Michelle (Box) Hodges PHOTO PROVIDED

At just 9 years old, Michelle (Box) Hodges became a resident of Pine Island. She says back then everyone knew everyone, and help was never far away. This island, she says, is where she learned the value of a dollar, and that if you wanted something you had to work hard for it.

“Nobody locked doors or cars or anything,” said Hodges. “If you broke down on the side of the road you’d have like 10 people stop and help you out. Now if you break down, people just drive past.”

Hodges has fond memories of playing in fields of trees with her sister. She said they even cut the tops of pine trees and used them for Christmas back then. She remembers the island being very family oriented while she was growing up. On weekends, Hodges said they were allowed to go out with the owner of the Tropic Star Ferry, who was a friend of the family.

“We would take tourists out to Cayo (Costa) on the boat,” said Hodges. “That was a lot of fun.”

As far as how being an islander has influenced her, Hodges said the commercial fishing industry is likely the best candidate.

Michelle at (13) with brother Jason Smith (6). PHOTO PROVIDED

“When it comes to commercial fishermen, everyone has their opinion about them,” said Hodges, “but they are the best, nicest — hands down — hardest workers.”

Although her own father was not a commercial fisherman, she said as an electrician and boat mechanic, he kept everyone’s boat running, with the same business ethic toward working hard. A result of growing up with a father who made a living as a boat mechanic guaranteed Hodges knew just about all the commercial fishermen around the island. In fact, there was hardly anyone unknown to anyone else back then.

“There used to be one sheriff out here,” said Hodges, “and he knew everybody. One time I got in trouble. I got caught sneaking out and he drove me home. Of course, he told my parents and I got in trouble, but it was like we were all family.”

Among the miles of woods and pine trees was a feeling of complete safety, Hodges recalls. Halloween, she said, was a time when you could go out safely and come home with a pillowcase full of candy.

“I miss those days … I really do,” said Hodges. “I miss my parents telling me to come home when the streetlights came on.”

Hodges describes the feeling of invincibility that came with having the island as a playground to be explored endlessly. Conversely, she finds that now the air of trust and optimism once hers for the taking has disappeared.

“Now you have to watch everybody, you can’t trust anybody, you have to lock everything up tight,” said Hodges. “We have more law enforcement out here now, but it seems like we have more crime.”

The one sheriff, she said, knew which kid belonged where, in a time where everyone knew your name around town. She recalls a time when at least five different motorists stopped to help her while she was pregnant and had a flat tire. She said if you get a flat tire these days you better hope you can fix it yourself.

“I understand that we have to grow,” said Hodges, “we need tourism for the survival of the island’s economy, but I don’t want it to become another Sanibel or Boca. I want it to be Pine Island, where I used to come for summer vacations until I moved here and now I’ve raised my own kids out here.”

She said that the island for her has been a lifetime of admiration for old fashioned, hard working fishermen, and that love for this island is still with her today, as she gives this as the reason for working at the Jug Creek Marina.

“People don’t realize how hard these men work,” said Hodges. “They work so hard to provide fresh seafood to the public and make a dollar to support their families. Engines break down and boats sink but they all pull together. It’s never been a competition … it’s always been, ‘let’s do this together.’ Every single one of them would give you the shirt off their back. I couldn’t be more proud to say that I’m from Pine Island.”