Heavy Machinery Operator Jim Grose Now Enjoys Doing A Whole Lot of Nothing
by Melissa LaScaleia
Introduce me to your family.
I have two daughters, Susan Grose and Kathy Byers, and a granddaughter named Brittany Byers.
Where are all the places you came from? Where do you live now?
I was born in West Virginia and I went to high school in Summersville, West Virginia. On the night of graduation, my dad dropped a set of keys in my hand, and I looked at him puzzled. They were to a Pure Oil gasoline station 15 miles away in town, and I was going to manage it. I did that for three years. I lived along the Ohio River and in lots of other states too. My wife and I lived in Orlando for four years too after our grandchild was born. Today I live near the Market Common.
Why did you move to Myrtle Beach?
I retired from Kaiser after thirty-one-and-a-half years. My wife and I were planning on moving to Myrtle Beach to retire. We would vacation here as well as Virginia Beach, alternating each year. When making the decision, I looked at a map and saw that Virginia Beach had one road in and one road out, and Myrtle Beach had many, so that settled it. I’ve been here now for about eight years.
Do you have a favorite place in Myrtle Beach?
Joe’s Diner near the airport.
What’s your favorite thing about living in Myrtle Beach?
I like the weather year-round. There are a lot of things to do. And I see my friends from West Virginia who live here. It’s a good, friendly atmosphere here.
How has your lifestyle changed since moving here?
I used to drive tractor trailers across the United States. When I moved down here, I drove trucks that transported equipment and supplies used for building subdivisions. I could operate any type of equipment, and it was a lot of fun to drive bulldozers and vehicles like that.
What new activities have you taken up since moving here?
I enjoy doing a lot of nothing.
Do you have any unusual talents or skills you’re proud of?
I’m not too bad of a mechanic, and I can drive anything. I have fun driving.
What are your favorite things to do here?
I like to go to restaurants and see old friends and talk to people. When they built the Market Common, I explored all the new places that opened.
Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach?
I miss country music venues. When we lived in Orlando, we saw all the country music performers regularly.
