.....beach personalities

Yogis,
Do you think places in nature have personalities? An energy that is all their own? I spend time on many different beaches and notice that each one is unique. Even two sitting right next to each other have different vibrations. Different sounds, smells, and ways of being.

I was in Cape May NJ last weekend for a couple of days and got to know a bit about her personality.

For the past 38 years I have been going to Stone Harbor which is only two beaches north of Cape May. As a veteran I know the rules, the culture and where to get a good pizza. In Cape May, I was a newbie.

First, the architecture is completely different. Old Victorians in a rainbow of pastels and jewel tones, each with exquisite lattice work, line the streets near downtown. Grand hotels from bygone years smelling of old wood take you back in time. Hydrangeas in full bloom circle the homes while stately trees create a canopy on the side streets. But the differences go deeper than how it looks.

The house we stayed in, like almost all the homes there, had a spacious wood front porch with sturdy green and white awnings which reached beyond the railings, creating an inviting private space to pass some time. I couldn’t wait for coffee time on the porch after my run and for cocktails after dinner out there watching the world go by…….which goes by mostly on bikes.

Everyone rents a bike! When a cousin would ride by, they would check to see if anyone was on the porch, and if so, park the bike and come up for a chat. A few minutes leads to an hour. The kids join in. Another chair is pulled up. A fresh bottle of wine. I am reminded of why people had front porches. They create connections….. causing people to pause. In today’s world, social life has moved to the back deck. Also nice, but no one is going to happen by.

Back to the bikes! They are the preferred mode of transportation. At home I don’t really ride a bike. I am nervous with the traffic. But my love for biking as a child was rekindled. Cool air on my face and hair blown back by the wind. The side streets almost car-less so we were free to weave and make wide turns. Riding back late at night under the stars I almost got the nerve to let go of the handlebars. Maybe next time.

Even the seagulls have their own way of being. In Stone Harbor we train our children from a young age on seagull etiquette. Nothing is to be opened and eaten until you are safely seated under the beach umbrella. No umbrella? A big beach towel over the head will suffice. But Cape May seagulls do not view the umbrella as an obstacle and think nothing of flying under to snatch that piece of left-over pizza from your hand.

Your paid beach tag pinned to your shorts each time you walk onto the beach entrance. Sounds of bicycle bells in the evening air. Horse drawn carriages passing by, adorned with flowers and ribbons, reminiscent of Cinderella. Old swing style cds playing on the stereo in the house as we prepare dinner.

I was introduced to Cape May and I like her style. What is your beach town's personality?

Off now to visit another old friend…..the outer banks,
SARAH