Artist Biography
Michael Harber

My first trip to Long Beach and Oak Island took over 20 hours to drive. We had to bang on Dan Shannon’s door to wake him up and get the key. That was my first trip to the ocean and the beginning of my fondness for Oak Island. Also, that was 46 years ago and I was 8 years old!

Since that time, I’ve visited Oak Island many
times. When I grew older, got married and had a
family, Annie and I would bring the kids for an
enjoyable, relaxing vacation along with the rest of
the Harber clan. An annual visit has become a trad-
ition for my wife and me. The kids are grown and
on their own. It’s our turn now.

As with any career, the stresses and aggravations of the job build up over time. Currently, I am the Director of Cardiac, Respiratory and Rehabilitative Services at our local hospital. Annie is a registered nurse in the same facility. When vacation time comes around, we need the beach! We visit Oak Island, and Caswell Beach, in the fall. It is quiet, peaceful…just the place to recharge the batteries and get a fresh lease on life.

We love Oak Island in the fall. The bluefish are in the surf (along with the finger mullet to catch them). The weather and water are still warm, and there are no waiting lines at Jones’ Seafood. Also, as an amateur photographer, the photo opportunities are endless. I try to capture the peace and tranquility that I feel on Caswell in my phototgraphs. That way, I can keep that feeling all year long. And of course, it wouldn’t be vacation without annual pilgrimage to Oak Island Country Club, even with my bad scores!

That’s about all! We’ve seen a lot of changes on Oak Island over the years- some good, some not so good. I do miss Long Beach Pier. But that opportunity for a relaxing and peaceful vacation where one can spend quality time with loved ones still exists. The distractions of Myrtle and Daytona Beaches don’t exist. I do hope that will never change. It’s Oak Island’s best quality and keeps us coming back year after year. And besides, it’s only a nine hour drive now!