Relentlessly hot summer days draw people to beaches.

It’s part of the fabric of summer, the magnetic pull of a simple stretch of sand and sea—simple, but an incredible platform for the diverse body of preferences and personalities that define people. It’s amazing, the number of choices sand and water present. A picture of the beach and the people on it is a picture of possibilities: sandcastles, swimmers, tanners, soccer games, umbrellas, beach chairs... It makes for a kind of would-you-rather game.

Of course, you aren't always one or the other. Most of the time, in the course of the day, I am all of them or some form of in-between. But if would-you-rather is the game and the various extremes of the beach are put down...

1. Hide under the umbrella or embrace the sun?

2. Avoid the water at all costs or nearly become a mer-creature?

3. Carefully let only your feet touch the sand or be buried in it?

4. Stick to the clear, chlorinated hotel pool or dive into the murky waves?

5. Big floppy sun hats or no?

6. Do you have sun glasses or have you already lost them?

7. Fall asleep in the sun or join the soccer game on the beach?

8. Cover yourself in sun screen or try to seek out a tan?

9. Body surf or use a board?

10. Feed the sea gulls (even though you shouldn't) or hide your food from them at all costs?

11. Bring along your music or listen to the waves?

12. Build a sand-palace or admire and take the picture?