Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Do you "Beach" ?
Old 06-28-2014, 06:58 PM   #1
Gone but not forgotten
imoldernu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Peru
Posts: 6,335
Do you "Beach" ?

Water... has been a very big part of our lives...Living on the East Coast from Maine to Florida... Inland and 0cean and on an Island (Martha's Vineyard), for the better part of 70 years, DW and I have been to and swam at hundreds of beaches, both fresh and salt water.
Swimming paid my way through college, and helped DW's acceptance at Sargent...Boston College. Our four kids learned to swim before they could walk, and we always had boats... canoes, rowboats, speedboats, sailboats, pontoon boats and paddle boats. Even in the Chicago area... Lake Michigan, rivers, and our camp on a small lake, today.
Whatever and wherever travel took us, the main destination was "the beach"... Swimming in 31 states, Canada, Mexico and Japan. Dad and mom lived on the Ocean in Barrington and best friend on the tip of Mere Point in Maine. DW summered for 18 years at her family's beach house on the water on Buzzard's Bay Massachusetts. In RI, Newport and Narragansett Bay was our back yard. From Key West to Padre Island to the Big Sur, the American River, Hawaii, Bremerton, the boundary waters of Minnesota, up and down the Mississippi and Kentucky Lake... with many dozens more in between.

This website (below) has an interactive map that covers most US beaches... inland and oceanside. Even Lincoln Woods State Park beach in Rhode Island where I spent 6 summers as a lifeguard during high school and college years. Also the summer after marriage where we spent the summer (and our honeymoon) at the YMCA Camp on Lake Cobbeseconte in Maine, where I was Waterfront Director... before assignment to OCS at (dry) Camp Benning in the fall.

The purpose of the site, is to assess water quality, but the real joy comes from zooming in on the beaches and remembering our halcyon days.

Testing The Waters, Prevent Beach Pollution | NRDC

My fondest memory is driving her dad's brand new Plymouth convertible on to the front row beachside, of the parking lot at Hyannis Beach... She, absolutely beautiful, in a fantastic white bathing suit that framed a summer tan that turned heads wherever we went. Brings a big smile to my face whenever the memory pops up.

So, yeah... about beaches... Big part of our life.
Do you Beach?
imoldernu is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 06-28-2014, 07:15 PM   #2
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,860
We currently live beside the mountains. At one point we lived in Vancouver for twenty years-beautiful.

We are retired and have been thinking of a vacation home. People in our area seem to flock to Arizona. But then we reflected on our past vacations. Just about every one was either beside the water, on the water either in part or in whole. Many vacations to Florida, Hilton Head, Oregon Coast, California, Washington State. So yes, we like the beach.

Going to the beaches in Thailand, Malaysia, and Australia from Dec 30 to sometime in late March...that's how much we like the beach and the ocean.
brett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2014, 08:25 PM   #3
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
heeyy_joe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Madeira Beach Fl
Posts: 1,403
yes, with the grandboys. unrestrained joy.
__________________
_______________________________________________
"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do" --Bob Dylan.
heeyy_joe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2014, 09:00 PM   #4
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
grasshopper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,464
Only when I go to the shore.
__________________
For me experiences are not good or bad, just different
grasshopper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2014, 10:17 PM   #5
Moderator Emeritus
Ronstar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 16,543
We don't beach unless I run the boat aground.
Ronstar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 04:38 AM   #6
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Marita40's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: St. Paul
Posts: 1,847
Growing up in the Chicago area we "beached" at Lake Geneva WI. We rented a moldy old cottage on one of the bays; I still vividly recall the smell of that place. A lot of my memories seem to be about the bully kids on the beach. I remember the Lady of the Lake and the mansions that line the lake.
I really need to take a nostalgic tour back to Lake Geneva some day.
Marita40 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 05:23 AM   #7
Moderator
braumeister's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,198
I grew up a ten minute walk from the beach in Brooklyn, and spent my summers there. Beach time was typically at least four to six hours, often much longer. When not busy with a summer job, typically at least five days a week. Many fond memories!
braumeister is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 07:21 AM   #8
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,983
Yes, our beach is a sand bar on a lake in Michigan and when the weather turns cold we head south.
__________________
Took SS at 62 and hope I live long enough to regret the decision.
foxfirev5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 07:28 AM   #9
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,401
I grew up in the south of Ireland and going to the beach was a big part of my childhood summers. Living in Cork meant we were less than an hour away from at least 10 great beaches. We went every Saturday and Sunday. My favourite local beach was Garretstown. We would swim, play, walk and paddle all day and then go for a picnic and another walk on the Old Head of Kinsale. On vacation, we went further afield; a favourite was Ballyheigue in County Kerry. Going to the beach without going swimming was unthinkable. We never owned a boat or went sailing. That was something that rich people did. It would have been unthinkable for my LBYM parents.

As an adult I have moved a lot but have not lived close to the ocean. There are some good lake beaches close to my current and former homes, but I still prefer the ocean.
Meadbh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 07:43 AM   #10
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,252
Definitely yes. We lived on an island directly on the shore for 8 years. Sometimes the back porch would be underwater, but never any water in the house.

