sland neighbors Jen and Gerald Robertson both grew up in South Carolina and attended the College of Charleston and The Citadel, respectively. When Gerald retired from the Air Force and he and Jen were looking for the perfect place to raise their children Laura and Wilson, the Isle of Palms was an easy choice. day of school when we first moved to the island, he was talking with a new friend and completely missed his bus stop. With the help of SIES and IOPPD, he was eventually delivered safely home.” Islander 71 is one of the Robertsons’ favorite gathering places. Celebrating daughter Laura’s high school graduation there ranks as Gerald’s happiest island memory. Another joyful Islander 71 memory was a family gathering for Gerald's 50th birthday after a Barrier Island Ecotours tour of Capers Island, complete with a traditional Lowcountry boil. When they’re not working or at school, Gerald said, “We spend our time having pool parties with friends and family, enjoying happy hours on the beach and grilling up whatever's good at the Teeter. Our quality of life on the island just continues to get better the longer we’ve been here.” We agree, Gerald! The island is certainly better for having you and your family. tradition of serving chili to our friends and neighbors.” Gerald recalled his best Halloween memory: “Our son, Wil, and five of his friends dressed up in inflatable T-Rex costumes and trick-ortreated around the neighborhood.” Wil also gets credit for the Robertsons’ scariest island memory. Gerald continued, “On Wil's first The Robertson family has an energy and kindness about them that is infectious; one can’t help but smile when in their presence. The collective energy of the Robertsons is sunny and bright and always an uplifting experience. Laura and Wil are avid surfers who enjoy paddle boarding, skateboarding, tennis and pickleball. Gerald described his favorite island activity as “Annoying our teens when they are working at Acme Lowcountry Kitchen and the Laughing Gull in Wild Dunes.” Gerald laughed and added, “We also love the Lowcountry boil in the fall and oyster roasts in the springtime at the IOP Methodist Church.” Twelve-year-old Sugar enjoys her life as an island dog with daily golf cart rides and visits to the dog park; she especially enjoys dressing up for Halloween. Speaking of Halloween, Gerald said, “Because we're close to the rec center, we're lucky to have tons of trick-ortreaters and their families stop by. We also have an annual Halloween 25 IslandVibesIOP.com PEOPLE & PETS Meet Your Island Neighbors! By Laura Fogarty I Pet of the Month Wild beach chases with Goose By Isabel Alvarez Arata HELLO, MR. & MRS. ROBERTSON oose, the charming AKC-registered Labrador Retriever, will turn 4 in January. With a typical lab's love for food, he devours treats in a flash. When given a pig ear, however, Moose stashes it away in couch cushions or under the blankets of his owners Kim and Otto Slater’s bed. Goose has a special connection to his predecessor Max, who brought the Slaters boundless joy for 11 wonderful years. When it was time for another furry friend, the couple reached out to Max’s breeder, none other than Heath Shuler, the former University of Tennessee quarterback from the '90s, who also played a HEY NEIGHBOR! If you or a neighbor would like to be featured in our Island Neighbors section, contact Zach Giroux at Editor@IslandVibesIOP.com or call (802) 733-6321. couple of seasons in the NFL with the Washington Redskins (Commanders). At the beach on Isle of Palms, Goose transforms into a fetching machine, especially when his humans have the "Chuckit!" toy in hand. His 98 pounds of muscle make for some impressive sprints and his parents make sure to throw the ball away from other dogs and humans to keep him from running them over in search of his priceless possession. Friendly and sociable, Goose has been a beach regular since he was just 7 weeks old, making friends with both dogs and their owners. G Recently, he became a HABIT dog, joining a fantastic Tennessee-based program that promotes animal-assisted therapy in retirement centers, schools, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, hospital settings and at community events. Whether he’s working, commuting back and forth between IOP and Tennessee or taking a break on the beach, Goose is undoubtedly living his best life and brightening the lives of others in the process.
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