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Five Down Sides to Living by the Sea
From sea frets to seagulls
I’ve lived on the coast for most of my life, and I visit my local beach several times a month, but I don’t take it for granted. Because I’ve seen what being at the seaside means to those from land-locked counties, miles from the coast, who rarely get to dip their toes into the sea. A punk band from West Yorkshire came over one weekend, and as soon as we got to the beach they removed their shoes and socks, rolled up their trousers, and in they went. It was November.
In a similar vein, an online acquaintance from a land-locked county deep inland happened to be visiting the area, so she called in to see me, and we went for a walk along the beach. Even though it was bitterly cold, and the shallows were foaming, such was the force of the waves, my friend grabbed my arm to steady herself, and immediately kicked off her boots.
“What are you doing?” I said.
“I haven’t seen the sea for three years, so I’m going in,” she said.
“Well, I just saw it last week, so I’ll stay here and mind your things,” I said.
There was that almost magnetic attraction at play again.
For most of us though, there is enjoyment to be had in paddling in the shallows on a hot summer’s day. But living on the coast is not…