Every year we have to make at least one sand castle that is taller than the kids. Still do, but they have to help now that they in their twenties.
LOL! is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 07:53 AM   #11
Full time employment: Posting here.
BTravlin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 996
We live on iron shore but if we want actual beach it is just a short ride over to the undeveloped side of the island that has miles of open beach. Just so happens DW and I are going over there today. A stocked cooler, books and towels and we're set.
__________________
Wherever you go, there you are.
(In other words, no whining!)
BTravlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 08:03 AM   #12
Moderator Emeritus
aja8888's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Conroe, Texas
Posts: 18,645
South Texas beaches are not very good. Galveston currently has a big issue with seaweed growth and huge masses of it accumulating on the shores (it's in the news). Plus, the Gulf beaches here report a high percentage of BAV.

So we don't "beach"!
aja8888 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 08:30 AM   #13
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
pb4uski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,264
When I was growing up our family had a "camp" on a large pond and we spent summers living there and weekends in the fall and spring. I waterskied at least once almost everyday when I was a kid and sailed regularly. My Mom still lives there summers now and we live year round 5 doors south of her.

We also periodically go to the shore in either Maine, Cape Cod or Florida and spent two weeks in Hawaii last winter and a short trip to Port Aransas, TX.

In short, yes, we beach but more freshwater than saltwater.

P.S. DW went to Sargent as well, for graduate school. But BU, not BC, right? You're slipping there my friend.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.

Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
pb4uski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 08:41 AM   #14
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Midpack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,204
We rarely went to beaches when younger (laying out, swimming) and never do anymore. But I am on the water (sailing) as often as possible, and we've been to/go to many of the same on the water locations the OP mentions - right and left coast & Great Lakes.

Though I have no idea exactly why, there is no place more peaceful and yet engaging than on the water for me, I must have been a fish in another life...
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57

Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
Midpack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 09:09 AM   #15
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Accidental Retiree's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,499
Quote:
Originally Posted by aja8888 View Post
South Texas beaches are not very good. Galveston currently has a big issue with seaweed growth and huge masses of it accumulating on the shores (it's in the news). Plus, the Gulf beaches here report a high percentage of BAV.

So we don't "beach"!

What's BAV?


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum
__________________
Chief Retirement Strategist
The AR Group
Accidental Retiree is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 09:16 AM   #16
Recycles dryer sheets
Sea Kayaker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Vancouver/Gulf Islands/Baja
Posts: 479
I cannot be away from the ocean for long. Spent some time on the Canadian prairies recently and felt uncomfortable. Was born and raised with the smells and sounds of the Salish Sea on my doorstep - it is a part of my life in a way I cannot fully describe.

This affinity for the ocean is why Arizona would never work for me as a snowbird destination - it is why we have a vacation place in the Baja instead.
Sea Kayaker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 09:33 AM   #17
Moderator Emeritus
W2R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,473
Quote:
Originally Posted by imoldernu View Post
So, yeah... about beaches... Big part of our life.
Do you Beach?
My family's home was located on the beachfront on this beach (in other words, our front yard was the sand:


This was not due to any grand wealth - - my father had the foresight to buy that land back in the 1950's when it was available at a bargain price and not in demand because it was hard to get to.

When I was growing up, every day I spent hours on that beach, walking or swimming for exercise, surfing, spending time with my friends or family, and/or getting away from teenage "issues". As an adult I chose a career in oceanography and learned about the physical forces behind the waves and currents that were so much a part of my life growing up.

We live in the city and don't go to the beach much right now, but I do enjoy it when we go there.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.

Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
W2R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 09:34 AM   #18
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
MRG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 11,078
Quote:
Originally Posted by Accidental Retiree View Post
What's BAV?


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

Think it's a new EPA standard for measuring 'beach action value'. I took it to be more related to water quality. Sad when so much has been done for decades to reduce pollution, yet we're finding issues with water quality. Maybe we're measuring better.

http://www.nrdc.org/media/2014/140625.asp
MRG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 09:54 AM   #19
Moderator
rodi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: San Diego
Posts: 14,169
Yes, we beach.
My husband grew up in Philly - and went "down the shore" to a shared family bungalow in the Wildwoods. I grew up in San Diego and have considered La Jolla Shores to be my home beach for my whole life.

My kids are learning to surf and are avid boogie boarders. We go to the beach several times a week during the summer.

And - my first week of retirement (last week) I took my dog to walk on the beach 4 mornings. (Have to have dogs off the beach by 9am, though.) I plan to continue this - as both the dog and I enjoy these walks immensely.

We live about a 10 minute drive from the beach - although that can get longer if you try to get to the beach on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Which is why we tend to go in the morning.
rodi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 10:01 AM   #20
Moderator Emeritus
aja8888's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Conroe, Texas
Posts: 18,645
Quote:
Originally Posted by MRG View Post
Think it's a new EPA standard for measuring 'beach action value'. I took it to be more related to water quality. Sad when so much has been done for decades to reduce pollution, yet we're finding issues with water quality. Maybe we're measuring better.

NRDC: Press Release - Beach Report: 10 Percent of America?s Beach Water Samples Fail Safety Test
Thanks for posting this. I should have referenced it in my post.
aja8888 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Daytona Beach Men's Room antics mickeyd Other topics 5 11-03-2007 02:17 AM
Pink Sand Beach Video................. Cut-Throat Life after FIRE 7 02-23-2007 01:26 PM
A Day at Beach in the Bahamas - Picture thread - Here you go Jarhead Cut-Throat Life after FIRE 10 02-22-2007 12:57 PM
Beach front property Arif Young Dreamers 2 01-02-2006 01:08 PM
My Favorite Pensacola Beach, FL Pic Patrick Other topics 0 08-01-2005 04:17 PM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:07 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.