An inconvenient truth

PhutureMD · Post by **PhutureMD** » March 12, 2007 3:14 pm

I live in a condo on the beach that mostly caters to vacationers. Yesterday, as we were leaving, I looked up and saw a guy on a balcony, kicked back with a drink in his hand, looking out over the ocean. Knowing he was most likely here for Spring Break, and how he looked like he was enjoying the good life, I said something along the line of "That must be nice. Kicking back with a cold drink, looking at the water, what a life." My girlfriend laughed and said, and I quote, "You dumba$$. You live here. Sitting on the balcony with a drink, that IS your life!" I guess sometimes I need to be reminded what I have. Not take so much for granted. I have a very nice roof over my head, a great view, a fridge full of beer, and most importantly, people that love me. All in all, a good life. I may not have the greatest job, I may sometimes sweat it out between paydays, but I'm not wanting for too much. Probably, some of these vacationers would look at me, living on the beach, and think "What a life." Don't know if the grass is always greener, but like the man says "Some of it's magic, some of it's tragic, but I had a good life all the way." Just needed someone to point that out to me. I hope you all are enjoying what you have, remembering those small blessings. Maybe we'll meet in parking lot, someday. Share a drink, some laughs, some magic. Until then, Peace.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » March 12, 2007 3:52 pm

Well said.

moeron · Post by **moeron** » March 12, 2007 3:54 pm

Amen brother. It's nice to have someone who keeps ME in check. If my Wife finds out..... I'm dead.

sunseeker · Post by **sunseeker** » March 12, 2007 3:57 pm

i'm jealous

thebeachbumm33 · Post by **thebeachbumm33** » March 12, 2007 4:00 pm

Growing up and living in a sleepy beach community sometimes you forget to put things in perspective... Thanks

Wino you know · Post by **Wino you know** » March 12, 2007 4:04 pm

Thanks for posting that-I try to preach that to myself every day.
Sometimes it gets absorbed-other days I'm more than SELF absorbed.

It's also very important to appreciate your good health-too many of us take it for granted, until we lose it.
Or, somebody we love dearly loses theirs.

Thanks again.

TropicalTroubador · Post by **TropicalTroubador** » March 12, 2007 4:15 pm

Amen. 'Nuff said.

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » March 12, 2007 5:20 pm

Was it Al Gore?

I don't have beer in the fridge or a beach to hang out on, but it's warm enough that I'm not wearing socks today!

Wino you know · Post by **Wino you know** » March 12, 2007 6:19 pm

SharkOnLand wrote:Was it Al Gore?

I don't have beer in the fridge or a beach to hang out on, but it's warm enough that I'm not wearing socks today!

God Bless global warming.
I'm LOVING it.

~Hippolyte~ · Post by **~Hippolyte~** » March 12, 2007 6:19 pm

SharkOnLand wrote:Was it Al Gore?

I don't have beer in the fridge or a beach to hang out on, but it's warm enough that I'm not wearing socks today!

amen to that....not sure why I wore them today, habit I think.

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » March 12, 2007 6:22 pm

~Hippolyte~ wrote:
SharkOnLand wrote:Was it Al Gore?

I don't have beer in the fridge or a beach to hang out on, but it's warm enough that I'm not wearing socks today!
amen to that....not sure why I wore them today, habit I think.

Maybe post traumatic stress from all the snow.

NotJust64 · Post by **NotJust64** » March 18, 2007 11:54 am

I was born and raised where I live today....the beach. From May to Sept. I dred all the tourists coming down and think to myself " when will they freakin go home already !". I just left the Carribean

a few weeks back and wondered as my ship pulled away, "do they say the same about us?".
Everytime we vacation, we are on someone else's home. Respect that when you go and figure " ah they will never see me again". You may be right, but we won't forget you either.
Don't complain when you can't fly your kite, walk your dog on the beach or bring your beer by the water. Remember it was a "you" that figured we would never see you again that put that rule there.
The earth is everyone's home.....now get your damn feet off the furniture !!

OceanCityGirl · Post by **OceanCityGirl** » March 18, 2007 12:37 pm

I live a few houses from the beach and can hear the ocean from my tiny balcony. Whenever I go to complain about anything I try to remember that. My hubby and I used to gripe about the tourists and are parking woes caused by them. (when all kids are home from college we have four cars to park and only one private spot). But last year we decided to really start enjoying where we live more, instead of complaining. Eventually we didn't even think about the problems any more. I wish we had done that four years ago. Wasted time.
We just came back from hatteras where we brought a group of college kids who were good kids but probably behaved like bad tourists in some respects. I thought, I'm glad it's off season so nobody is cheering when we leave.
Life is short. Enjoy every minute and squeeze all you can from it. I didn't start thinking like this til recently when I turned 40. I wonder if you can think like that when you are young or if youth truly is wasted on the young.

