Everyone Else...

Recently I have been thinking a lot if there was ANYONE ELSE in this world who shares my obsession. So in order to see if my peers felt the same way I composed a survey and got a good response as to how people my age feel about the beach.

One of the main purposes of the survey was to see just how much contact people in my age group have had with the beach. And what (if any) they have done to help take care of it. According to the survey most college students have gone to the beach three or more times and have taken at least some kind of outdoor interactive class either in high school or in college.

One of the most positive parts about the responses was that I found that most young people are FINALLY doing there part to take care of our beautiful beaches. I found that more than ever students are not only helping out by not littering but also are doing beach clean-ups and are even encouraging recycling in their areas. THIS IS AWESOME! Every little bit helps.

I also got a look into who students are going to the beach with and what they do most there. While most people think that all college students do is go to the beach and get hammered with their friends thats surprisingly wrong. More responses showed that students now a days actually go to the beach with their family more than their friends and their favorite activity was building sand castles.. there is hope for us yet.

Do you share my obsession??

Everywhere Ends with a Beach

For as long as I can remember I have had this daydream stuck in my head. Me on a beautiful beach, of course. Not just any beach though, a beach that is beautiful, peaceful and most of all exotic. One of the beaches on the top of my list has always been Australia. It only sealed the deal more when I learned that Australians are just as big of beach bums as I am!

It is no surprise as to why Australians are so obsessed with the beach. Just about 85% of the population live within an hours distance to one of the thousands of beaches. And we thought we had it made in Florida...literally everywhere you go in Australia, if you just keep driving, you will end up at a beach. For the Aussies the beach is both a place sacred in its natural beauty and also profane with its good times. Concrete clad and permanently crowded, the beach "vivdly evokes the primal sensuality of the suf, and its abilty to calm and inspire, but also destroy."

This place sounds perfect for me! To me its like theres a whole entire society that shares my same exact views, I have no idea why i dont live there. Though it is such an intimidating place, just because any true beach bum knows that we will never know all there is to know about the beach, it is still the most peaceful and at the same time exciting place to be. Whether you just want to lay out and watch the sunset, or spend a day crazy, drunk and half naked with your friends... the beach is where its at!

Australian Beach Bums

When Obsession Meets School

Sitting in front of a computer at orientation, my mind was so scrambled as I tried to choose my classes from the very slim pick. Thanks to my procrastination I had waited untill the last minute to apply to school and therefore had to suffer with the crappy classes that no one wanted. I had no idea that the unneeded "Environmental Biology of Southwest Florida," would turn out to be a gateway to my obsession.

Every Friday we sit in a room listening to my teacher lecture about every single ecosystem, animal and threat to our Florida environment. Last Friday was different though. Last Friday I was able to emerse myself in my addiction. To finally be able to sink my toes in the sand and smell the fresh salt air on a class feild trip to Bunche Beach.

It was heaven to me. My classmates got to share my obsession for a couple hours as low tide let us frolick with every tiny organism usually overlooked by a family trip to some tourist beach. As I walked all the way out to where the water would usually be well over my head I looked down and picked up a small hermit crab. He freaked out a little bit but soon got comfortable enough in the cup of my hand to peak his head out and say hello. I also got a chance to find something I have been dying to find for some time now. As soon as I felt the waves touch my feet I glanced down, there it was. A crown conch shell... and with the snail still inside!

Never before have I gotten to give in to my guilty pleasure during class. Even though it was just a class that I picked to fill my schedule, im glad I did. Because I learned something else that day... no matter how much you think you may know about the beach, the ocean or what lives in it, you will never know everything. It like a new experience everytime.

             All around me i am surrounded. Tall buildings, people on their cell phones or personal computers constantly, and the steady stream of useless conversation that people start just to pass the time. This is not where my mind is. I find myself constantly craving peace and quiet, the sand beneath my toes and the sweet kisses of waves. A place so simple... just happy.
              To know that a world as vast as the solar system can bring so much peace constantly amazes me. The smell of the ocean, that bitter taste of salt, thats what i live for. If i could wake up every morning to the sound of waves crashing at my doorstep and sea birds chirping i would be content. Just looking out my window and seeing a stretch of blue that i will never fully understand would be like living in a dream. Ahhh the beach, yes i am obsessed.
             If there was a way that i could make sure everyone on earth visited a beach at least once in their life i would, just because i know what it truly is capable of. If there is one place on earth that could truly bring peace to someones life, its the beach. When you are there, the hectic world doesnt seem to matter. The only thing that makes sense is you, the sand, and the waves. So join me... share my obsession, lets just get taken away with a wave.