Beach Bunny

I've talked before about my love of lakes and how the ocean just never does it for me, what with all the sand and the salt and salty sand. When I'm saying that though, I'm thinking about swimming, not how exciting it is to simply visit the beach. I forget how vast and expansive the ocean is, how you can walk down a beach for miles, how the sand feels between your toes, how the waves hypnotize you with their rolling onto the shore.
I recently had two very different ocean experiences thanks to the insane New England weather. The Monaghans rented a house on Cape Cod for a week this July and I was lucky enough to go down and spend some time there. The first day was overcast and a bit miserable. But after playing mini-golf in the misting rain, we decided to be troopers and go to the beach anyway. The wind was gusting the sand everywhere and the waves were violently thrashing the shore. As unlikely a beach day as this was, I kind of loved it. There was barely anyone there, as we were probably the only ones crazy enough to be out, and there was something so rugged and raw about the wind and dunes and crashing waves. It wouldn't have been a real trip to the beach without me putting my feet in, so I jumped in the waves for a little bit and enjoyed every minute of it.

The next day was the complete opposite... a hot and sunny "beach" day. Jess and I headed out early to secure a parking spot on, what was sure to be, a crowded Saturday. We secured a prime spot by some rocks and spread out our mat and set up our chairs. I have never really had the pleasure of using a beach chair before and it definitely changed my outlook. You sit above the sand... not in it! Sand doesn't stick to your entire body, just parts of it! What a novel concept! I jumped in the water and despite it being what most people consider a perfect beach day, Jess and I only lasted until a little after noon. I was itchy and a bit sandy from being in the water and soon the sun, crowds, and high tide got to us, so we took off for the mainland and the hot streets of Boston.

So maybe I don't really dislike the ocean... maybe it's just that I prefer it when I'm not swimming in it. I like visiting the beach, but only when it's not hot enough that I have to go in the water. Sorry, beach, I apologize for the confusion.