Beach Week 2006: What happens at Beach Week; Some final thoughts and reflections

I had a great time and a great trip. As much stress as it can be, it was still wonderful, joyful, and filled with happy chaos! For me the stress is about being outside of my routine ... although the days at the beach had their own kind of routine. 

What happens at Beach Week 

Each morning would start with coffee. I was not the first one up, and whoever it was started the coffee. I would grab a cup and go sit on the porch with whoever was there. Some times, some conversation, other times just comfortable silence after morning greetings. Eventually, someone (usually my eldest sister) would say: "Ready?" And whoever wanted would head out. It was slightly more than one-tenth of a mile to the gate to the private beach. We'd drop our towels (and foot-gear). Then we would walk the beach ... down to the stone jetty at the estuary, and then back to the rock ledge that defined that part of the beach. At this point at least a couple of us would swim, while others headed back to the house. After the swim, back to the house. The total walking portion was just over a mile. It was a restful, peaceful part of the day. For me, being near salt water has some healing properties. I need to remember that, and to get to the beach more often - I need to not be so imprisoned in my daily routine!

The rest of the the day was totally unstructured ... people would get up as they wanted. Some would go out on expeditions or adventures. Often there was a shopping trip, sometimes for that evening's dinner, or for the next night. Lots of time is spent on the front porch, reading and conversations. There are games played in the living room. There are occasional trips to the beach -- some longer some shorter. It is very loose and relaxed. Oh, and did I mention naps? One page in the family calendar often features naps at the beach house.

Several lunches were more organized than in the past, and there will be a further conversation about that. That happened because some folks wanted to participate in the food prep/delivery, but all the "dinner slots" were taken. We'll see how that develops. Dinner is the only "must do" event of the day. A spreadsheet is posted in advance and folks (usually in a pair) would sign up for a night and take responsibility for providing the meal. It's a system that has worked out pretty well over the time we have been doing this. 

Final thoughts and Reflections

For me there are two parts of Beach Week: the travel, and the week itself. This year, much of my preparation was focused on the travel there. That served as the inspiration for posting this series of blog posts.

Being with family in an unstructured environment is psychologically important to me. My siblings are the people in my life who have known me the longest. I am the eldest, and I have memories (especially of the youngest ones) coming home from the hospital! Being with my children and their offspring is also important. This year, I got to spend some time with the fiancee of one of my children and their three children -- and begin to get to know them.

The journey, the physical journey, was also an important reminder about our country and both the differences and similarities. Driving across the country on Interstates gives one impression of the country. One wag noted that, like the railroad tracks, the Interstates do not go through the best neighborhoods. Therefore, what we can see from the highway is affected by that. The US numbered highways tend to be older, and are often the main street through a community. They will go through the business district (with the associated traffic signals), and sometimes past some of the better homes in a community. the view from the highway can give a totally different impression than travel on the Interstate. That is a part of why I chose to do that this year.