“Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me.”
-Albert Schweitzer
I have never truly understood the beach. I make a trip to the beach almost every year, and ever since I was a kid I have had mixed feelings about my experiences. It has nothing to do with my family or friends who come with me, in fact it is my family and friends that usually make the beach a pleasant experience. What I don't understand about the beach comes from the beach itself. I am hoping that in the next few minutes I type this I will understand the beach and how it lures millions of Americans to the shore every year.
Beaches are essentially made up of two different materials, saltwater and sand. Alone these materials are boring, and in some cases uncomfortable, but when combined on a large scale you get a beach. Then comes the wind. The wind is what creates the most primal form of beach excitement, waves. From beach to beach you will find waves of some type as the winds blowing in off-shore create cresting mountains of water that can be surfed, boogied, broken, or dove under. Without waves the beach loses much of it's appeal, especially those who enjoy natural thrill. In fact many beaches that lack large waves end up making up for the loss of the big kahuna with an over-abundance of man-made entertainment.
The next ingredient is the Sun. I personally have had some bad experiences with the Sun. There is something about the wish to change your skin color I have never understood. The last time I went to the beach only a few of my friends actually went in the water, the rest chose to lay on towels, rotating themselves on regular time intervals as if they were rotisserie chickens at Boston Market. I may seem skeptical to the idea of tanning, but I do understand it's appeal. In fact I find that the Sun provides the beach with excitement, as I try and prevent myself from being charred. The Sun also provides the beach with elegance during the evening with the beautiful colors the sunrise and sunset brings when you view it from the shore.
The last ingredient that I think creates the appeal of the beach are the people. I am not only talking about the people that you bring with you to the beach, but the other people who have come to share the same vacation destination. You may never meet these fellow beach enthusiasts personally, but they bring as much to the table as anything I have previously listed. They could be the group of college students on their spring break, who have brought enough alcohol with them to get the population of eastern Russia buzzed. Or it could be the old couple who have come to the beach to enjoy their 50th anniversary at the same spot where they enjoyed their first. Whoever is there with you at the beach, known or unknown, provides the beach with it's identity. Certain beaches tend to maintain their identity. For instance, Myrtle Beach, which tends to be more about what is directly inland from the beach rather than the beach itself. Or Corolla Beach on the Outer Banks, which is far away from the mainstream beach atmosphere, and presents the more aesthetic aspects of the beach. What you experience from the beach, whether it be natural beauty or social pleasure varies from beach to beach.
I think that vacationing at the beach as become a tradition for people around the world. It gives people a chance to take in the beauty the ocean provides, and also gives people time to live with each other without the stress of normal life. All of the pieces I mentioned before are just small parts of a bigger puzzle. The beach is something we all can enjoy in some way or another.
I feel that there is a bit of irony when it comes to the cliche beach vacation. A few hundred years ago our ancestors arrived on our shores. The got off their boats and looked at the land before them, and saw a place that would spawn a new feeling of freedom. Yet now, we keep feeling the need to go to the shore and look out at the ocean, as if we miss something we left behind.
After thinking about the beach analytically (or boringly) I feel better about my upcoming trip to the beach. Karen will be joining my family and I to the beach, so she will be able to experience a Davis vacation first hand, and decide whether or not to weather more in the future. We are also taking a couple days to visit Disney World which should also be fun. I have never been to Daytona Beach, so I am not sure what is in store for us. Which is awesome.
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