As I’ve said before, I have never left the beach thinking, “Well, that was enough for today.” I have always left the beach because the people I am with have had enough or I have things to get done or somewhere to be. I always feel a mild sadness when I have to tear myself away, feeling as though I haven’t squeezed enough joy out of sand, sea and air.
I love all the parts of the day at the beach. I love sunrise because it’s so sublime it makes me tear up, realizing how small I am and taking comfort in the fact that we (humans) haven’t totally ruined everything beautiful Earth has offered. I like the morning at the beach when the sun is sparkling off the waves and gulls are dipping for the first catch of the day, before too many people have filled in the open spaces with chairs, toys, umbrellas, coolers, and tents. I like mid-day, when the sun beats down with its full power and forces me into the water to ride waves until I’m ready to bake off the chill again. I relish the late afternoon, when shadows grow long. Noise starts to dissolve into a mild hush as the crowds begin to pack up their supplies and trudge toward the parking lot.
I want to be old at the beach, with a comfortable chair and a book, alternating between dozing, reading, walking, and gazing at the ocean. I would be happy in all seasons, just not rain. I don’t love rain at the beach. Chris and I need to figure out where we can live someday where he can sit in his boat and fish on a smaller body of water, and I can plant myself at the ocean. I feel like a song needs to be written about this. “You on a lake and me at the sea…”
My Corner of the Village 