When schools ends, everyone's favorite question is, "what are you doing this summer?" Most of us say something like summer class, work or vacation. And then there is that one friend who says "I'm going to the beach!" Now when they first say it they sound overly excited, as if it is a dream vacation and you get so jealous and imagine all the fun they will be having while you are stuck inside working a desk job or mowing your neighbors' lawns all day. But let's get this straight...when you spend your summers at the beach, life is just like being at your house in the middle of nowhere. Here are a few things many of you might not realize about what it is like to spend your summer at the beach:
1. We never see the beach
Everyone always thinks when someone says they live at the beach that they go to to the beach every day, which is not even slightly true. Living at the beach is amazing, but most people that live in a beach town work two or three jobs and barely see the beach. Most people work weekends when it is busier from tourists, and somehow always end up having the one day off that it's raining or cloudy. Most of us spend weeks at a time not seeing the beach.
2. We bike pretty much everywhere
We hate traffic just as much as everyone else that is at the beach, so we try not to use our cars whenever it is possible. We can bike three to six miles each way with no problem because we are so used to traveling this way at all times. It is a great workout and so much less stressful than sitting in traffic.
3. Every time we drive down to the beach we get just as excited as the daily beach goers
Even though most of us see the same beach day in and day out, that feeling of finally being at the beach is always exciting. Seeing the beach is like a kid in a candy store; eyes wide open with the biggest grin they can make. Even if we don't see the beach all the time, just knowing we are here makes us happy.
4. We hate waiting in restaurant lines even more than you do
Everyone hates waiting at a restaurant when they say it will be an hour or more wait, but everyone does it. When you live in a beach town restaurants are always crowded, and you always have to wait for a table. Occasionally a local may be able to get into your favorite restaurant a little quicker and skip the line, but can you really be mad at them? If they live here year round don't you think we can all give them a break every once in awhile? Waiting in line is never fun, but when the summer seasons gets into full swing a lot of locals avoid going out to eat all together, so if someone happens to skip the line remember that this is their town and they like to eat out too.
Living the beach lifestyle can be fun, and comes with a lot of perks. But it is very similar to your life in your hometown in the middle of nowhere. We all work five or more days a week, with long hours, and sometimes more than two jobs. We do not get to see the beach as often as you think we do, and we hate hearing about how awesome the beach was when we are stuck inside all day even though the beach is not even one block from our location. Never assume that living at the beach is a perfect summer because for most of those who travel to the beach for the whole summer live a very average life and do not get to lay out and tan all day, unfortunately.
