Ocian in View! O! the Joy!

For someone who lives at the edge of the Pacific I feel like I spend very little time on the beach.  When we first planned to move here I envisioned daily strolls and contemplative sojourns on the sands.  Just like all plans, seems like something always come up instead.  Work, softball games, the weather, grocery shopping, household chores . . . .there's always something "more important".

Recently, I had a 6 month job review with my boss and while I like to skip lunch and leave early she stressed that rules require I take a midday break, at least half an hour.  I realized that this is the perfect designated beach time, especially now that the weather is turning to summer.  I work in 4 different offices during the week, all within a short distance to the beach.  Last week I spent 45 minutes of one lunch soaking up the sun, walking in the surf and playing in the sand.  Another day I walked a two-mile trail to the beach that lead to an interpretive boardwalk.  The smell of the salt air, the seagulls squawking, the ocean breeze:  it was wonderful. Being a spur of the moment decision, I wasn't quite dressed for this trek however, and I returned to work happy but sweaty and with blistered toes.

Today, I had my spare pair of tennis shoes, grabbed my sunglasses and walked from my office a quarter mile to the park overlooking the beach.  We're having minus tides and beautiful sunshine and I watched people tide pooling and flying kites.  I am so fortunate to have this wondrous ocean so close and I'm determined to appreciate it more.  My goal:  to tickle my toes in the sand and to dip them in the ocean at least once a week.  I'm required to take this mandatory midday breather, why not enjoy it?