My saltwater addiction started at an early age. I grew up staying on the beach for a week every summer, and those are some of my earliest (and best) memories. From there, I was hooked. When I got my license, I made more frequent beach trips, bringing along my surfboard. A love of the ocean is something that never goes away.
As Frosty (from "Chasing Mavericks") said, "We all come from the sea, but we are not all of the sea. Those of us who are, we children of the tides must return to it again and again."
As a self-declared beach bum, I've compiled some of the unmistakable signs that could indicate you're in the same boat:
Surf shops are your guilty pleasure.
You might be a fan of the huge corporate shops like PacSun that try and imitate the surf shop, but there's nothing quite like a locally owned surf shack that sells everything from surf wax to sunscreen.
You think you look better with a healthy tan and lighter hair.
Beach waves are your go-to look.
Admittedly, this is sometimes accidental when you just don't want to shower or brush your hair.
You'd rather be at the beach.
Few things are more appealing to you than having your toes in the sand and watching the waves crash on the beach. Especially when compared to work or school.
You always go barefoot when you can.
Sometimes it just gets to the point where shoes are a hassle. Who needs them?
You have way too many swimsuits.
Some you got online. Others came from surf shops or mall trips. Either way, you have too many. (Or can you never have enough?)
You've loved the sand and water since childhood.
The obsession started early. You can remember making sand castles or playing in the waves, maybe getting knocked down a few times.
You love the smell of sunscreen.
Coconut, vanilla or anything Hawaiian Tropic makes. The smell of sunscreen is just a reminder of summer and days spent at the beach.
Sunshine makes you happy.
You know that a little bit of sun can go a long way towards curing anything. Under the sun is probably your favorite place to be.
Island life seems like your kind of lifestyle.
You could live somewhere tropical and relaxed. A slower pace of life might seem like your type of living. You can't get enough saltwater, and there you would be surrounded by it. Ocean life fascinates you, and it's hard to pull you away.
You are low maintenance.
You can pretty much roll out of bed, put on a suit and be ready. You keep things simple and don't worry too much about how you look.
