Going down to the shore has several different meanings to different people. Some people go to the beach and the boardwalk. They stay in hotels or rent condos to spend each day going to the crowded beaches. Others like my family go down to their beach houses or trailers to spend each day out on the bay. These people have a different kind of experience when they go down to the shore. Here are some things that us shore-goers know to be true.

1. You’re not a tourist, but you’re not a local either.

You're somewhere in between. You can point out the tourists by the boats stuck on sand bars. You know where to go and where not to go. You hide out during holiday weekends just because of the tourists.

2. Crabbing, clamming and fishing are your specialties.

When you go down to the shore, people will rarely find you on the beach. Rather, they find you out on the boat either fishing, crabbing or clamming. You come back from the shore with a plethora of all of these—well, maybe not fish.

3. You spend many nights out by the fire.

Sitting around the fire is the best way to end a day on the boat. Everyone gets together and tells the stories of the day. If you're lucky, someone brought a guitar to listen to.

4. You know the relaxation of a boat.

Sitting out on the boat is the best way to spend the day. Take in the sun, read a book, listen to music, eat sandwiches and just relax. The boat can relax you right to sleep. There is nothing to worry about at the bay.

5. You read one book per trip.

Something about being on the water makes you want to read. I read the most when I am in relax mode at the beach.

6. You go to the beach once or twice a year.

You rarely go to the actual beach. If you do go to the beach, it is during the least crowded week of the summer. You go to the bay beach by boat more often than the ocean.

7. You go down almost every weekend of the summer.

During the summer, you live at the shore. Many weekends are spent doing all of those activities listed above. You have to plan way ahead of time to do something at home on the weekend.

8. You understand that life is slower at the shore.

You are never in a rush to go anywhere and do anything when you are down there. You also understand that no one who lives and works down there is in a rush to do anything either.

9. You never want to come home.

The end of a weekend is full of sadness because you have to return to your more fast-paced, responsibility-filled life. Until the next trip!