It's a new chapter in Fred and Blanche Fudrucker's life. They left Beer Bottle Crossing, Idaho back in August in search of paradise. They read all the travel magazines and decided the Lowcountry of South Carolina was a perfect match to fulfill some of their "bucket list" activities:

* Kayak with alligators
* Walk miles of beaches in the mornings with coffee in hand and their dogs romping in the waves
* Swimming among ocean vessels and invasive sea creatures (remember...there are no oceans in Idaho)
* Parking their homemade RV in Palmetto Bluff and overlook the marshlands
* Have all-you-can-eat grits at a place called "Squat & Gobble." What are grits and why would anyone eat in
a place with such a name?
* Experience a thing called "strand feeding." What could that possibly be?
* Indulge in the best oysters in the world!!

They sold their home, packed up the homemade RV, traveled 2,535 miles, and settled into a beautiful bungalow on Lemon Island, Okatie, South Carolina. Is it O-kuh-tee or O'Katy? Anyway, it's the place just south of Coosawhatchie (KOO-suh-HATCH-ee) where Robert E. Lee slept while defending the South in December 1861.

After a few house upgrade projects and unpacking all the boxes, they soon realize to find anything in Beaufort County they need a personal guide because of some kind of sign ordinance. They venture off to find a local bar to indulge in their favorite food - cheese curds. They quickly learn "Cheese what?" is the common response. Settling into bar stools at the Fillin' Station, they overhear a couple of locals talking about an OLLI class they took on the ACE Basin: One of the Last Great Places.

Intrigued, they want to know more. So the locals point them in the direction of the University of South Carolina's Bluffton Campus/OLLI office to talk with Ms. Terry (a girl from New Jersey, but you'll understand most of what she says). Ms. Terry will give you the lowdown and after taking a few classes, you'll feel like a Lowcountry native in no time. It's the best place to learn the ins and outs of our community and the surrounding area, plus a whole lot more you never imagined.