It seems the Census Bureau continues to release information. As such, it appears that Cape May County has lost 5,061 persons in the last 10 years. From 102,326 in 2000 to 97,265 in 2010. It appears that all along the shore of New Jersey the transition from permanent to transient populations has affected the communities' populations. Stone Harbor is now the third smallest municipality in Cape May County, just ahead of West Wildwood and Cape May Point, the smallest. The census takes into count the residents in a municipality at a particular time and does not differentiate owner occupied places and renter occupied places in the population count. It is clear that permanent owners/families living in Stone Harbor are even fewer than the 866 residents that includes renters. Stone Harbor has lost 181 housing units since 2000. Most of us know that many duplexes have given way to single homes and several empty lots await construction. With 3,247 housing units, single, duplex and condo/apartments, and a population of 866, many in multi-person residences, it is not irresponsible to figure that less than 25% of all housing in Stone Harbor is used full-time. This corresponds to the estimate that 85% of the taxes are paid by owners who do not live here. This is the reality upon what good planning is based. It is a challenge to us all to take off the rose colored glasses and look around at reality.  The Observer