What is it like to up and move to the beach?

I get asked this question all of the time.  From an outside perspective, it's sexy and glamorous.  I get that.  You get that.  Blah blah blah. 

But what's it really like?

Well, it's pretty awesome.  I get to go to the beach most days, if even just for a couple minutes.  I wear flip flops most days of the year, and am actually wearing out my bikinis.  Island time makes us all breathe a little slower.  I love seeing palm trees, smelling the salty air, and feeling the sun on my skin most days (we do get some grey cold snaps in the winter months, but even then, the sun still has warmth to it unlike in New England).  Everyone stops for sunsets.  It's like a daily event to remind us all to be present.  Beach hair, sun dresses, and tan skin isn't reserved for getaways.  I can drink smoothies in the winter and not shiver (if you're from the north, you get this.). I can also get out of the shower without feeling cold! Everyone is outside all of the time, and it makes meeting friends easier.  Oh, and margaritas and fish tacos just taste better here.  

With all of that said, I still struggle to pay bills, get sick of figuring out what's for dinner, and deal with the the million other annoying things that the rest of us have to deal with.  While island time is relaxing, it's also annoying when I'm in a rush and no one else seems to get it.  My car looks like someone dumped a bag of sand in it.  Slathering sunscreen on is never an option, and my son still screams every time I put it near him.  For some scientific reason, the bathroom seems to get skankier living here.  Maybe it's the humidity?  Bug infestations can be a real problem.  The salty air makes everything rust, and takes the paint off your house.  Garbage gets stinky fast. Actually, everything gets stinky fast.  

The real thing to remember though is that no matter where you live, your issues will follow you.  You'll still fight with your significant other, your kids will test your patience on the daily, you'll continue to stress over finances, and you'll struggle to get your exercise in and cut back the sugar.  If you battle depression or anxiety, you'll still have to turn inward and deal with it here as well.  Routines can get boring at times, yes, even by the beach. 

You can never escape the mundane, ordinary, or realities of life.  Maybe we should all just learn to fall in love with that stuff? 

So, my advice to anyone wanting to move somewhere tropical (or really anywhere they dream of) is to go for it.  Life is too short not to!  And if it doesn't work out or you hate it, you can always move again later.  Is that inconvenient and stressful?  Sure, but remember that most things in life are not permanent, including picking up and moving.

And now, I must end this to (and I'm not kidding), do the dishes, switch the laundry, and force myself to get on my yoga mat!

Have a rad weekend, kids.

With LOVE,

Lindsay