What I Like Best About Ocean Pines
by Janet Stoer
First Place Winner - $200 gift certificate to DeNovos, Marina Deck, or Yacht Club.

The physical beauty of Ocean Pines as I drive around, looking out across the canals and bay evokes awe in me every day.   I enjoy feeling safe and secure in my home and in the community due to the extremely low crime rate.  To be on our spectacular  golf course with my friends, makes me glad to be alive and well.  I feel such pride when my guests comment on how lovely it is here.   Slightly less than four years after moving here, I am unable to find much to dislike about Ocean Pines.   

But the secret treasure of Ocean Pines is one you will not find in any travel brochure.  It is the people here who make it especially beautiful. I knew no one when I moved by myself to Ocean Pines. Quickly, I found it to be a community where everyone takes the time to say “hello” and “how are you” and mean it.  They want to hear your response.  There is pride of ownership and most properties are well maintained.   People help each other, surround each other without smothering, and pay it forward.  All you have to say is that you are working on some project or activity and at least one person will say without a pause, “Is there any thing I can do to help?” It is not an empty offer.  This is a community where people will offer food, rides to medical care, friendship, or just to be there.  I have many friends, who if I called any hour, would say “Give me ten minutes and I shall be there.”  So many other areas have daily random acts of violence and here we have daily random acts of kindness.  No one brags about it, no one expects compensation for it or even a good deed in return.  Everyone waves in friendly greetings.  When my kids are here visiting and we are out, they will ask me if I know who I waved or spoke to and I will tell them I have no idea.  It is just the way of life here.

I have taken up two new sports since moving here-golf and more recently paddle tennis.  Without exception, I was welcomed with enthusiasm and encouraged to continue.  Both groups were more than tolerant of my inexperience.  An unkind word might have stopped me, but it never happened.  

On the now rare occasions I return to Montgomery County, I feel everyone is in such a hurry.  I find the people terse and/or rude.  I have some life long friends in that area that I shall always miss, but after visiting them and renewing those friendships, I find myself more than ready to return to Ocean Pines.

I am sure there are other places in this world where people feel as strongly as I do about Ocean Pines, but I have no desire to look for them.  I am home.