Q&A with Lynn Means

Lynn Means, Canadian Interior Designer Turned Water Color Artist and Dog Enthusiast

by Melissa LaScaleia

Introduce me to your family.

I have two miniature Dakota Sport Retrievers— Sonny and Peaches. They’re a riot.

Why did you move to the Market Common?

I looked everywhere and when I found Seagate, about six years ago, it was like coming home. The trees, the wide streets—I just fell in love with it. It’s like a 1950s neighborhood.

Where are all the places you came from?

I was born and raised in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. When I was a kid, if it was colder than 50 degrees below zero you didn’t have to go to school. We used to miss a lot of school in January. I also lived in Guam, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Do you have a favorite place in the Market Common?

The Market Common District Community Garden on the corner of Meyers Avenue and Pampas Drive.

What’s your favorite thing about living in the Market Common?

You meet so many people either new or visiting, and everybody is in such a great mood. It’s a positive place.

How has your lifestyle changed since moving here?

I do all the things that I really want to do. I garden, play on the beach with my dogs, and photograph the landscape, ocean, and birds I see.

What new activities have you taken up since moving here?

I became a water color artist. My work will be displayed in the Seacoast Artist Gallery this month, as well as their Spring Art Show. The incredible thing is, I started it as a hobby and I was incredibly lucky to have some undiscovered talent. I also got a dog for the first time, and hadn’t realized how much I love dogs. I’ve also learned how to garden in a new climate— which is challenging and great.

Can you share one quirky fact with us about your family?

My dogs have created my social life. Because there are so many dog lovers out there, walking my dogs anywhere in Myrtle Beach is a conversation starter.

What are your favorite things to do here?

I love to walk through the Market Common and do a little shopping; Howard Avenue has some nice little boutiques. I think it’s just a beautiful area. I have an interior design degree and worked in home renovations for many years. It’s still kind of my passion, and now it’s my hobby. There’s always something to fix, add on, or redesign.

Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in the Market Common?

I think it would be great if we had a little hardware store to pick up odds and ends, a bag of potting soil, or a can of spray paint.