Sanibel Island, Florida--a liberal paradise?

[CoffeeCat]

I was wondering if any DUers had ever visited Sanibel Island? We went last March and I was so shocked at how environmentally conscious and conservation-minded EVERYONE is on the Island.

Only seven miles long, Sanibel is small, but it is a big sanctuary. Two thirds of the Island is mangrove forest that is protected by City Law. There are no high rises allowed on the Island and no fast-food franchises. There are laws that require those with homes near the beach, to turn off their porch lights at night--so the baby turtle hatchlings don't get confused and walk toward the homes--instead of back into the ocean. Residents happily comply and often remind visitors to not use flashlights on the beach at night or early morning.

Sanibel Island has its own separate City Government--The Sanibel Plan. Sanibel residents lobbied to break from Lee Country government--and have a city government of their own. The Sanibel Plan allowed the city's environmentalists and conservationists to fight off powerful corporations and rich developers who wanted fill every square inch of Sanibel with expensive high-rise condos and litter the landscape with fast-food franchises. Sanibel residents won and they implemented The Sanibel Plan, which put the environment, nature and the wildlife--FIRST.

There is a large wildlife hospital, CROW, that is run by staff and volunteers. They are dedicated to rehabilitating and treating injured wildlife. They get calls. They pick up animals and they nurse them back to health. They treat turtles that have digested plastic and birds who have become tangled in fishing line. Scores of volunteers walk the beaches, looking for turtle nests to identify and rope off--so they are protected.

You are allowed to take shells that are "empty", but Sanibel law dictates that no shell with a live creature is to be taken.

It's truly a paradise. There is no argument about caring for animals and protecting species. No one is ridiculed for making birds more important than big-business interests.

I feel like I left my soul on Sanibel. I've never experienced anything like it--and I've been to several Florida cities and traveled to the US and British Virgin Islands. It's truly amazing.

I was wondering if other DUers had experienced this sanctuary and had any interesting thoughts or experiences that they'd like to share. I'm certainly not an expert. I'm still learning. I'm just a big Sanibel fan!

[KamaAina]

1. The county buses don't go out there

the way they do to Fort Myers Beach. Not as green as I'd like.

Grandma and Grandpa took me up there once when I was a kid. Yup, it's a beauty.

[HooptieWagon]

2. Uber rich.

Yes, its beautiful. They are conservationists. They are conservatives, too. They want to keep THEIR paradise as pristine as possible. I don't doubt for a second they'd give two shits about despoiling someone else's paradise.

[trumad]

3. Love the place

And their next door neighbor...Captiva Island. Hop on a bike and ride all day.

[DrDan]

9. plans are underway to enable hopping on a bike and riding from the west coast to the east coast

270 miles of uninterrupted biking

how many states can claim that?

[CoffeeCat]

22. The bike trails are phenomenal...

We rode bikes quite a bit when we were vacationing there. Beautiful, flat trails that meander through lush vegetation and beautiful shops and restaurants.

I liked Captiva too. Was very interesting and colorful. The houses were shockingly huge. These were McMansions on steroids.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

4. 3 or so decades ago.

All I really remember is flying those 'spinner kites' and wading across lots of rippling mud flats. I actually don't even remember there being a city there, but maybe I was at the 'wrong' end of the island.

[William769]

6. I live in Lee County and it is not a "liberal paradise".

W visited there several times when he was pResident. It is Green Friendly but that's about it. And the porch light law is only during turtle season and is a State law for beach areas. Captiva, Fort Myers Beach, Gasperella Key, (Lee County) they all fall under that State law in Florida.

[CoffeeCat]

23. Yes, I remember looking up more info about Lee County...

…and I noted that it is VERY Republican. It's interesting that some Republicans are "green" as you said, and I also noticed that many in Florida don't deny climate change. I suppose when climate change is impacting your backyard, it's kind of hard to deny.

Interesting that many, including you, are saying that some Republicans and "green" or conservationists, when it impacts their own backyards. I didn't think about it that way. I know that I got the impression that everyone, especially the people who live there, was fervent about nature and the wildlife coming first. The people I met on the Island seemed incredibly kind and laid back--almost hippie-ish.