Moonie · Post by **Moonie** » March 18, 2007 1:08 pm

We definitely don't have tourists where we live (in the boonies) but see plenty of them around the waterfront and Riverview Hotel and Seagles...

lots of non-permanent military from the submarine base...always very enjoyable to spend the evening talking with them..

we thoroughly enjoy the sailors that stop off on their way South, or back up North...spent many a night at Seagles sharing stories...

sometimes the Blokes are in for a few and always lots of fun...can't say they are tourists,

you just never know who you are going to meet there, but it's always interesting...always

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » March 18, 2007 1:13 pm

Moonie wrote:We definitely don't have tourists where we live (in the boonies) but see plenty of them around the waterfront and Riverview Hotel and Seagles...

lots of non-permanent military from the submarine base...always very enjoyable to spend the evening talking with them..

we thoroughly enjoy the sailors that stop off on their way South, or back up North...spent many a night at Seagles sharing stories...

sometimes the Blokes are in for a few and always lots of fun...can't say they are tourists,

you just never know who you are going to meet there, but it's always interesting...always

sounds like a cool place to hang..

jackiesic · Post by **jackiesic** » March 18, 2007 2:31 pm

NotJust64 wrote:I was born and raised where I live today....the beach. From May to Sept. I dred all the tourists coming down and think to myself " when will they freakin go home already !". I just left the Carribean a few weeks back and wondered as my ship pulled away, "do they say the same about us?".
Everytime we vacation, we are on someone else's home. Respect that when you go and figure " ah they will never see me again". You may be right, but we won't forget you either.
Don't complain when you can't fly your kite, walk your dog on the beach or bring your beer by the water. Remember it was a "you" that figured we would never see you again that put that rule there.
The earth is everyone's home.....now get your damn feet off the furniture !!

Hey Janine! I'm finally seeing a post from you.
Tourists? Personally I stand on the Blvd Labor Day and wave bye to'em. Kinda like a flight attendant -
"bye-bye", "good-bye now", "bye-bye" giggling the entire time!!

inked-parrotthead · Post by **inked-parrotthead** » March 18, 2007 3:57 pm

Man,that sounds great Ive tried to figure how to get to a life in the palm trees,and I dont need fancy cars,,or diamonds,but I just want to live somewhere that on my day off can drive an hour or so be at the beach,somewhere that I can retire my snowshovel,To top it off last nite my furnace broke ,cant get the parts to have it fixed til Monday,so Im heating with space heaters.....So if you are one of those folks in the palms and the sunshine,do me and you a big favor get away from the computer ,step outside,have a cocktail and be happy,Im happy for you!!!

jackiesic · Post by **jackiesic** » March 18, 2007 4:11 pm

inked-parrotthead wrote:Man,that sounds great Ive tried to figure how to get to a life in the palm trees,and I dont need fancy cars,,or diamonds,but I just want to live somewhere that on my day off can drive an hour or so be at the beach,somewhere that I can retire my snowshovel,To top it off last nite my furnace broke ,cant get the parts to have it fixed til Monday,so Im heating with space heaters.....So if you are one of those folks in the palms and the sunshine,do me and you a big favor get away from the computer ,step outside,have a cocktail and be happy,Im happy for you!!!

sorry for your troubles inked.
be real careful with those spaceheaters!!

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » March 18, 2007 6:48 pm

inked-parrotthead wrote:Man,that sounds great Ive tried to figure how to get to a life in the palm trees,and I dont need fancy cars,,or diamonds,but I just want to live somewhere that on my day off can drive an hour or so be at the beach,somewhere that I can retire my snowshovel,To top it off last nite my furnace broke ,cant get the parts to have it fixed til Monday,so Im heating with space heaters.....So if you are one of those folks in the palms and the sunshine,do me and you a big favor get away from the computer ,step outside,have a cocktail and be happy,Im happy for you!!!

(((Inked)))

I hope things get better

MA_Buffett_Fan23 · Post by **MA_Buffett_Fan23** » March 18, 2007 7:06 pm

Very well said!!