I like walking the beach. It’s good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.
Waves are free to wash ashore. Sometimes as mild laps – other times as large roaring waves. No matter if during low tide, high tide, or in between, waves do as they please. Now that’s freedom – although nature’s forces are at work.
There is freedom in snowbirding. A freedom away from the routine of home. There is no today is Monday, so we have to do these things .. and so on. Sometimes we ask, “What day of the week is it?” “Is today Tuesday or Wednesday?”
There is freedom of being away from the cold weather of home. No matter how cold it is here on the Alabama coast, it’s all perspective because Alabama cold is warmer than home.
There is freedom to standing on the shore looking out to sea – freedom to sense the salty smell in the air – freedom to taste an essence of salt on my lips – freedom of letting water refresh my feet.
There is freedom in snowbirding when facing the two biggest questions of the day: “Which direction do we walk?” – “What’s for dinner?” Therefore, “What are we going to do today?” is very seldom – if ever – asked.
There is freedom in leaving our golf clubs at our cold-weather home. We enjoy the game – but having the clubs along serves as an unnecessary obligation – and we enjoy the freedom of snowbirding.
There is freedom to decide my day will be walking five miles (8 km) to have lunch, then walking back.
There is freedom in snowbirding to letting the mind relax – freedom to letting the mind wonder – freedom to think about metaphors to develop these posts.
There is freedom in letting go – to not worry about feeling I have to stay busy. Not worrying about what to do – freedom from daily decisions – freedom in making a spur-of-the-moment decision to go to the Flora-Bama for the music.
There is freedom to walking the beach or sitting on the balcony overlooking the sand and the water. Reading, knitting, writing, blogging, solving puzzles, using the fitness center, or watching television join the list. Others fish, sit by the pool or on the beach.
The freedom of a snowbird – freedom to think – freedom to move with the wind – freedom to have a life as an alter ego away from the home routine – freedom to walk – after all, walking the beach is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.
A Frank Angle 
The joy of being on holiday is well captured here Frank. And an introduction to the words ‘snowbird’ and ‘snowbirding’ . I’d looked them up before I got to the end of your post 🙂 Nice!!
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Pauline,
I know that much of the world using holiday when Americans say vacation, but I totally forgot that much of the world may not know snowbirds and snowbirding. Thanks for looking them up. Now that you know, the name makes sense! … Glad you enjoyed the walk and thanks for coming along.
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Dearest Frank,
You have left me with the BIGGEST desire to find myself walking along the beach right now… I wanna forget what day it is and not care what direction I walk in…
Lovely, Signore, just lovely!
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Dale,
After the grind that winter brings, I’m imagine you are ready to go … besides, I remember you like the warmth of the Caribbean.
FYI: The direction of walking is an important question because there are important factors: Wind direction, wind strength, tides, and typical walking conditions are considered. 🙂
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Frank,
You are so right. Wouldn’t mind planting my butt in the Caribbean sand right now.
Of course, one must check these things before taking on such an endeavour…
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Oh yes … you don’t want a crab biting your butt.
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I was referring to your wind direction but right… don’t want my butt snapped either! Not by a crab anyway 😉
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Which direction do we walk and what do we have for dinner . . those are two questions conjoined forever after. Just saying.
And I know a thing or two about an alter ego. And you, have followed me straight on through to the other side. As per Jim Morrison. Not the Pittsburgh Pirates JM. Not him.
Please remember Cincy . . Freedom is another word for nothing left to lose. Some gal named Janis, she said that, once upon a time.
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I say we both walk towards Frank’s house and ask him what’s for dinner… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbKlvWvpD2g&list=PLxuaaONzLc3ctq6jcZg4ByhLX3jH9np-h
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And Cincy might shoot back at you with something like this.
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OK. BBQ first, sugar last… deal?
Whaddaya say, Frank?
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Wait . . no . no . . no. Sugar always first, after which the BBQ happens. With eggs. And Tabasco sauce.
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Alrighty then… I’m good with that!
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Very good, in fact.
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I must say, these seem tasty!
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Right?
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Food Network is one of my fav channels – Love BBQ – but I tend to go our for it.
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Me too. On both counts.
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Nice song … but we won’t be home tonight – handbell choir practice.
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Think it might take more than one day to walk to you 😉
Unless you are trying to dissuade us? 😁
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LOL … a bit more than a day walking. But oh no … I wouldn’t dissuade.
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Good to know….
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Marc,
In the spirit of both Joplin and Morrison, freedom is the alter ego of our winter getaway!
LOL – Interesting that you mentioned Jim Morrison because he was on my very first fantasy baseball team.
BTW – Sometimes we don’t “What’s for dinner?” question because the decision was already made. We tend to plan in 3-day blocks.
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I always loved the idea that Jim Morrison played for the Pirates. It was an intrigue that drew me to baseball and rock and roll.
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And that is a tasty system you have for dinner plans!
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A lot of things to like in today’s post: your writing, the Isley Brothers’ singing, the foamy photo color palette – all reminders of the little sign beside the TV in our Alabama beach condo – “Relax, You’re on Beach Time.”
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Tim,
Glad you enjoyed this walk and that took you back. That sign in your condo is a good one. How well did you do with that mantra?
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Great – when I was walking the beach, but only a C+ otherwise.
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C+ means there is much room for improvement. Similar golfing transition from 90s to 80s to 70s … that is, each step is a steeper climb.
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Love the images, definitely Freedom at the beach! Endless possibilities to refresh and recharge for all. Oh, and there’s time to flesh out poems, if the mood strikes, lol.
