Amelia Island, Florida. Perhaps you’ve heard of it. It’s not quite as popular as Disney World and Orlando, but it is still a suitable spot in Florida for vacationers. During the summer months, the beaches are crowded and the downtown area becomes lively. Thus, tourist season thrives on! It’s interesting to live in area that is regarded as a vacation destination.

With the first weekend in May comes something most of the locals dread … The Shrimp Festival. For a couple days, the historic downtown becomes flooded with vendors and visitors alike. If you haven’t had the pleasure, I can sum it up for you in a few words: Fried shrimp and peculiar art. Tourist activity fades a little after this weekend and then kicks it into high gear after Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is the first long weekend of the tourist season, and the activity on the beach picks up. As a local, it is fun to go to the beach and people watch. My friends and I like to play a game called “Local or Tourist?” Wearing socks with sandals? Tourist. Looking like a lobster with a fresh sunburn? Tourist. It can be quite entertaining!

One of the best parts of living in a beach town in the summer is how laid-back it feels. You can walk into some restaurants wearing a bathing suit and a T-shirt without anyone caring or giving you a judging look. The phrase “Island Time” definitely applies. Things are slow-moving and not rushed.

I hate to say it, but I tend to take where I live for granted. It takes me less than five minutes to drive to the beach, but I don’t go as often as I should. I’ve become less jaded now that I’ve been away at college for the year. I don’t think you can blame me for thinking of the beach when it was snowing! It’s fun to be home and have about three months in a place where others are lucky to come for a week.

I don’t dislike tourists. I’m glad they’re able to experience and enjoy where I grew up and understand that they’re pretty essential to our overall revenue in the summertime.

Before I know it, August will be here. Tourist season will dwindle down and I’ll head back to school. I’m sure it’ll be a fun time until then. There’s something about calling this place home that I wouldn’t want to change.