Ft Myers Beach - Good Neighbor

FMBGN-RESIDENT-Valerie Carouthers-Beach Roots, Bright Futures

• "Cabo" Jim Schaller • Season 5 • Episode 46

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Sunshine isn’t just a forecast—it’s a way of building a life. We sit down with Valerie Carouthers to unpack her full-circle journey: growing up on Fort Myers Beach, swearing she’d never return, then finding her way back after gray winters and closed doors taught her what really matters. The thread running through her story is simple and powerful: community happens when people meet often, move together, and make room for newcomers.

Valerie maps a beach-town playbook that’s equal parts joy and practicality. She spotlights monthly anchors like Naples Motorsports Cars and Coffee, shares the friends-and-family EDM gathering on San Carlos Bay Beach that runs noon to midnight with hourly DJs and flow artists, and explains how to catch pop-up sets near the pier by following Stage Two Society. She also opens the door to alcohol-light connection at Kava Culture—hammocks, fire pits, a CBD lounge, trivia, karaoke, and open mics—where you can sip a mango juice and still feel fully part of the scene. These third spaces are the heartbeat of a new social era and a perfect fit for a beach town that thrives on warm nights and easy conversation.

Service is another pillar. From her role at ERA Lahaina Realty, Valerie coordinates monthly United Way volunteer events across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, and Naples. That steady rhythm turns goodwill into real outcomes, exactly what a community needs as it continues to rebuild. She shares a thrifty local tip—enjoying Pink Shell’s energy and sunsets by posting up at Bongos Beach Bar—and lays out a clear case for investing in Fort Myers Beach real estate now, while the slate is still open and the vision is forward-facing. The goal isn’t to freeze time; it’s to carry the island’s soul into its next chapter with intention.

If you’ve been craving a guide to plug into authentic Fort Myers Beach culture—events, third places, volunteer paths, and smart investment timing—this conversation delivers warmth and a plan. Subscribe, share with a friend who misses the sun, and leave a review telling us your favorite local third space or beach ritual.

Valerie Carouthers
https://www.facebook.com/valerie.carouthers


Ft Myers Beach-Good Neighbor
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SPEAKER_01:

Welcome, Fort Myers Beach, good neighbors. Today we have good neighbor Valley Carrellers.

Intro/Close:

Hi.

SPEAKER_01:

She's been a long time, I always say, well, resident. Yeah. Person around the beach. She knows a lot of things about the beach, right?

SPEAKER_02:

I do.

SPEAKER_01:

There you go. So we're gonna have her on a show today where she's gonna share a little bit about the insight of growing up on Fort Myers Beach and things that we do now, right? Yeah. Let's start off with a little background of your history.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, so um I grew up in Fort Myers. Uh I went to evangelical Christian school right in Fort Myers. Now they bought the Hodges University because it's a giant school, but I graduated with 52 kids. Wow. Um, and then I left in 2017. I went to college and I just came back two years ago. So I missed all of Ian.

SPEAKER_01:

Right. Um that'd be good to miss, right?

SPEAKER_02:

I don't, yeah, I feel for everybody who didn't miss it. Um, but I'm back now. I worked at Pink Shell for a little while and um sold a timeshare there.

SPEAKER_01:

Very nice. Very nice. So you were born down here. How did you end up before my space?

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, so my mom's kind of a free spirit, and um, whenever I was eight years old, she packed up everything we had, and we just kind of started driving. She was tired of being cold, which who can blame her? I'm right there, I'm right there, right? Um, and we ended up down here in Southwest Florida. She was a special ed teacher, okay. Um, and she's done that her whole life. So uh we ended up in Fort Myers, yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Wow. So how did you find your way back now? And why did you come back after especially after Ian, right?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, so I think kind of the typical verbiage that everybody I graduated with was saying was, we're never coming back to Fort Myers. Florida is the worst. There's so many old people on the roads, and there's nothing fun to do. That was the mentality of the people that I graduated with. Um, and I had the same mentality whenever I graduated, and I swore I would never come back. And turns out being cold is no fun. I mean, it's more than just the you walk outside and you're cold, it's the lack of uh community events that you're able to attend, the lack of sunshine that you're able to feel.

Intro/Close:

You're locked up inside.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, 100%. So I was in New York for three years, would not recommend to anyone. Uh, was in Oklahoma for another two, wasn't as bad. You got the southern hospitality, but you still got the dark, cold months, and I just couldn't handle it anymore. So I came back.

SPEAKER_01:

It's that gray and gloomy. And it's funny you mention that because I mean I was from Wisconsin originally, born uh born in Wisconsin, grew up in Illinois, but I got down here as quickly as possible. My parents did first me down here, so that's not my fault. But um, but there's so many people that grew up here that want to move away. And like you said, now getting older, you gravitate back because you're like, well, now I appreciate it a little bit more.

SPEAKER_02:

For sure. And I didn't want to be the person who waited until they retired, you know, because I was about ready to get a career and start, you know, find a partner. And I didn't want to set myself up to be stuck in the cold because I had settled there. Um, so I wanted to come down here, and then even if that postponed my ability to settle for a year or two, it would have been so worth it to be able to be settled somewhere that's tropical paradise 24-7.

SPEAKER_01:

Exactly. And that's why we live here. So, how is living by the beach and growing up around the beach? How has that changed your perspective and lifestyle?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, um, so obviously, like I was saying, if it's cold, the community events are non-existent. Um, and I live for community. I live for being able to connect with people on any level. Um, so to be deprived of that for three months a year hurt my heart. Yeah, right. Um, so now that I'm finally down here, I'm doing so many fun things. Uh, like tomorrow is Naples Motorsports Cars and Coffee every Saturday, first Saturday of the month. Um, down in Naples, they have like this exotic car place. It is the coolest cars and coffee I have found, even cooler than Mercado. Don't tell anybody. Um, but it's fantastic. So I've got that tomorrow. And then Sunday, uh, I go to this friends and family type of EDM show on San Carlos Bay Beach. So it's right before you hit Sanibel. Um, it's just a bunch of really cool people who come together. They uh blow, you know, they have a pop-up tent and a DJ booth, and it's 12 hours. So it's from noon to about midnight. Wow. They've got a different DJ every hour, and it's just cool people. We hang out, we dance. There's people who throw fire around. There's like five or six flamethrowers every time. And um, people have got flow-up chairs, and it's just a great community. It's San Carlos Bay Beach. Uh, we do it about the first Sunday every month from 12 to 12. And it is just a super positive group of people, it's heart filling, it's fantastic, and you're able to maybe get some of your dance moves out that you have stuck in, and and then you go to work Monday and you're just ready to kind of dial in to be yourself and let free and let loose.

SPEAKER_01:

And I love it. You know, the wiggles out everything. I'm gonna have to check that out. Yeah, it's super cool, especially when it warms up.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, especially well, it's supposed to get up to 72, I think, um Sunday.

SPEAKER_01:

I know well, hopefully higher than that. I'm hoping, I'm hoping. Yeah, I'm below 80. I'm like the iguana falling out of the tree.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, yeah, I believe that.

SPEAKER_01:

So giving back to the community, are there certain things that you've done to help support or maybe give back to the community? Because I mean, we've been through a lot the last couple of years.

SPEAKER_02:

For sure. So I work at ERA Lahaina, uh 60035 Estero Boulevard, and I absolutely love it. And my broker um has given me kind of rain to schedule all of the volunteer events for the brokerage. We've got four offices in Southwest Florida, one in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, and Naples. And um, so I kind of I work with United Way. Yeah, United Way, yeah, and we uh coordinate different volunteer events. The goal is to do one a month. Um, we didn't get to do one in December just because we had so much going on with two different holiday parties and you know, sales meetings and everything. But um, yeah, so I emailed Irina, uh, is our kind of talk to person with United Way. And uh, we definitely have another one coming up at the end of January. I'm not sure where yet because she's out of office until the 5th.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, we'll have to check that out. I was super excited for it. Yeah, I love that stuff.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, for sure. I mean, I used to work at a humane society and I absolutely loved it. Kind of the running joke was don't tell my boss, but I would do this for free. Um, obviously, if Phil's work, they definitely are in Florida. Exactly. Um, but no, I love I love giving back.

SPEAKER_01:

Very good. And that's the important part about being a but part of the community, being involved and supporting the people you you know, they're your neighbors, yeah, pretty much, right?

SPEAKER_02:

For sure.

SPEAKER_01:

So you had mentioned before that you have some maybe favorite places or favorite secret places. You don't want to give all your secrets away, but yeah, maybe you could share a couple with whether listeners.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, absolutely. So, um, I mean, definitely the EDM event that I'm going to on Sunday, I'm super excited for. Um, I'm I'm 26 years old, listeners. So um, this might not be everybody's speed, but I love to dance and I always have loved to dance. And if you like to dance, I know some spots for you. So um the group of people who do the EDM show on the first Sunday of most months.

SPEAKER_01:

Yep.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh, they also have little pop-ups right near the pier.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, really?

SPEAKER_02:

It's totally random. Um, but they had one the same day as the Fort Mary's Beach Boat Parade.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_02:

And the turnout was minimal. Uh, so I'm hoping for a more better, more lively turnout um in the future. And uh it's stage two society on Instagram. You kind of have to know somebody to know about it, but um, it's just a great group of people. So if you follow stage two society, which I'm not a part of at all, other than loving going to their events, um, that's how you can fight figure out you know, are there going to be dance parties on the beach next to the pier, beautiful sunset in the background? They've got all these fun lights and just again a really positive group of people.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, that's what it's about. It's about bringing positivity to the beach, but then activities where people can meet new people and be part of a group and enjoy why we live in southwest Florida. Who doesn't love a sunset at the beach?

SPEAKER_02:

And dancing at a sunset on it, especially with people who are uplifting and yeah, it's just it's just a good vibe, puts you in a good mood, and that's what we're all about. I am so grateful for having experienced them and getting in contact with them. Another thing that I do that is technically uh Fort Myers Beach but is over the bridge is the Fort Myers Beach proviculture.

Intro/Close:

Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

So um, I mean, alcohol, uh, people who are my age drinking alcohol has dipped 90% um in recent years. And I think that there's a lot of um re there's a lot of reasons for that for sure. Yeah. I drink alcohol, don't get me wrong. I know me too. Um, but I think that there is a large group of people, younger specifically, who are losing interest in alcohol. So if we don't want to kind of exclude those people, I think cofficulture is a huge part to that, especially on Fort Myers Beach. Um, so they have this beautiful outside and seating area. They even just got a new like CBD type of lounge with hammocks and they've got fireplaces all outside. Uh, there's a couple cats that'll walk around the area, a couple people bring their dogs, people bring their cats relaxing, it's a good place to be. It is a third place, you know, where America has kind of gotten rid of um third spaces.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, yep.

SPEAKER_02:

It is a third space for sure.

SPEAKER_01:

I love it. We need to definitely check that out. Yeah, so so as a newcomer, coming to the beach, you've been here for a while. What are some places that people should check out? Cava culture, obviously being one of them, but but anything, any little secrets you can share with our listeners.

SPEAKER_02:

Little secrets other than the cabiculture and the EDM things that I personally go to, I would have to say Pink Shell. A lot of people don't know, but if you go to Pink Shell, you can hang out there for zero dollars so long as you go to their Bongos Beach Bar.

Intro/Close:

Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

So you can go mingle with the people who are staying at Pink Shell, enjoy the beautiful sunset, the giggling of the children at the pool. You just have to sit at the bar and purchase their drinks. Um, they've got so many fun things like foam pool parties, cardboard boat races. I mean, it's just every day is a party there.

SPEAKER_01:

Wow. So if the beach were to give you a nickname and a vibe, what would that be?

SPEAKER_02:

Interesting you'd say that. Um, so my Instagram handle for the longest time has been Val Vibes.

SPEAKER_01:

I love it.

SPEAKER_02:

And I think that that's just true to my character as well. Like on my Instagram, instead of having a V for the Val, I have that little heart emoji that looks like a V.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Um and it kind of vibrates out of the little heart. Yeah, it's a pink one. Um, and I've got pink hair for those who don't know. Um, so that Val vibes, I think, is definitely what resonates with me.

SPEAKER_01:

I love it. I love it. It's all about the positive vibes, and that's what it's all about. So why should people come to Fort Myers Beach?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh my gosh. Well, real estate specifically, if you like money, you should invest in Fort Myers Beach right now.

SPEAKER_01:

Exactly.

SPEAKER_02:

You know, they say the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is right now, yeah. And that couldn't be more true whenever it comes to investing in real estate on Fort Myers Beach.

SPEAKER_01:

There's and there's so much opportunity down here. You know, in a sad way, but in a good way, we've got like a blank slate down here, yes, and we've got opportunity to build this into a community, which we all love, you know, and not really change it, but keep the sense of community.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I mean, the only thing constant is change, and um as difficult and traumatic as um the recent years have been for residents of Fort Myers Beach, all we can do from here is go up and work on bettering ourselves and bettering the community and thinking of what's coming next, um, as compared to being kind of stuck in the past. Uh so yeah, as long as we come together to kind of form this coalition of people who are focused on the future, like especially you know, Dawn Miller and her husband of the whale. Yep. They have that exact same mentality and look where it ended them. They've had the most beautiful bar and restaurant. Yeah, they did a great job. Yeah, it just takes people coming together with the same intentions to really uh rebuild kind of what we once had in the past on Farm Iron's Beach, but also taking into account the new demographic uh that's gonna be coming in.

SPEAKER_01:

We'll still have a sense of community, it's gonna change a little bit, kind of like I always say from the 20s to the 50s to the 50s to the 80s to the 80s to now, it's changed, you know, and and every generation wants to keep it the same. It's gonna evolve, it's gonna change. All we can do is kind of embrace it and kind of control it, but most importantly, keep that sense of community.

SPEAKER_02:

For sure.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, we've gotta keep that sense of community. I'm with you.

SPEAKER_02:

That's the heart of four minor speeches.

SPEAKER_01:

It is, you know, and that's what makes it different from other areas in Florida, you know. So we're not gonna lose that. We're not gonna lose that.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I agree.

SPEAKER_01:

So, any last words for our listeners today?

SPEAKER_02:

Good question. Um, I don't think so. That was really kind of all I had is you know, just kind of try maybe something new. Maybe you'll love kava culture. I go to cava culture, I don't drink kava or kratom. I've never enjoyed kava or kratom. I go, I get a mango juice, I get a watermelon juice, and I sit my little drink and I hang out in a hammock with some really positive people. They've got trivia night, they've got karaoke, they've got open mic. Every single night they have a different event. So if you're kind of looking to branch out a little bit, uh, that's the place to do it.

SPEAKER_01:

Like you said, it's it encompasses that sense of community where okay, I don't have to drink, I don't have to do cover, but I can still hang out and meet good people and hang around with positive vibes. That's what it's all about.

SPEAKER_02:

I agree.

SPEAKER_01:

So, how would our listeners go about getting a hold of you if they wanted to learn more or follow you?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. So I am Valerie Carruthers on Facebook. I've got pink hair. Uh so that's I have no hair. That's kind of my brand, is my pink hair. Um, you can reach out to me on Facebook. Um, my Instagram is val.vibes. It's a private Instagram, so you'll have to request me, but uh definitely accept that. Um, so those are kind of the main two ways. And if you're interested in real estate, I have to do a little plug. Um, I work at ERA Lahaina Realty, right on Acro Boulevard. Um, and we've got some awesome Asians that I would love to connect you with.

SPEAKER_01:

Very good, very good. Well, it's been a pleasure getting to know you.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you for being such a good neighbor, and we'll see you on the beach soon, right?

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely. I'm I'm everywhere. What's up, FMB? You'll see me at every event they have.

SPEAKER_01:

So positive vibes only, right? Absolutely. Like I say, sun, just no shade, just sunshine, right?

SPEAKER_02:

Right. Time is limited. Make the most of it.

SPEAKER_01:

That is, it is. It's a new year, positive vibes.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

All right, thank you.

Intro/Close:

Thanks for tuning in to the Four Myer Beach Good Neighbor podcast. If you love what you've heard, share it with a friend and keep the good vibes for us. Until next time, remember to Apple Bobble and Good Neighbor. Also, stop at your favorite neighbors, local legends, at Sabor.com.