I need to be near the ocean.
My weekend at the beautiful Marriott’s Oceana Palms in Florida learning about Marriott Vacation Club (which I can’t wait to tell you about) reconfirmed that I just feel most comfortable when I’m by the beach.
So I guess it’s a good thing San Diego is my home now.
Having grown up in New York and lived in Boston for five years, I’m used to having the ocean just a quick drive away. As a family, we spent many happy summers in the Hamptons and on Cape Cod, and there is nothing more soothing to me than the sound of the waves.
It’s always fascinating to me to hear about other people’s happy places. My daughter is most at home in a woodsy, tree-filled setting. I have friends who swear by the desert and others who crave the mountains.
I love visiting all of those and appreciate their individual beauty but feel lucky to be able to return to my place by the sea. It’s why I’ve only lived on our country’s two coasts.
I’m drawn to the power and the personality of the ocean, and how its mood can change from calm and serene to angry and dark.
When I’m stressed, I imagine myself in a chaise lounge on a cruise ship, wrapped in a blanket and a good book, sipping iced tea and being gently rocked by the infinite blue of the sea.
“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water,” said philosopher/scientist/writer Loran Eisely. I totally agree.
I want to share this beautiful Mary Oliver poem with you, and hope you’ll share your happy place with me. Where is it?
Ocean by Mary Oliver
I am in love with Ocean
lifting her thousands of white hats
in the chop of the storm,
or lying smooth and blue, the
loveliest bed in the world.
In the personal life, there is
always grief more than enough,
a heart load for each of us
on the dusty road. I suppose
there is a reason for this, so I will be
patient, acquiescent. But I will live
nowhere except here, by Ocean, trusting
equally in all blast and welcome
of her sorrowless, salt self.
I quite agree. The ocean is where I could spend my entire life, just sitting and staring at. It quiets and soothes my soul, and lifts my spirits.
We spent many happy summers growing up “down the shore”, riding the waves and building sand castles (not to mention my parent’s Happy Hours with Tangueray and tonic!) Now, as an adult, we go to the beach to de-stress.
Thanks for the inspiration. I just may give my hand at this one too! xo
Oh, I miss the ocean now. I need to find a white noise audio track to go with your pics and poem. And a new pair of sunglasses. Ahhh.
I love the ocean, it’s so soothing and allows me to decompress. Sounds wonderful.
Same here! I always tell my husband that there’s nothing wrong with me a trip to the beach can’t fix.
nothing better than the ocean to make you relax and think of nothing as you watch the waves.
I love the ocean! When I ride my bike each morning on the path along the water the ocean smell, the sounds and the air make me feel calm and joyful!
I would love to be nearer the sea (I live as inland as you can get here) there’s something calm, relaxing and beautiful about it. x
Not sure I could ever say this better: “I’m drawn to the power and the personality of the ocean, and how its mood can change from calm and serene to angry and dark.”
Every word is perfectly crafted.
I think it is the power of water…. I grew up on Lake Michigan and I remember thinking about how the lake’s magic changed (and how it changed my power too) with each season. I don’t think is anything more humbling than walking on the beach during a winter storm. Thanks for the beautiful food for thought this morning!
I love living so close to the ocean. I need to live on a coast.
I have always thought I was more of a mountain person than a beach person, but I do need moving water. My mom, is 100% ocean.
I love the ocean too and would love to visit it more frequently. I’ll be going on a cruise in December though so I’ll get to spend some quality time there.
Having grown up in Florida, I too love the ocean. Sometimes we drive over just to shove our feet in the waves and watch the sun set!
It is true that if the ocean is your pull, there is nothing like being near it as much as you can
It is such a force. I would miss it terribly if I left South Florida
I grew up near the ocean and there is nothing like it. I wish my boys were growing up with that kind of experience too.
I’ve always lived thirty minutes away from the beach. I don’t go as often as I should but it is always a beautiful sight.
I am an ocean girl and miss it terribly. I appreciate seeing photos so I can enjoy the beautiful views.
I would love to be able to move near an ocean. There’s just something about being near one that’s so soothing to me.
I love the ocean – it’s the sand I don’t like! But I understand exactly what you mean.
I love that quote! The sea definitely brings me peace.
I sadly did not even have a chance to get to the beach this year. I hope next year I can get there!
I love the ocean, but my heart is at home on the mountain. Soak it in!
Me too! I’m about a half hour from the beach and don’t go there enough. I lived in Malibu overlooking the ocean in a past life, well, about forty years ago! If I move again, it will be to the ocean.
I love the ocean too. I am in a position that I do guided imagery for people. I usually “take them” the the beach. We fill the senses with all that the ocean brings – the feel of the sand, the sun, the water, the smell of the salt, the sounds of the waves, the sea gulls – oh my – just thinking about all that makes me feel relaxed
I have loved the ocean all my life and am very blessed to be able to live in Florida now, right on the coast. It’s my most favorite place in the world.
I can see why this is your favorite place. Sounds very relaxing.
