We have the fortune of living near the beach. This is still new to me, so while I go a lot, I’m not always as savvy about it. Last year when it got warm I couldn’t get our sprinkler to work. As I lay there sweating, it hit me-we live at the shore! We dug out the bathing suits and beach toys, threw everything in the car and hit the surf. It was about 80 at my house. It was about 65 at the beach. We were freezing. I learned my lesson and while we went the rest of that spring, we dressed accordingly.
This year, I was sooooo smart I wouldn’t be fooled again. Yesterday was unseasonably hot here but even still I had my kids stay in shorts and t-shirts, warning them it would be way cooler at the beach. I took off my short skirt and put on cropped jeans. I put one towel and four sweatshirts in the bag. “We’ll stay an hour”, I told them. By then, I figured, the wind and cold would get to us and we’d need to head back to our hot house.
When we arrived the parking lot looked like mid-July. I saw people coming back to their cars in bathing suits. I thought they were brave. We stopped and played on the playground equipment before the beach and it was hot. Still, I figured as soon as we crested the hill and got hit with the ocean air we’d be cool.
Nope.
It was beach hot. We were the only people not in bathing suits. I was cursing my knee-length denim shorts the entire time, both for the heat and the unfortunate tan lines. It was like Spring Break in Florida and there we were with our one towel and bag full of sweatshirts. Luckily, my kids are pretty undeterred by the thought of soggy rides home.
Ride the waves they did-underwear and all!
I’m so thankful I remembered the camera.
