Category: Life at the Shore

Each Jersey Shore town has an image or landmark that identifies their unique community. 

We all share the same “beach” along the Atlantic Ocean, but as you cross a bridge or land border, the next town can have a completely different look.

Margate (Lucy’s home town) reminds me of a classic suburban Philadelphia neighborhood that happens to have a beach.   Cape May Point has natural wooded lots…in sharp contrast with Sea Isle City’s gravel yards.  Wildwood Crest allows high rises along the beach…versus mostly single family homes on Avalon’s beach front.  The well maintained 1950’s summer cottage is common in North Wildwood…the complete opposite of the contemporary mansions in Longport.

We may differ with our definition of a perfect beach town…but our love for the shore connects us all!

Solitude on Memorial Day weekend?  Found it on the bay early this morning (just me and the gnats!)

My 4.6 mile “commute” to work is another story: walkers 3 across in the bike lane, forcing the bicyclists in to the traffic lane.  I move over toward the center island, but wait…here comes a jogger running toward me (I understand the runners prefer the even pavement versus the slope close to the curb).   I try to be a good citizen and stop at the pedestrian walkways near the hotels…hoping the car behind me is in agreement.  Once in Avalon, smooth sailing except for the large groups crossing the street- the “beach chair” rule applies here:  if they are carrying a beach chair, it will act as a protective shield and a car will not hurt them.  Another delay at 50th Street- church is over and there are hundreds of cars and people scurrying to get to breakfast.  Speaking of breakfast, the next hold up is in front of Uncle Bill’s.  Cars double parked, backing up, and turning suddenly if they find a spot.  A few more pedestrian crossings, and I’m here.  Whew!

Girls in bikinis…in the Wawa.  Today’s temperatures are a bit cool with the strong sea breeze- but the young people (AKA the “group” renters) are starting to arrive and feel the need to strip down in order to thoroughly enjoy their vacation.  Sorry- no picture to accompany my post 😉

Many are bartenders, waitresses, and lifeguards for the summer-  an essential part of our business community.   Yet they do have a different lifestyle!  It works best if the young people aren’t living too close to the family tenants and full time residents.

  3 days to go- and the temperatures are cooperating.

The ocean is a pretty blue-green color, and looks inviting…for 60 degrees!

Avalon Supermarket (29th Street), Bud’s Market (83rd Street), and Clarke’s Sunset Market (108th Street) are open for business, as well as most restaurants and retail shops on the island.  There are cars…and people…and lights on in houses- how amazing! 

Hope you can enjoy some time at the shore this weekend, too.

In the past,  if you saw a home on the island with a lawn, it was likely a year round residence. 

My father treated our front yard in Avalon like a formal living room- it looked beautiful and you weren’t allowed to use it.   We didn’t dare cut across the grass, or even worse, play on it. That’s why we had a back yard (wait, thinking back, he sent us around the block to play kick the can!)

Today, many of the new homes have a grass area- even if it’s just a small patch in the front yard.  

Bringing me to my observation…there are more landscaping trucks around town than contractor’s vehicles.   

The grass,  trees, and flowers distinguish us from other seashore communities.  Take note of the center islands along Dune Drive in Avalon and Second Avenue in Stone Harbor- all manicured like a prized front yard.