I thought I had found a bastion of cool liberals who had their own paradise. Maybe not, eh?

Also, is Ft. Myers very Republican, as well? I could not get a handle on that city. It seemed like one sprawling touristy suburb. Is that pretty much what it's like?

[William769]

41. Lee County is full on red.

The statistics say that the City of Fort Myers is split Blue/Red. INHO though it's more red than blue at least where I live.

Our beach areas are touristy, and Fort Myers is in the winter Months.

I hope this helps. If you need any more information please let me know and I will try to get it for you.

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. Republicans can be conservatives of the environment

They are a rare breed, but they exist. My local board of supervisors has three of those, they want to conserve the environment. One who is what you think of republicans today, pave everything, climate change, nah. And finally a conservative democrat.

Guess who gets outvoted often when it comes to the environment? If they were starting their careers today, none would get elected or even nominated by the current party apparatus. Ok, maybe the let's pave everything.

[AngryOldDem]

7. LOVE Sanibel!

It's a wonderful place. I would give anything to be able to live there all the time. It's like a world unto itself.

And the Ding Darling Nature Preserve is just awesome. It is so quiet that you can hear the crocs talking among themselves, as well as the various birds and other wildlife.

God...I LOVE that place.

[CoffeeCat]

25. "It's like a world unto itself."

That is so true. Sanibel is its own little bubble. It's truly like being on another planet.

As you said, the wildlife, birds and the Ding Darling Nature Preserve are just wonderful. And oh the beaches and the bounty of shells! Amazing!

What I found fascinating was the first-gear feel of it. I felt as if time was slowed there. I felt more at peace there. The lack of stoplights, franchises and high rises probably played into that. However, everyone just seemed to be more "present" and peaceful.

I know I felt it from the moment we arrived. I was very emotionally overwhelmed with Sanibel. I wish I could feel that way all of the time.

I share your love of it. It's nice to connect with others who understand!

[AngryOldDem]

39. Some more cool stuff about Sanibel:

The place where we stayed on our vacations had a rule that rooms that faced the beach could not have any kind of exterior light on after a certain hour. (9 or 10.) That's because they didn't want baby turtles coming out of the water, attracted by the light, which could make them prey to other creatures.

Shelling is absolutely off the chain down there. You see people out bright and early bent over -- the Sanibel Stoop -- collecting treasures. And the sizes and colors -- we brought back TONS of shells, including a gigantic conch that my son found by accident. You can walk for miles along the shore just looking for shells -- you just get caught up in it.

And my favorite part was always sitting out on the deck at night, listening to the gulf. Something about water coming on shore -- must be primal.

Good times, good times.

[hughee99]

8. I'm sure if you're wealthy and white and older, this is a great place.

40% of the population is over 65, 97% is white, and the per-capita income is about 67K. There's only about 2% of the 6,500 people living under the poverty line, and the restrictions on expansion will "keep out the riff-raff".

[CoffeeCat]

26. The financial barriers to entry are pretty high...

Housing is very expensive and so is hurricane insurance.

I do know that there is an organization on the Island that helps low- and middle-income earners who work on Sanibel Island--find affordable housing on Sanibel. The city actually builds houses for these people and also subsidizes housing (apartments). The apartments are nice and the houses are new and absolutely fabulous. If I recall, the houses were around $200k.

I know that this organization is part of the Sanibel Plan, and The Sanibel Plan strives to promote economic diversity on the Island.

I thought that was pretty cool.

So, the grocery-store clerk or the bank teller, or aspiring writer who is working as a waitress--can also afford to live and work on on the Island.

I know the the majority of people who live on Sanibel are upper-income earners, but I thought their advocacy, to help middle-class folks live on the Island, was pretty cool.

[hughee99]

38. It sounds like they have some very good things going on there,

but I'm not sure it's a model that could be widely emulated.

[femmocrat]

10. It's my dream retirement destination.

We loved it when we visited. Could never afford it though.

