The Beach Habit

Like many families in the mid-Atlantic we like to vacation at the Outer Banks, NC. At one time, my family’s beach of choice was Ocean City, MD, but that was during my growing up, college and early adulthood years: the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. In 1990, when Calvin was two and I was pregnant with my youngest son Corey, we went to the Outer Banks for the first time and fell in love with the beautiful beaches and quiet family atmosphere. We made the Outer Banks a habit over the next six years.

After my parents retired, they sold my childhood home in Maryland and moved to Orlando, Florida in 1995. A new job had taken my brother and his wife to central Florida in 1989 so my parents, my boys and I had already enjoyed a number of family trips to the land of sunshine, palm trees, and theme parks. For the next eleven years after my parents' move, Florida became our second home. The kids and I spent as much time as my vacation schedule would allow, visiting my parents during Christmas and the summer break from school.

Things came full circle in 2006, when my brother was transferred to NC. With him came our elderly father, as our mother had passed away in 2000. Summer of 2006 took us back to the beaches of the Outer Banks and once again, we’ve made it a habit for these past five years.

Many of my fondest memories from childhood and beyond are from vacations with my family. Before taking off for Seattle, Calvin made one last trip to see his grandfather. During that visit, he asked him what his favorite memory was. My dad replied that it was a beach trip we took to Ocean City when I was about 14 and my brother 16. We invited our two cousins and two friends. My parents were brave enough to take six teenagers to the beach for a week and apparently we made it a very memorable event!

My kids have often told me that some of their best memories are from our family vacations. As kids get ready to embrace adulthood, I think some of the most important things to take with them are things that won’t fit into a suitcase or box. Good memories are one of those things.