Love the Ocean

Flash Fiction

Love the Ocean

We live near the ocean, always have. It takes about an hour to get there, but compared to getting there from Kansas, pretty close.

Growing up, I learned that going “to the beach” always meant “ocean” around here. There were bodies of water nearer, that almost always had beaches too, but when you live “near” the ocean, “beach” means ocean.

I love looking at the ocean, reading about it, watching TV about it and all the life in it. I just do not like going there. Did I hear you just say “What?” in that ‘are you crazy’ voice. You’re so lucky, it’s beautiful and wild, how could you not love it! I do love it! I just prefer to love it from a distance.

First, it’s always cold. Yes, the water is freezing! And salty, (salt water...) But the air is cold too, and often very windy. Out there, there are no buildings or trees to get in the way of the wind, just you… So, you wade into the waves, freezing, and getting more frozen with the ice-cold water, and add cold wind. Then, unless you’re really a fish, and can actually swim in it, you stand there freezing and have the waves hit you one after another, and apparently are delighted! I just never was…

You’ll always see people on the beach laying on big towels. I imagine it’s easier to get a tan there than at home in a sunny spot. And, there's the no “trees" part, and also nothing growing on the beaches part. Yeah, I see it, but I personally do not want to try it.

I love living near the ocean. But I really love that fact that we’re far enough away that we only go once or twice a year…