At many points of a girl's life she needs her dad. Dads are little girls role models, super hero's, best friend, and in my case my best beach buddy. Some girls will remember their dads by coaching their first soccer team or by the many ties they put on every morning. I will remember mine with surfboard in hand heading out into a summer set. I feel that having a dad that had a lifelong love for the beach made me who I am today.

1. Beach was the first thing your baby self did

I mean this is an obvious one right, but seriously you saw the ocean before you could even see your own two feet. You grew up thinking your bed should be sandy and he sun should always be shining

2. Your taste in music as a kid was different than others

Mary had a little lamb and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star are typical songs that kids get sung to sleep. Not if you have a beach loving dad. You probably got sung me some just like I did. - Classics such as Bob Marley, The Allman Brothers, and of course Grateful Dead.

3. Family vacations to the beach

Even though it would be super easy to walk 4 blocks to the beach from your house, the family would pack up for the weekend and travel to another beach, preferably a more secluded one. The long boards would get strapped to the roof of the truck and the cooler would get filled to the brim with ice and off you’d go, with the windows down of course.

4. You learned a deep love for the ocean

At a young age you were up and on a surfboard whether you liked it or not. My beach dad would put me up on his shoulders and out into the ocean every chance he got. Instead of being taught valuable life lessons (which of course were taught as well) we were taught how to talk about the ocean. Today its glassy, tomorrow it's going to be head high and choppy. Childhood vocabulary at its finest.

5. You developed a very laid back personality

Growing up you weren’t rushed around to sports or summer camps. Mornings is your household were relaxed, you changed from PJs to bathing suits and applied sunscreen before breakfast. Never rushed, you got into the car and headed to our more relaxing day at the beach.

6. They are the best people to go to when feeling down

With their calm personality and wise behavior they are the best to help calm you down.

7. Their Stories

Once a beach kid, always a beach kid.

8. The beach is more home than your actual home

I feel blessed to have a dad that has raised me by the sea. The beach will always be my home no matter how far away I try and go.