There's nothing more colorful than a beach town. People have to paint more often because of the sunshine, salty air and constant winds. Here, their chosen colors are bright and cheerful, boldly standing out in the clear sunshine, stark against bright white clouds and blue skies.
Bright colors lure in patrons more readily than do dark, brooding colors for who wants to brood at a beach? People themselves don straw hats bestowed with flowing scarves (protection, of course), loud t-shirts and shorts. They fly colorful kites, lie upon neon beach towels, schlep dazzling totes overflowing with flashy beach goodies that rivals a box of 64 Crayola crayons. Their very skin glows from the sun's tint, shiny with oils and lotions. One finds more smiles per capita at any beach town. One simply can't be brooding and frowning at a beach. It's simply not possible. (...cranky children are the exception...)
Salty air, fresh seafood, children laughing, sunshine blazing, gulls calling, waves crashing - a beach town has a way of lightening ones load, carving out grins and cleansing lungs and souls.
After living in such a bright, happy place can I ever go back to town living? We are pondering that very thing. Should we stay or should we go?
I miss some things about town living, but would feel a hole left by the colorful houses and palm trees. Most of all, I would mourn the loss of vast stretches of sunshine and clouds. Here, my soul has been lifted and my heart has found a new song.
