As someone who grew up in a beach town and spent her childhood summers at a beach house down the coast, I have spent a good portion of my life soaking in salt water. Now that I've spent two and a half years at a school without any easy way of getting to the beach that's barely ten minutes away, the withdrawal is more serious than expected. After living with people who haven't spent their lives on the coast, I've started noticing the symptoms that come with growing up in the sand.
1. Basically all of your friends were/are lifeguards.
2. You're able to spot the perfect wave before anyone else.
Whether you're in the water body-surfing or relaxing on your towel, you
can point them out on the horizon before they've even formed.
3. Food tastes 10 times better on the beach.
Even the feeling of sand between your molars isn't enough to ruin beach food.
4. Especially ice cream/popsicles.
The walk down the beach to the ice cream counter or the sound of the guy pushing his ice cream cart yelling, "Ice cream!" (read: "Iiiiiiiiiiice creeeeeeeeam!") is very familiar to you.
5. Seeing seagulls around town is as natural as seeing pigeons In New York.
You've learned how to eat entire meals beneath a towel just to avoid having one swoop down on you. They are merciless.
6. Before going somewhere for any length of time, you check how close the beach is.
And, no matter the distance, you will probably make the drive.
7. You are genuinely shocked when someone says they've never been in the ocean.
What do you mean there’s no ocean in the middle of the U.S.? Are the gray states okay?
8. You know what a "real beach" is.
You probably make sure everyone knows when they are not on one, too. It's hard not to scoff when you catch someone calling the strip of sand next to a lake a "beach." (This may or may not be followed by the phrase, "Where are the waves?")
9. You know the horror of jellyfish season.
"Gee, the water sure is warm this year—wait."
10. You know your sea creatures.
You were practically a marine bio major by fifth grade. Your elementary school probably took field trips down to the beach to study the crabs.
11. You have a permanent beach bag and chair in your car.
Just in case. It's come in handy off the beach, too. You never know when you'll need four folding chairs!
12. You have high standards for the fireworks on the Fourth of July.
There's nothing like laying in the sand and watching the reflections on the water. If you're lucky, you're even watching them from your boat.
13. Everything about the beach is a comfort.
The sound of the waves, the heat beneath your feet, and the smell of sand and salt are all home to you. You can't imagine living off the coast.
I mean, you might miss all those times you've stepped on cracked seashells too much.