[riverwalker]

11. I go once a year

Love love love Sanibel. My "secret place" LOL. I go solo, and rent a little 50's style cottage on the beach, a mom and pop place, the kind with a old rusty screen door, but as close to water as possible. Those places will all be gone soon. (The fancy condo thing is not me, but nice for some) I walk the beach and collect sea shells, lots of SERIOUS shell collectors there. I found Sanibel one year when I did a internet search for a place where I can walk the beach undisturbed for hours. Tip: instead of bringing sea shells back in your luggage, just pack 'em up and go to post office and mail them home.

[CoffeeCat]

27. Isn't the shelling terrific there?

So many beautiful shells. I felt like a kid in a candy store. It was difficult to just walk on the beach. I was darting in the water and all around the beach, as I spied shells. We were there when a really big shell pile accumulated on Bowman's Beach. Thousands of shells in a big pile, at least 40 feet long. It was amazing.

I found many scallops, an Alphabet Cone, several Fighting Conch, a few Olives, some augers, a few Whelks, a few true tulips and a couple of banded tulips and shark's eyes as well. I found so many purple, pink and yellow scallops. A few orange too. I was happy with my collection. I also found an old Whelk that had tiny holes all over it, because it had been attacked by a sponge. Lots of other fun stuff. The shells are just…CRAZY fun!

What about you? Have you found many shells on your visits? Which are your favorites? Any Junonias?

That would be fun to go to Sanibel solo. I enjoyed being there with the family, but that would be an incredible way to recharge and have some terrific, peaceful time to just enjoy the Island. I Love those cottage-style places to stay. So charming and they have that old-world, quaint feel.

Great tip about sending shells home! I love it that most of the hotels/condos have shell-washing stations!

[riderinthestorm]

12. Gorgeous! And very environmentally friendly but not sure how liberal it is

My dad and stepmother go there for a month every winter so I always get a free vacation there every year.

You better have a LOT of money though to retire there... real estate is very expensive!

Edited to add that I'm going again in January 2015 if any DUers want to do a meet-up!

[CoffeeCat]

33. Ohhhh…A DU meetup in Sanibel!

Sounds like a party!!

Wouldn't that be fantastic! Hanging out with like-minded friends and having lunch at Doc Fords.

Can you imagine the long conversations we could all have in paradise???

I can't take this fantasy. It's too good!

[RufusTFirefly]

13. There are quite a few right-wing conservationists

Many are hunters, hikers, and fishermen.
For others it's a NIMBY thing. (That's the beauty of environmental racism. You keep your neighborhood pristine and let the poor folks live next to the belching smoke stacks.)

[awoke_in_2003]

17. Yep, it is NIMBY...

hell, we have had liberals, like Teddy Kennedy, who backed wind turbines, just as long as he couldn't see them from his compound.

[RufusTFirefly]

18. Agreed. Sadly. Although I thought that was Kerry, not Teddy. n/t

[hughee99]

37. IIRC, Kerry was at one time against it, but has since changed his mind.

Kennedy was always against that particular project (Cape Wind, I believe it's called).

[Zorra]

14. I hung out there for awhile about 35 years ago, when "hippie wintering" in Florida.

It was a great place back then, soooo glad to hear that you think it's still paradisiacal.

[CoffeeCat]

28. Now that would be fun!

If you're going to be "hippie wintering", I would think that Sanibel would be a fun place to crash!

[TheNutcracker]

15. Here is the history of Sanibel in a nutshell....

Former US Senator and former FL Gov Bob Graham, dredged that "man made" island to the screams of environmentalists. They dredge many man made islands in Fla.

This island was dredged for retired CIA and retired feds. That is why...to this day you see not one traffic light on that island. Just stop signs. Also, the toll is now 16.00 and keeps the riff raff out. They have a wonderful campground, grocery store, (Bailey's) and a small movie theater. Restaurants too..and of course hotels and condos for rent.

Once we arrived in a bad thunderstorm, with the electricity out. They had to pry open the doors, to let us in. Could not check in. No power. So I said, well lets go in the restaurant in this hotel to eat. Ooops! No power. So I asked...we are only here for the weekend, how long do you think it will be before the power comes back on? She replied, "Oh don't worry, these people here don't wait more than 20 minutes ever!" In five minutes...the power was back on.

