Do You Live By The Sea?

Hi Janey..I can appreciate what you are saying about missing the Ocean because my whole life I have lived only a few minutes from the Atlantic Ocean and 2 years ago I moved from Ft Lauderdale Florida US, which is directly on the ocean and also a short drive from the Gulf of Mexico, to Orlando Florida which is landlocked, the middle of the state, and the closest beach is Daytona Fl which is a good 45 minute drive. May seem short to someone who is not used to being by the beach, but for me it seemed way to far away. I moved back to Ft Lauderdale, which is South Florida, and have no intention of ever leaving again. I grew up two houses away from the beach in Massachusetts, just south of Boston. Boston, of course is on the harbor and I grew up in a little family community called Squantum which is actually a penninsular. Water on three sides and from my front door, I was on the beach in about 15 seconds. This is all I have ever known and the short time I was away from it, I was miserable. I guess you take it for granted when you've always had it and when it was taken away I realized just how much the ocean was part of my life. We had a small boat as kids and also a two man sailboat called a Sunfish. What great fun we had in that ice cold water of New England. Swimming, boating, lobstering, clamming, water sking etc. Here in Florida the ocean is much more enjoyable with its 80 degree temperatures. Its aqua blue, crystal clear and absoultely beautiful. The sea air is wonderful, just like you remember and nights on the beach are to me, better than the days. We are only a stones throw away from the Bahama Islands and we holiday there quite often. The only downside to the warm waters are sharks, and in the years I lived here I've seen and heard of more attacks than I care to remember. You have to be very careful out there and pay attention to flags posted on beach warning of same. Jelly fish too are a danger and at a certain time each year, they make their way to the shore and a sting from them could be deadly if medical treatment is not sought immediately. Despite the couple of bad things, I would not trade living near the ocean for anything. I cannot imagine living in central US where there is no water for hundreds of miles. I guess its just what your used to as the people who do live there don't seem to miss what they never had. I hope someday you get to move back "by the sea"..Merry Christmas

Hello, Janey. When I was a child, we always took our holidays at Blackpool. My Dad loved to hear Reginald Dixon at the Tower Ballroom, and we always used to go to the circus. Charlie Cairoli, the clown, was a great favourite. At that time ( late 1950's, early 190's) there was still a menagerie in the Tower, and we used to love to see the animals. The piers were great, too, and the Pleasure Beach. When I was about 15, my friend and I were at the Pleasure Beach and two lads tried to chat us up. We said we'd go out with them if they'd take us on the Grand National. (like the Big Dipper, only scarier) In an effort to impress us, they took us around twice, and when they got off, they were promptly sick, so we left them to it. Happy memories! In answer to your question, we now live in Spain, about 15 minutes drive from the sea, at the foothills of a mountain range. We still have a holiday chalet in Cornwall, and that is 5 minutes from the sea. We love to go for walks along the beach and the cliffs, but we haven't done many this year, as when we've been in England, the weather has been foul. I love to swim in the sea here in Spain - it's warm even in the winter.