Why is being close to an Ocean beach such a big deal?

[DKM]

Originally Posted by tstieber

Funny, we moved a little farther Inland was in San Diego, and the warmer weather is one of things we prefer. Although there are days when it's over 90 degrees here and closer to 80 at the beach, those days are far fewer than those where it's 80 here and 68 at the coast. Plus, we have lower humidity and very infrequent marine layer. So for me, and presumably for all people, there's a personal sweet spot. Some love the coast, some love the desert, some love something in between. I guess for a lot of people, anything that's not the coast isn't worthwhile, but inland California has some of the nicest weather in the entire country.

Actually its that sweet spot that makes my area ideal too. Mountains keep the marine layer out most of the time. A nice breeze of fresh air up a canyon (very few people live in a straight line between me and Hawaii). Not sure I would trade it for the cool and fog people get right on the coast. I have windows open probably 300 days a year and use the AC maybe 10 days. Its been 80 to 88 nearly every day since mid July. We also can hit the beach easily because the masses hit a traffic choke point further inland than us.

[JGC97]

To answer the OP's question ..... for some it is a big deal. Whatever their reason, living by the ocean might be their dream.

I will admit that walking barefoot in the sand, looking out at the massive expanse of water, watching passing ships in the distance, listening to the roar of the waves, feeling the ocean mist, exploring the tide pools is something everyone should experience, at least once even if they aren't wealthy enough to live close to it.

[Losfrisco]

Originally Posted by tstieber

I think it's a stretch that being more than a few miles from the beach is akin to being in Phoenix. Driving to the beach isn't that big of a deal outside of the main tourist season and weekends. If you're able to go during the week and / or in the offseason, then the parking and traffic aren't very bad at all.

Maybe in Central Coast, idk. In San Diego, once you get 8 or so miles inland, the attractions decease while the heat increases. When I lived 4 miles inland in uptown SD, I rarely went to the beach just because of the logistics of getting there. For the number of times I went, I might as well have lived in Palm Springs or Arizona. Now I live very close and its a different world. No matter what day or holiday it is, what time, there is never an obstacle between me and the beach.

[hydro]

You’d have to love the ocean to understand. I love the wind and the waves and the water and the feel of he sand and the smell and the salty air and every single thing about it. You don’t apparantly so different strokes

[gizmo980]

Btw, I just found this picture of my old view (when I lived in Pacifica). Can’t you understand why someone would want to look out at THIS every day?!



And this photo gives me some feels, since both of the cats (Duchess & Kona) are deceased now... this was from back in 2002/3, and actually most of that bluff has since eroded too.

[WizardOfRadical]

There have been times that the distance between my pad and the ocean was measured in yards, not miles. It's just nice.

It's a better climate, often better air than inland, lots of revenue being generated. Good schools, strong police force. People are just happier there. It's for the haves only, the days of the surf ghetto are kind of long gone.