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Roxie,
Glad you enjoyed this one … and you even see a poem developing from these words. I remember you telling me that in the post, specifically regarding my “I am not a sheller” walk. Just so you know, I haven’t forgotten that, so I have devloping a poem from those words on my blog plate. The question is will I find time to get it done!
PS: I invite to read the previous walk (so many good words about it) https://afrankangle.wordpress.com/2018/04/03/on-beach-walk-no-19/
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Always enjoy our beach walks, lol.
Thanks, I’ll check it out!
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Strange Internet issues may have duplicated my comments. That’s ok bc saying it twice may still not do your piece justice, lol.
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Love the music. Freedom is of course perfect for this post but my favourite by them is That Lady. The song reminds me of driving through San Francisco on the freeway in about 1974 with that wailing music loud on the car radio. It’s a good memory!
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Phillip,
Glad you enjoyed the music. I usually have quieter music for the walks, but the lyrics corresponded to the meaning I was aiming for in the post. Glad it stimulated memories. As a science enthusiast, I encourage you to read the previous walk … so here is the link. https://afrankangle.wordpress.com/2018/04/03/on-beach-walk-no-19/
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Loved it, Frank. I have to agree with all you have recorded.
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John,
Many thanks … besides, I know you live the snowbird life 24-7-365.
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What are those numbers? What day is it. OMG did I miss our anniversary again? (That last one has never been said.)
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LOL … good ones. Does your town get many snowbirds?
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Yes. We call them Winter Texans. We get about 5,000 between November and April.
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Wow … that’s a lot! … Quite the economic boost. Let’s just say I like the snowbirds term a bit better. 😉
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This year with the hurricane damage there was about a 60% drop due to the lack of housing.
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Wow … definitely an economic blow.
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The dollar loss is the resident’s gain.
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I can see that.
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We who do not rely on them for anything find them a pain.
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I know .. they are slow at everything!
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Can’t understand the slowness. They move like buffalo grazing.
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And that’s on a good day.
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😀
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Some think the reason people find walking the beach calming is that the rhythm of the waves matches the blood sloshing through the body with the heating of the heart. (Would be interesting to know if heart beats ever get timed to match those of the waves…but the walking motion rhythm might also be worth comparing…would it be in time or in harmony between the 3?)
Your post pacing is also rhythmic – might do well put to music? By a 60’s era folk singer perhaps? Paul Simon type?
Enjoy walking along
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Mouse,
Interesting question about relating rhythms of the sea with heart rate. Will have to do some timing next time I’m there. No matter the reason, the beach has a way of soothing the mind. Thanks for walking along!
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Classic Isley Brothers capping off a fine post. Well done.
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Monika,
Thanks for walking along … plus enjoying Cincinnati’s own Isley Brothers!
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It’s true what you write about the freedom of being a snowbird. I think the beach has a way of bringing up that feeling even when we’re not snowbirding (something I’m learning now that I live near the beach and no longer fly to warmer climes for the winter).
Lovely post, Frank. 🙂
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Robin,
No doubt – the beach has a way of doing what it does to the mind. You are lucky to be so close to the beach … but a long drive for me! However, snowbirding is its own mindset.
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Something to brighten your day.
Smash Mouth – Then The Morning Comes
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Charlie,
Got it … poor guy in video is being tortured by his own mind!
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hahahahaha!!! I hope you enjoyed it…it reminded me of the good old days out in the beach and everything being calm and cool.
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We have many snowbirds down here. Thanks for exposing the mind of a snowbird. Husband and I have lived here for 41 years but retirement has brought a sense of freedom even if we are not snowbirds. A lovely stroll on the beach with you!
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Jo,
Thanks for coming along for the walk. I like that you got me thinking for the locals perspective, after all, snowbirds are invading your space – then again, there are businesses that depend on that.
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Lake Ontario is only a 15 minute drive for me, the bayfront even closer, I should really go down there for a walk, it’s just so darn cold though, I really need spring to show up for me. I could never be a snowbird, I love Canada too much and the four seasons, even though winter is still here and not going any where fast.
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Catherine,
Oh yes … go to the beach near you … and yes – wait until it temperatures go up! The four seasons are wonderful. We still had our Cincinnati fall and winter … but time away from the cold was great … and we look forward to it again!
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It all sounds so very relaxing, Frank!
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Merril,
Six weeks of R&R were wonderful … especially in the middle of winter. Life as an “alter ego” is real.
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Freedom is totally underrated!
LOL! As a teen, I told my mom that I wanted to be free, like a rabbit in the woods.
She cried jumbo teas and yelled…I gave you life, and you want to be a rabbit?
I’ll skip what happened when dad came downstairs to defend mom.
Like many teens, I was misunderstood.
Neat song. TY, Frank!
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Resa,
Ah ha … I think we have similar views of freedom. Then again, not only are teens misunderstood, I’m not sure what they understand – but all of us go through that stage!
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I think you capture the joy of beach life perfectly, Frank. I’m a voracious reader and typically read several books at once. I used to bring them all with me, thinking “vacation” would give me reading time.But then I wouldn’t read! I have found that beach time often means walking with no particular aim other than the joy of the experience, followed by staring at the waves and the horizon. I enjoyed hearing more about how you spend your time “beach walking,” and snowbirding seems like a very wise way to go! Lovely!
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Debra,
Ah ha … The beach gives you freedom, so the books aren’t a burden! My wife is the avid reader, and she still finds plenty of time in her alter ego to read! Glad you enjoyed this walk!!!!
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