I love the ocean too! The moment I see the ocean, I feel like all my worries and stress just flow off me and into the sea. It’s soooo relaxing. Love the poem!
I love being near the ocean and although I’m only a stones throw away from the Jersey Shore, I don’t get there as often as I would like to.
I’m getting closer, I’m definitely an ocean girl. If I don’t go for a couple of monthsIstart to get a blue feeling. My husband will say I think It’s time for a road trip. I lived in KY my whole life now I reside in South Carolina but I’m still 3 hours to the water. Someday I hope to move to the Oregon Coast.
My happy place? I would have to say snuggled up with my loves on a lazy morning. It doesn’t last long enough though. My other happy place would have to be in the shower. When I can stay there uninterrupted for at least 5 minutes, it’s like heaven! heheh
Thank you for the inspiring words. Now, I can’t wait to go back to the ocean.
I love the ocean. When we went to Hawaii, my most vivid memory is waking up to the sound of the ocean.
It’s funny, I can’t swim but I love being by the water. There’s something so peaceful about it.
We have a condo on the beach. Want to come visit?
You sound like my sister, she loves the beach to pieces. I am not much of a beach person myself, but I love to explore new places.
I miss the ocean…well the beach. I lived in Jamaica and Florida. Now I live in Texas 🙁
I always remember how magical the ocean is every time I visit it. I so adore traveling anyhow, but being near the water is incredible.
The ocean is always calming for me tool. I’m so blessed to live not too far from it!
I miss the ocean so much. I used to live in Florida and Texas is so dry. I’m going to FL this week, so I’m actually excited I’ll be in my happy place for the next few days!
I’ve been in the mountains for so long, and I never tire of waking up to this view. But the ocean definitely draws me, and there is no doubt in my mind that we will end up living near the ocean 🙂
I love the ocean, though I’ve never lived very near to one. I have such fond memories of when we visited the ocean for the first time, when I was a kid. And, my son saw the ocean for the first time on his Make-a-Wish trip to California. (He still speaks fondly of the experience, and I’ll never forget).
Thank you!
My SIL swears by the power of the ocean. It’s her go-to place for most everything.
I miss the ocean. I grew up on a coastal town in Maine and it was just a quick walk away. I think that was my happy place.
Love the poem. I feel the same way. I always say being out on the water in a boat is my happy place. It’s where I really feel alive!
These is nothing like the sight, smell and feel of ocean water. It relaxes and comforts at the same time.
I miss the ocean. This looks like a great place to be I need to get back to my happy place.
You know, I have never been to the ocean! How sad is that!? I do love going to the beach though. That really is my calming and happy place.
I enjoy the woods just not the mosquito’s. The ocean is the place for me.
I am always happy when I’m at the beach. I am glad I’m just an hour away from one 🙂
You have me missing the ocean. I came from NY myself to CO and there are no oceans here and I truly miss it.
It’s ok if I am not on the ocean, but my lifelong dream has always been to live on or near a nice piece of water.
I love the ocean and I live just a few miles from it. I don’t see and experience quite as much as I should. If I had to pick a place, though, it would be the mountains. That is where I would love to spend my retired days. Love the poem.
I’m drawn in by the ocean as well, I’m always so relaxed when I’m listening to the crashing waves. I’ve advised my spouse that we have to live by the ocean at some point in our lives too.
I haven’t been to the ocean since I was in elementary school. Maybe someday soon I can make it back so I could really soak it all in & enjoy it.
My happy place is the ocean as well. Growing up in Eastern NC I have such fond memories of spending summers at the beach. Sadly now that I am older I don’t go as much as I want to, thanks for the reminder. I see a beach trip in my future.
The Ocean can be so calming. I like to walk along and relax and just take it in.
I grew up about a 20-minute drive from the sea, and it was amazing! Loved hunting for cute shells, avoiding the seaweed, dipping my toes in the wave on a hot day 🙂
My happy place is the ocean too!
My idea of fun is a day at the Beach. I wish here in NJ we could go to the beach all around the year. We have one 30 minutes away.
I have always felt a little anxiety when I thought about the ocean until I moved to Florida a few months ago. We go to the beach almost every Saturday and it is where I think I find the most serene. The calm of the waves and nature all around you. Its simply beautiful.
Wait, what! You were at Riviera Beach, only an hour from where I live in Miami and you didn’t let me know you were here? Bummer.
BTW, my happy place these days is Miami with all the culture, fascinating & friendly people, amazing Jewish community, interesting nature galore (we live within 10 miles of 2 National Parks!) Biscayne Bay, etc. In traveling around the U.S. full-time for 2 years, I learned that there are a lot of gorgeous, wonderful places that offer a lot – – and while my husband and I prefer the warm weather and being on the coast, I learned that the most important criteria for being in my happy place is finding a community and a purpose that means something to me.
I was literally in Florida for one full day – on business! I will definitely have to come back – I would love to visit you and your happy place 🙂
Well, OK then!