Morning Beauty on the Beach

If one picture is worth a thousand blogs, then click on this link... http://www.oceanplaza.com/ and you'll see what I'm looking at this AM. The beach in front of this hotel looks almost exactly as it does in the picture. This is my view from the Pavilion on the Pier, where I'm sitting, alone at 7:58 this morning.

It's August 14th, and we're having unusually cool weather, it was in the 60's the morning and is in the low 70's now. There were 10 people walking along the mile of beach and 3 people swimming in the water. The East Coast Ocean is warm, in case you didn't know, as I didn't until I moved here. It's not at all like the Pacific Ocean, where you have to wear a wet suit to surf even in August. So, it's not unusual to see a few people swimming early or late at night.

There are swings along the beach. Not metal swings but Solid Wooden Garden type swings that seat two. There are several of them planted ...parallel to the surf, but far enough away from high tide, to be almost hidden in the dunes. The swings provide sweet solice to walking on the beach. When I sit in those swings, and watch the waves, and the sand and sunrise, I imagine I must be related to King Solomon with all his splendor, and I'm swinging in my private Garden in front of the Ocean.

When my husband and I moved from our last home an hour away, to Tybee Island, my husband was worried about us leaving our expansive acre lot and moving to a lot just over 1/10th of an Acre. "You'll have no yard" he said. The first night in our new house, as we walked on the beach. I said to him, "This is my front yard." And every morning as I greet sunrise, alone on the Pier, I know, the ocean is my front yard. It's bigger than any yard I could ever afford. And is tended by some giant landscape engineer. It's a very personal thing, this enjoyment of morning beauty on the beach.

Coming back to the Island

I've had to be away from Tybee working on a home in a county where there is no easy access to anything. So, coming back to the Island, where I can walk to Groceries and a small hardware store and restaurants and the library, and on the beach...and up the small back residential streets on the South side...all seems more precious by comparison. Plus I love the ocean breezes, even in August.

I recently came across a walkability score at www.walkscore.com
and was shocked to find Tybee Island is rated 'car dependant'. I wouldn't rate it that, unless you want to leave the Island. But, then, one of my jobs, being a property manager for a small investment firm (that's the job that supports my writing) is such that I have to leave the Island and drive an hour away. So, maybe I'm just 'in love' and you know how 'blind' love can be. Tybee, you will never be rated Car Dependant to me!

Walking with my family out on the Pier

OK, here's the deal. Earlier when I wrote that I love to take my computer out and write on the Pier - what I meant was the Pavilion which is at the beginning of the Pier. http://tybeeisland.com/tybee-island-pier-pavilion.shtml

I've lived by lots of beaches, but never one with such a cool Pavilion (Or such a cool Pier, for that matter). There is something about the huge round wooden structure with it's soaring ceilings and giant open air windows to the Ocean...that is inspiring. There are public restrooms and four concession stands under the roof - where you can buy everything from Hot-dogs and Hamburgers to Ice Cream and Icy flavored treats to beer or wine. The Pavilion is furnished with about 40 picnic tables. It's nice because on a hot day you can walk up to the Under Cover picnic tables and watch people walk by or you can just sit and watch the Ocean. And on any given day, the Pavilion is only about 100 steps to all the restaurants that line the Ocean front street of Strand Ave. http://tybeeisland.com/tybee-island-restaurants.shtml

My new favorite thing about Tybee is the brand new habit my family and I have begun, of walking after dinner, usually about 9PM, from our home, down to the Pavilion and then out to the Pier. We watch the moon on the water or the people dancing to the Music.

It seems there is always music on the Pavilion. Someone, I'm not sure who, runs a computer generated stream of beach type music, which appears to be piped into several speakers around the Pavilion. Or, if that music is off, as it is, around 9PM - you can sometimes find a live band setting up and enjoy an impromptu live performance.

Sometimes when I think about living on Tybee, it's been a month now, we've been in our new home...I think I've discovered some old fashioned artsy/music loving/community that is forgotten by the rest of the world at large.

Going for walks, out to the Pavilion and then out to the end of the Pier, by the light of the moon - my new favorite thing about living on Tybee Island.

Nobody Dresses Up

I don't know if it's just me, but I have this thing about not dressing to impress. Or pretentiousness. On Tybee, the everyday dress code is simple, and casual.
And sometimes it's stained and old, but covering what we need to cover.

I've lived in places that celebrate function over fashion, such as Edmonds, WA. Those of us who lived in Edmonds, used to look at people in Bellevue, WA and think, "You poor souls who need to dress up to go to the mall." It's sort of like that on Tybee. We look at the people on Hilton Head, and say, "Thank God we are not a GOLF or fashion destination!"