Mostly retired feds...and money live there. IT was made for retired CIA via Bob Graham.

[CoffeeCat]

21. Interesting…and Porter Goss has a house on Sanibel too...

…doesn't he?

After we visited Sanibel, I began reading about the history and how the Sanibel Plan came to be. It sounds like Porter Goss was instrumental in implementing the Sanibel Plan. He was in the CIA for a long time, and was the first CIA director. Prior to being the CIA Director, he was a congressman, representing Lee County, FL. I know that he became very ill at one point and was very close to death, and he recuperated on Sanibel Island and the location became very special to him.

It sounds like he loved the Island so much that he was instrumental in helping the Sanibel Plan come to fruition. I imagine he has many friends in high places who have homes on the Island.

Very interesting how you describe the goings on there. I knew other DUers would have additional information.

I know it takes quite a bit of cash to live there. The cheapest condo I could find (600 square feet) went for about $500,000. Plus, the hurricane insurance would be steep too.

Thanks for the info. I can't imagine being on Sanibel without power. It's so dark anyway! One good thing about the darkness is the stars. I've never seen so many stars in my life.

[distantearlywarning]

16. I've been all over the world, and Sanibel is hands down one of my favorite destinations

My husband and I used to fly down from PA, but now we live in FL, and one of the things I love most about living here is that we are a half-day's drive from Sanibel. If I won the lottery, I would be down there buying real estate the next week. I dream about being able to retire there someday.

It really is a special place. Every time we have been down there, something magical and amazing has happened. Last time we were there (over Memorial Day weekend), we were standing on the beach one morning and a lone dolphin came swimming by. As soon as he (?) spotted the handful of us on the shore, he came swimming right over and did "tricks" in the surf, even at one point swimming almost up on shore so he could splash us with a wave he created with his body. I know what a fishing dolphin looks like, and that's not what this dolphin was doing. At the risk of anthropomorphizing, it seemed like to me that he was trying to "play" with us, or show off for us.

Something like that has happened every time. It's just as you say - by law the humans co-exist peacefully and respectfully with the wildlife, and everyone is better off for it.

Now I am a little "homesick" for Sanibel...

[CoffeeCat]

29. That is very cool about the dolphin!

What an experience that would be, to see a wild dolphin entertaining the crowd like that. We saw dolphins swimming very close to shore as well. They were incredibly playful.

If you do need a shot of Sanibel, there are several Facebook pages where people discuss the Island and get their "fix" that way. One is called, "Beautiful Sanibel Island". The other is "Sanibel Island". There is also a "Sea Shell Collecting Page" that is very lively. Many Sanibel fans on that FB page.

I find that when I'm missing Sanibel, I hop on those pages and it's nice to connect with others who get the magic.

I also share your dream of wanting to retire there. That dreams also comes with a dream to win the lottery--because it would be so expensive. That is terrific that you live so close! I am at least 15 hours away. Imagine my heartache!

I share your homesickness for Sanibel. There are times that I just want to pack it all up and move my husband and two teenaged girls there. My family thinks I'm insane. I just love that place, and I know you understand what that is like.

[greytdemocrat]

19. Very nice place

I live in Sarasota but I've vacationed down in Sanibel
many times.

[AnnieBW]

20. The West Coast of Florida is generally RW Paradise.

Yes, they tend to be a little more environmentally aware. But it's mostly to preserve their precious way of life. But yeah, it's a wingnut paradise. They could probably hold the meetings of the Sarasota county Democratic Party in a phone booth. The prevailing attitude is "I've got mine, screw anybody else." My MIL has lived in Venice for 20+ years. She's one of the good ones. The two husbands that she'd married since my FIL died were both Fox News-loving teabaggers. Naturally, they wouldn't give up their Social Security or Medicare. My husband wants to move down there when we retire. It's too freakin' white and Republican for me.

