It’s so different to live over here, compared to Switzerland. Today, again, I realized how privileged I am. Growing up in the mountains the biggest treat for me was to go to a beach once maybe twice a year. For some reason I always felt drawn to the beach, to the ocean. I loved the mountains, my mountain, the mountain I saw each morning when I opened the curtains of my bedroom. I loved it at any time of the year. But the beach was something entirely different.
The beach was always special, it was the place I felt I belonged. Close to the ocean, close to the water, feet in the sand.
What back then was a treat, a trip, something special, now turned into something I can do every day if I like to. When we first moved to Australia, I took my son down to the beach every day at least twice for a play. No matter what the weather was like. I took the dog for a long walk along the beach or on the beach, depending on the time of the year. Living here now for almost a decade it slightly changed. I don’t go to the beach on a daily base. I pick my day.
Just like I used to pick my days to go skiing.
I guess it’s just normal. When you live that close and you have it available all the time, you pick the good days. The days that suit you. You don’t feel like you have to do it in any case because you have plenty of options. Funny enough when we go skiing now, you’ll find all of us on the slopes no matter what the weather is like. Last time we’ve been to the snow at one point my husband and I looked at each other and started giggling. We both had the same thought. We would have never been out there on the slope in weather like this back in the days. Because it was a shocking day. But because we only had a certain amount of time available in the mountains, we knew we had to make the most of it. For our kids it wasn’t any different as well.
Things shift, when you move all the way around the globe. Back then I would have spent every possible minute on the beach. Now, I decide if I want to go or not. I decide if it’s too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry, too crowded.
It’s a privilege!
Today, I was privileged once again. It’s Tuesday and every “normal” person is working while their kids are at school. We decided to to “beach-schooling” today and headed to one of our favorite beaches. On the way talked about what’s currently happening in this world and how history repeats itself (there was a history lesson). Then we talked about nutrition and healthy eating and when we hit the beach it was all about swimming, running, playing, moving. It was a great day.
And as much as I never understood the tourists who went out skiing in the worst conditions when I still lived in the ski resort, I did not really understand my kids spending hours in the not even 15C cold water. For me it’s definitely too cold and I’m happy to wait for the days when the water is warmer, because I can.
Having had my feet in the sand and in the water was priceless, though, and I’m so looking forward to the next time. It’s so different. My life is so different to back then and I’m so glad it is…
How nice!
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Yeah, lucky me 😀
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😀
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I truly agree! This is a privilege and I am so happy for you that you can enjoy it. I learned to love my surrounding with the mountains, but the ocean has something different which will always be connected closer to my heart. I hear you, Sandra!
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I find it so interesting. As much as I loved my mountain(s), I don’t miss it. The ocean, though, I always missed. Always…
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Same over here! I don’t think I would ever miss the mountains!
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I think at times we are attracted to polar opposites of what we have. I grew up in farm country and have always been drawn to larger cities. We had oceans of cornfields surrounding us and I’m drawn to water.
just a thought.
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Might be the case…
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You are def lucky!
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I feel very lucky! Thank you! How are you?
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Going on with a lot of positive thinking! Thanks for asking 🙂
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😘
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It’s wonderful to find your happy place. To find that place accidentally makes it even more so!
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Feels so good…
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I like the idea of beach-schooling! Days like that are when the most special of memories are made. My mom and I used to have mommy/daughter days, where she would take me out of school just to spend the day together. Although only once a year, each time meant so much to me. Those days still make me smile, nearly 30 years later.
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How wonderful! Now that summer arrives we will do it more often. It’s the privilege of homeschooling too to be able to go to the beach during the week and avoid the crowd. Sometimes we do a little bit of school before we head out, sometimes when we come back and sometimes when we are there. It’s making memories and also learning by doing and experiencing it.
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Again you have nailed a basic human emotional response. I love the mountains but won’t live in them because I never want to lose that rush I feel when I get to spend a few days or weeks in them.
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It’s a good feeling when we get there, isn’t it? And when you leave it’s sort of bitter-sweat.
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Okay here it is, the feeling I get when I am surrounded by them is safety. Almost as if I’m being hugged by nature.
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That’s a beautiful thing to say!
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I’m a mountains kind of guy. I could pack up a backpack and just hike into the mountains and not come back for a week. Never done that, mind you, but I could. I love the mountains. DW on the other hand loves the beach. Where we live fortunately has both!
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Perfect! So you get to enjoy both worlds! I’d like that too 🙂
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I love in plain old Louisana and yearn for the beach and mountains.
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Perfect
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