From white, sandy beaches to the strongest of waves hitting the highest of cliffs, the ocean is where I am the most relaxed and the happiest. And I don't mean IN the ocean; I mean admiring the ocean, from the beach or on a cruise ship. The Pacific Ocean: 63.78 million square miles of nothing but water and pure serenity. Many of my happiest memories happen to be the memories of vacations over the years, but my favorite of those were the ones spent at a beach or on the cruise we took to Mexico. Not only have I simply enjoyed myself, but I can honestly say I have learned a lot from the ocean.
For as long as I can remember, the coast has been a frequent vacation spot for my family, and is now one of my favorite places in the world. In fact, my most recent vacation was to Seaside, Oregon, stopping on the way to visit the Columbia River Gorge. We went to celebrate the Fourth of July and to honor the one-year anniversary of the passing away of my Nana. The coast was her favorite place too. While I was there, watching how each wave hit the sand uniquely with each crashing wave, I thought a lot about my life. The ocean is so serene, and that multitude is so immense it makes me wonder about all the people in the world. It is so relaxing to walk or sit at the beach and watch the sunset across the water. I've seen some of the most beautiful sunsets doing just that. Going to see the ocean is like leaving all my worries behind me and forgetting that life is hard sometimes.
Another amazing vacation spent at the ocean was actually spent on the ocean. In January, I was lucky enough to take a cruise to the Mexican Riviera. Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta were the three destinations where the ship ported. Every night, I made sure to go up to the top deck to watch the sunset, surrounded by nothing but water for miles. Since we had a room with a balcony, I was also able to watch the sunrise a couple of the mornings. My favorite place out of the three that we visited would have to be Cabo San Lucas, or as the locals would call it, Los Cabos. The water was crystal clear and almost turquoise, and we could see all the tropical fish when we rode in a glass bottom boat.
You might be thinking that I am just writing this to tell you about the vacations I have taken, but it is much more than that. It is an explanation of where I am happiest and what makes me stay sane. I can honestly say that the ocean is my happy place, and the thought of going there again one day is what keeps me going. If you are anything like me, you could learn a thing or two from the Pacific Ocean.
