Category: Activities

  Another cloudless day with the warm sun rising over the ocean.  Looking forward to more morning daylight…but I wish it didn’t mean darkness right after work  🙁

Years ago, one of my customers said what she likes best about coming to the shore from her suburban neighborhood is the sky.  She can look up and see miles and miles of open sky.  I thought of her comment this morning…so true. 

    Beautiful day today- too nice to stay inside (except now at 4pm to watch the coverage of the Phillies celebration at the stadium). 

Was able to sit on the beach (bundled up a bit), watch the dolphins swim by, and read a book- a good day! 

Happy Halloween!   

  Very exciting game last night.  After the win, someone was driving around our block honking their car horn- I guess they knew it would be a bit lonely to run out in the street to celebrate!

I have a clear memory of the Phillies’ last win 28 years ago- our oldest son was born that year, and we were in our 1st home on Reed’s Beach Road (almost directly across from Stone Harbor on the Delaware Bay side).  We watched the game on a small black and white television- no cable available in our rural area- and we were glad the antenna reception was clear!

Last night, we watched the game in HD, with our son and his fiance- how life has changed  🙂

Vacations MUST include golf for my husband.  I don’t play, so the challenge is to find something to do for 4+ hours.

My childhood experience of sneaking in to the Concord Motel pool has evolved to crashing the pool area of golf resorts.  I spent yesterday sitting by the “Private- Members Only” pool of an elegant Santa Cruz club- reading a book.  The selection of a golf course is determined by the convenience of a nearby downtown shopping area or a nice pool.

  We drove to Pebble Beach today and walked around- spectacular… but I don’t think I will be crashing their pool 🙂

Tip to reduce jet lag- set your watch for your destination when you board the plane.  Yesterday, when we left Philadelphia, I first set my watch to Colorado time.  We had a 2 hour layover and I would need to know the “real” time while waiting for the next flight (painful to be in Denver, by the way, and not see our son and his family- they live a few hours from the airport in the mountains- I waived from the airplane window as we flew over the Rockies!)

Anyway, just before the 2nd flight, I was setting my watch again for California time.  A bit of hesitation here…am I going 1 hour ahead or back?  What time is it now in New Jersey? 

  Arrived to our destination last night in time to see the full moon over Monterey Bay- very beautiful.  Staying in a charming home in Capitola, and we are anxious to explore the area. 

It’s Wednesday morning and still dark- up very early because, although it’s 5am here…it’s REALLY 8am…I think  :) 

  Leaving tomorrow to visit another beach town- Santa Cruz, California.  We will spend a week exploring their coast (Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur) and then our last 2 days in San Francisco. 

When I meet someone new, and tell them where I live, they often express a mixture of jealousy and empathy.  They understand the summer lifestyle, but wonder what I “do” all winter?

  Well, my life is very ordinary- in an extraordinary environment!

For example, yesterday was my day off.  I still had to start the laundry, pay bills, clean the house, etc. like everyone else…but I also get to walk on the beach and kayak in the bay 🙂

Sure, January and February are dreary- but that’s typical of most areas in the North East.  The sun coming up over the ocean lifts my spirits year round…I am so grateful to live and work along the coast.