We're in a subdivision of a lovely community called Daniel Island, which is about 15 minutes from downtown Charleston. Our subdivision is a little ways away from the amenities of Daniel Island, a few minutes along a small highway. There aren't very many homes, but it's all very manicured, grand, and as you'll see, palatial.
As you may be aware, Charleston in smack-dab in the middle of hurricane territory. With hurricanes comes large storm surge, meaning the water level rises by as much as tens of feet. Hurricane Hugo in 1989 raised the water level in some areas by up to 6 meters! So homes around here are usually built UP a story, raised on pillars, sometimes with a garage or storage area beneath. I suspect it also helps in keeping damp marshy air out of the house, and possibly even with keeping it cool. Also, because it's so hot, you see lots of big porches, and very high ceilings. So the houses in the neighbourhood are enormous, but the effect is exacerbated by the ground floor, high ceilings, and many screened in porches.
Here are some photos from a recent sunset walk.
This is the view from our front porch.
The wee Ms. showing off her new green and blue dress and new sandals that actually fit her peculiar little feet.
Thank you, Target.
Home.
Those are quite steep steps, and my heart stops every time my stubborn children refuse to hold the handrail.
Another angle of our big red house. It's hard to see, but it's actually a three-car garage!
The actual living space doesn't start until the red section of the house.
Underneath, in the garage area, there's also room for TONS of storage, a glass working room,
a bike room, a workout gym, and all their gardening tools.
This is the humongous house at the end of our cul-de-sac, 2 doors down.
It backs up onto the river, so it has a private pier and dock for their boat.
This is our neighbour's house. We've met them a couple times, but we admire their lovely dogs playing in the
back yard from our kitchen windows. Who doesn't love a Greyhound?
No, seriously, there really ARE alligators. We were warned there was one living in the pond in front of the house. I was imagining a cute little guy a couple feet long, but then we were told that he was bigger than Johnny. (!!!)
We saw him sunning himself on the grass for the first time yesterday, and yes indeedy, he would eat Aili for breakfast and come back for seconds. He was one big dude. He scooted back into the pond before we had a chance to take a picture, but I hope to catch a photo of him before we go home!
Green house on the corner with a big round porch and hanging flower baskets.
Patriotic.
Again, you can see how it's raised a floor, with big porches to provide shade and air flow.
This is the front porch of the neighbourhood 'party room' that is available for residents to use. In fact, it's actually an entire party building. It's right by the pool, with a big TV, a nice open kitchen, lots of seating, and a screened in porch.
And of course, rocking chairs to watch the hurricanes go by.
The pool area has this nice seating area with a fireplace, with two nice big built-in barbeques. The neighbours meet for pot-luck dinners on Sunday nights! For an extrovert like me, that sort of fixed social gathering is heaven.
Ahhhh.... the pool.
They check the temperature to make sure it's ok. Seriously?
It could be 114 degrees or -4, they'd still be jumping in it the moment I said it was ok.
Awesome playground beside the pool area.
Also very good advice. Because that looks PAINFUL!
Standing on the porch of the pool party room and looking down the street at our big red house.
You can see the fountain on the RHS is the alligator pond.
One of many small charming features in the house: actual gas-lit lanterns to welcome guests.
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