[CoffeeCat]

30. We need more Democrats down there...

…So maybe it is a good plan to make the move and turn SW Florida blue!

Amazing that FL has been a blue state in the past few presidential elections, given the high percentage of conservatives who live in SW FL.

[AnnieBW]

42. We'll think about it

We've got a long way to go to retirement. But, it would be nice to have another Dem in the area.

[Cha]

24. How Awesome for you, CoffeeCat.. mahalo for sharing your experience. I remember

when I lived in NY.. the daughter of the manager of the Natural Food Coop where I worked went there for a Spring break from High School and loved it. But, I hadn't heard about what you're relating.

[CoffeeCat]

31. Thanks Cha!

Last edited Thu Jul 24, 2014, 11:02 AM - Edit history (3)

I wish everyone could experience it and I love hearing about others' experiences on the Island. It truly was a transcendent experience.

Granted, I had assumed that most of the people living on Sanibel were intelligent environmental stewards who were probably liberals, due to the pro-conservation and pro-environmental way of life there. However, as some are saying--that may not be the case.

Whatever it is--there's something about that place that is incredibly special. It felt like a utopia. We were there for only eight days, but when we left, we all cried. My husband, myself and my two teenaged girls were all weeping.

It's very hard to describe the experience.

I appreciate your kind words and your nice thoughts. You said "mahalo"…are you in Hawaii?

[Cha]

35. Yes, I am on Kauai..

and love it.. I just like Islands. My sister and I stayed in a condo on the beach in Treasure Island off St Petersburg, Florida in 2002 and had just a wonderful experience.



http://www.tampaattractions.com/beach/Sunset/

I ran on it early every morning in July.

Not as awesome at Sanibel sounds but pretty darn awesome!

I can relate.. I was weeping when I left Kauai the first time when I lived there from 1992-1998..

[flamingdem]

32. They have environmental problems with algae

I think it's called Red Tide and it stinks to high heaven and happens yearly. That area has multiple problems so I'd hesitate to say it's paradise though from your description I would like to go!

[CoffeeCat]

34. I know what you are referring to!

I will provide a link, because I am certainly not the expert. However, I do know that the Army Corp of Engineers in FL has been releasing lake waters into the Gulf. There has been some discussion about them doing this for the big, corporate sugar farmers who don't want their fields flooded.

I know what this does to Sanibel waters, because we were there and the water was not blue or green as it usually is. I noticed that it was a darker color. The beach was still beautiful, and the surroundings were incredible, but the Gulf was not its usual sparkling blue when we were there.

The water has been gorgeous all summer. I've seen quite a few pics online. However, the latest news from SW Florida is that they just released a lot of lake water into the Gulf again, just a few days ago. You are right, it creates algae and apparently kills fish and wildlife, and turns the Gulf brown. It's really sad that they do this.

Link to an older (2013) article, about the lake water released into the Gulf:
http://www.nbc-2.com/story/23023682/water-releases-cause-problems-in-gulf-waters#.U9Ca-8Zg1BM

[Mojorabbit]

36. I was there in March also!

I have seriously considered moving there. It would be a wonderful place to live.

[Lee-Lee]

40. If all it takes to be a "Liberal Paradise" is being nice to sea turtles, then yeah. In reality- no

Sure, they have some great environmental policies.

Other than that? a 1%er playground that has designed its policies to make sure they stay the 1% playground and keep the poor and brown people out.

A $6 toll to even go to the island keeps that brown skinned poor riff-raff off their beaches.

An average home price of over $500,000 keeps that same element from living there.

The result? A community that is 98% white in a state that is only about 60% non-Hispanic white. You have to try hard, real hard to keep that level of segregation.

Sure, they have a program that subsidizes a few token low income people- not from the goodness of their heart, but because all those 1%ers there need some low income folk to wait tables and clean their homes. By controlling it via subsidies they control just how many poor people they let in so they keep thing "nice" while avoiding paying them a real wage that would let them live there- and they act like this is great charity.

I guess if you are a rich, white "liberal" who only cares about sea turtles but wants to live in a place that keeps all the poor brown people far away it would be seen as a paradise.