I'm a firm believer that summer should be year-round. January to December, nothing but sunshine, sand and summer dresses. If the sun is shining, so am I. I crave living in a beach town surrounded by palm trees and seashells. I want to walk along the ocean and experience the magic of a dolphin emerging from the water if only for a second. I'm in love with the atmosphere, the salty air, the lifestyle, everything. Here are some signs of being a beach bum.
1. You would rather be barefoot.
Shoes? No, thanks. Anything that constricts your feet, makes them sweat, or hides your toenail polish is not okay. That means no boots, no moccasins, no sneakers. Flip flops, sandals or nothing. You want to feel the sand between your toes.
2. Your closet consists mainly of summer clothes.
Aside from a few sweaters and cardigans, your closet is full of shorts, skirts, sundresses and cute flow-y tops. Unfortunately, summer is not year-round, so from September to May, you grudgingly put on a sweater, letting the uncomfortable layers swallow you up as you try to shield yourself from the frigid air.
3. The less make-up, the better.
You don't mind getting glammed-up every once in awhile, but a clear face is a better, especially for the beach. The aftermath of the sun kissing your skin is the only glow you need. You want to be beach ready all the time.
4. You own far too many bathing suits.
You have a bathing suit in every color under the sun but every year once March hits, you're already searching for the newest suit to add to your collection. There is no such thing as too many. You want your biggest struggle to be figuring out which one to wear.
5. Gloomy weather severely affects your mood.
If the sun is not shining, you are not smiling. Cloudy, rainy, windy, snowy weather makes you want to hibernate until June. You can't see sunsets when the sky is covered with clouds.
6. Your ideal lifestyle consists of waking up and going to the beach.
You don't need a jam packed day full of activities and running around. All you want is to rise with the sun, change into one of your many bathing suits and head to the beach for the day. There's no such thing as boredom when the sun is shining, the waves are rolling in and the sand is squishing beneath your feet.
You often groan and wonder "do I have to do my hair?" You'd much rather let your mane hang down your back in the au naturel state, letting the ocean air take care of the rest. Beach hair is the best hair. Period.
8. You've fantasized about being a mermaid probably more than you'd like to admit.
Being in the ocean all day? Wearing a seashell bra? Having a pretty tail that shimmers in the sunlight? Not a care in the world besides combing your long locks? How could you say no to that?
9. Your future plans include living in a house on the coast.
You'd settle for a shack in the sand if it meant being close enough to hear the waves roll in at night time. No thanks, big cities; nope to suburbia; absolutely not the country. Beach town or bail.
10. You love being tan.
You feel like a sun-kissed supermodel when you have a touch of color to your skin. The sun's rays grazing your skin makes you feel confident and beautiful, and if you had your way, you'd have tanned skin 365 days a year.
11. You live by the quote, "The cure for anything is salt water--sweat, tears or the sea."
Isak Dinesen was 100 percent right.
