Lorie Tidwell. PHOTO PROVIDED<\/p>\n
Lorie Tidwell said the one thing she would have people know about her is that she loves her life on Pine Island.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here, and I love it here. It was kind of a fluke that I ended up here. My dad was here and I came down to visit and enjoyed it. I\u2019m in the house that he had before he moved out to St. James. This is a place where I\u2019m very comfortable and it\u2019s very different than the place I lived before this, before I retired,\u201d Tidwell said.<\/p>\n
Although she originally came down as a snowbird in 2007, Tidwell said she didn\u2019t actually retire until 2016. She said she realized all the island had to offer pretty early on, enveloping herself in activities she did not find in the Washington, D.C., area.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just relaxing to sit out on the deck and have a cup of coffee or watch a football game or relax with friends \u2014 throw something on the grill, versus being dressed up at a Kennedy Center Gala,\u201d Tidwell said, adding that she\u2019d much prefer time with friends to structured activities.<\/p>\n
Although she said she loves watching the sunsets and sun rises, she admits she\u2019s not much of a fisher-person and doesn\u2019t miss having beaches on Pine Island. Overall, it was a bit of a surprise to her that she ended up on Pine Island, but in the end, a happy one, she describes as both unique and peaceful. <\/p>\n
\u201cI knew immediately that I liked it,\u201d Tidwell said.<\/p>\n
Tidwell admits her involvement with the Matlacha Hookers organization is likely her greatest contribution to the island. She said she enjoys connecting with the other women as well as involvement with the Beacon of HOPE and Pine Island Elementary School. Community involvement support, such as the adopt-a-road and school clothes efforts as well as gathering for F.I.S.H (Fellow islanders send help) has meant a great deal to her<\/p>\n
\u201cI was the Madame in 2016 \u2014 the first year I was here \u2014 and I\u2019ve been on the board for 8 years. I\u2019m on the board now. I\u2019m involved in many organization. I\u2019m a member of the Elks and the VFW (Auxiliary), like a lot of the Hookers. It\u2019s been a great way of getting to know people,\u201d Tidwell said.<\/p>\n
When it comes to a wish for Pine Island, Tidwell said staying true to its roots is something she would want. <\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing that\u2019s a little scary for me is the demographic changes we were seeing after Ian \u2014 more rental properties, more investment like the housing development behind Publix. I guess I just want it to stay true. I want people here who are not here just because it\u2019s a good investment, but who are here because they like the community and want to support it and be a part of it and give back \u2014 people who care about their neighbors and what\u2019s going on \u2014 I hope that we can continue having people who care more about these things than building a huge resort on the end of the island that\u2019s going to be the next Disney World,\u201d Tidwell said.<\/p>\n