front of the event, folks are starting to have a few questions, but the flag waving goes on. Fundraising has been announced for a G-8 commemorative museum on St. Simons. After all, this event will put us on the map as a world-class destination.
So we may be inconvenienced for a few days with gridlock, checkpoints and occasional body cavity searches. But remember, we're ready for the big time and we've planted a couple hundred extra palm trees to prove it.
Our friend Jon is currently visiting us from England. When he arrived, he discovered he forgot the electrical adapter for his phone charger. We visited the various electronics stores here and on the mainland to no avail. The reverse adaptors are available because as one mainland clerk explained "people from the Island go other places lots."
Yes folks, this will be an international mecca for those who bring their own adapters.
I can't see any evidence of the promised economic boom G-8 is supposed to bring, although I personally had a shot to make a few bucks.
Several former media colleagues have contacted me looking for local contact/correspondent. I turned them down. There are some stories I don't ever want to write.
My adaptive strategy will be to load up the car with the people, pets and things I care about and get as far away from here as possible.



Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs