It is coming up on a year I have been a member of this forum. I joined just after my trip to WWC last year. It occurred to me that I now have a lot more knowledge of the Wildwoods that the forum and the members are directly responsible for and when I cross the George Redding Bridge this time, my impression and thoughts will be much much more varied and knowledge based. It will be, as I have mentioned on here before, a much more enriched experience.  
 
I will look at the Motels much differently because I now know more of the history.
 
When I see the Morey's properties I will know more of the role they played in the history of the Wildwoods and the amusement piers.
 
When I see the restaurants I will know that this person or that and their families enjoy eating there and recommend it.
 
On the boardwalk I will have much more of an appreciation of all the amusements that are now gone and how much they were enjoyed by many on here whose experiences far precedes mine. Keenly aware of all the memories, not just mine since 1997, but those on here whose memories extend to previous generations, some of whom are no longer with us, and beyond.
 
The Wildwoods now thanks to the forum and you members, has taken on a much more personal importance to me, even though I am one that has been smitten with the pull of the Wildwoods.
 
It will be fun this year to enjoy the Wildwoods and the enrichment I now have since my last visit. I am looking forward to this aspect very much. It is almost as if in some sense, I will be a sort of newbie again to the Wildwoods this year.

Yes Warren, nice job putting that into words!  
It is so cool to stroll around Wildwood armed with the knowledge of many of the pieces of the puzzle that made the place what it is today. It just adds another dimension to your vacation aside from what is presented to you on the surface.
 Glad you enjoyed your first year here, and hope to see you around for many more!

Very well put. I also have found a new respect for ww and am alot more careful it looking for things since joining this forum.

I think, on the surface, WW doesn't really seem like much more than a shore town with a Boardwalk and amusements.  It shares some of the same problems other beach towns in NJ face, the same stigmas saddled with it... but we all know there's more to it than that.
 
When I've met my parents in WW, they always give me these looks, confused why I know so much about places they didn't, especially since I went on such a span of time without going there, and they're the ones who've been there much longer.  I've actually got into debates with my mother where she's just assumed I was wrong because of this, only to find out I got the info from one of y'all, haha.
 
I think the true story that unfolds throughout Wildwood really shines when you just take your time to explore it.  This forum is a great place to really kickstart that.
 
I sure know that the more you describe the history and everything behind this unique island, it's a better sell for people to visit than being "another NJ shore town".