Living on the beach or in a beach town is a lot different than vacationing there. There are certain things that you get used to (and some you never will), but you get to spend all year where most people vacation. You see the town at its peak and watch all the subtle changes that occur throughout the year.
Here are a few things that happen when you live on the beach.
1. Your seashell collection is so big, you aren't really sure what to do with them all.
You've filled mason jars all over your house, but you still can't bring yourself to leave a shell in the sand. You always tell yourself you'll complete some big project with them one day, you just haven't figured out what yet.
2. Seeing marine life becomes ordinary.
Seeing dolphins out in the surf will never get old, but it becomes commonplace. You've probably seen every type of marine animal at least once. Even the scarier ones, like sharks, you see occasionally.
3. You realize hurricane season is a real threat.
All those Facebook videos of flooding suddenly seem a lot closer to home. August and September on the coast can be a scary time, and there will be a few days during hurricane season when you all but forget the sun exists.
4. Your primary exercise is walking on the beach.
You don't even really consider it working out because it's so relaxing. You can't really complain with a view like that.
5. You basically live in a postcard.
Everywhere you look, it's beautiful. The scenery will never stop surprising you.
6. Everyone suddenly wants to visit you.
And who could blame them? Visiting you is also a built in vacation, complete with beach time and a tour guide.
7. Summer becomes endless.
Even if the ninety degree temperatures go away, the beach never does. You can enjoy it all year long. And, if live by a warm body of water like the Gulf, you can even swim in the colder months as well.
8. You get to smell salt air all the time.
It's like burning a candle every time you open your windows or walk outside. What's better than that?
9. You can spot a tourist.
You can tell when someone is just visiting the area. You can also tell when it's peak tourist season because the beaches get a lot more crowded and the traffic gets a lot crazier. This also happens every holiday weekend.
10. You have a camera roll full of sunset pictures.
Even though you see it every night, you can't help but snap another picture. Your phone is full of them, but each one is a little different, so you can justify it to yourself.
11. You can enjoy all the restaurants and dessert shops along the beach.
They're there to attract tourists, but who can complain about endless ice cream shops and beachside restaurants?