So, if you come to Tybee and wear a starched button down shirt and any shoes but flip flops...you'll be outing yourself as a new visitor to the Island. Here, both heeled and poor alike wear old shirts, old shorts, old beach cover ups. And sandals. We just don't dress to impress.

If you are reading this post, and you're one of the people who have scheduled me to speak at some event...like the Woman's Forum at Georgia Southern ...http://ceps.georgiasouthern.edu/conted/womensforumcontact.html don't worry, I'll dress up. It's OFF ISLAND - and I can look professional...OFF ISLAND.

The Quiet Mornings

I am sitting on our back deck. And it's so quiet. Even though our home is only one street off Butler. And even though it's the last Sunday in July, at the height of Tourist Season, and even though it's a balmy 83 degree's outside at 8:13 this morning. There is no one around making noise. No cars. No loud music. Just the sweet morning birds. And a soft ocean breeze. I'm beginning to understand people I've met who work on the Island, and tell me they work two jobs just to live here. I have two jobs, and my husband works overtime. You make sacrifices to keep what you love. It's just so peaceful when you're home...here...on the back deck with the breeze and the birds and the quiet. You come to Tybee Island, you'll understand.

The Doves of Tybee

OK, the number 1 thing I love about living on Tybee Island, today is...the doves. Every morning I wake up to a soft, coo, coo, coo. It's not an abrasive sound like one hears from crows, or even a noisy wild flapping of pigeons. There's just something about the sound of doves that is peaceful and gentle and evokes a desire to rest. I read recently that doves are very different from pigeons, even though they are in the same family. Pigeons will thrive in a noisy, chaotic place, like Trafalgar square in London --- doves will not. They will leave, choosing to live only where there is an absense of strife. I think that pretty much says it all about Tybee: the dove's stay.

The Twenty Year Dream

OK, for those of you who don't know, I have found Nirvana. I mean, here on earth. As close to Nirvana as you can get. It's Tybee Island, GA. http://www.tybeeisland.com/ We have lived here for four weeks, and the joy is just exponential -

Here's the top 3 reasons I love Tybee Island. I mean, the top 3 today...check back tomorrow for more reasons.

1. Bike Riding...Tybee is a small Island, only 2.5 miles long. It has one main road, Butler Ave, on and off the Island. So the key to biking is to stay off that main road and use the back residential streets. Huge green tree's line the streets and shelter colorful beach homes. Other bikers are everywhere, When a family passes us on their bikes, the parents and I seem to exchange a glance that say's "I know, is this heaven or what!?"

OK, I have to give you a website, of one of the houses for rent here. Check out the greenery around this house - so you can know I'm not exaggerating. http://www.bigmagnoliaplace.com/

There is a bike shop on Butler Ave, one block from the Pier which offers free pick up and delivery for anyone who wants to rent a bike or even if you didn't rent a bike from them, if they pass you on the street, or you call and you're having any kind of trouble, their van will offer free transportation. And they rent all kinds of bikes. http://www.tybeevisit.com/outdoors-services.php (Scroll down to bike shop link)


2. The ambiance of the Island. My husband described Tybee Island, last night, as a cross between Manhatton Beach, CA, and Lake Wobegon. There's something about this Island that is more of a funky old-Lake-town destination - there's no Golf here. But, like Manhatton Beach, CA... there are bars with live music and shopping and 50 or so restaurants nestled between the beach and the residential community that makes Manhatton Beach, what it is. Some Upper East Coast friends visited the Island last year and described it as: THE HAMPTONS IN THE FIFTIES --residential, and low key. We love it.

One of the odd things about this Island (coming from the West Coast) is the absence of the masses of perfect bodies. Over 50% of Bathing Beauties here could be described as seriously overweight, or moderately packing about 50 extra pounds -- but they don't care. There's something refreshing about people who are going to get a tan on their bellies no matter what.

3. Mornings on the Pier. I'm a writer. That's what I do. http://www.marshamarks.com/ I'm currently working on a book about moving to Tybee Island, called THE TWENTY YEAR DREAM - A Memoir of Joy lost and found again. So, as a writer - I'm looking for places to write, outside my home. And as a starving artist, who spent all her money on buying a small place on this Island, I need places to write that are GRATIS --- but also, inspiring. I like to be able to look out at the Ocean. The Pier is perfect. http://tybeeisland.com/tybee-island-pier-pavilion.shtml It's covered, and sheltered, with an unobstructed view of miles of Ocean. The perfect place to write from 7:30AM to 9:30AM. Got to go to my other job now - see you on the Pier.