The Beach in the ’80s
“Hey, want to hit the beach?”
“Absolutely!”
“I’ll swing by soon.”
I’d hop into my friend’s parents’ old Honda Civic, and off we’d go. Our essentials? A couple of sodas, a bottle of sun oil, a stack of teen magazines, and a portable cassette player. Total planning time? Just a quick ten minutes!
The Beach Today
Fast forward to today, and planning a beach day resembles a military operation:
“Beach day?”
“When?”
“Next Wednesday?”
“Can’t do that.”
“How about Thursday?”
“Not Thursday either. Friday?”
“Only Friday afternoon works.”
“Great, but parking will be a nightmare!”
“What mornings can you do?”
“Only Mondays.”
“Alright, let’s do next Monday at 9:00 AM. Deal!”
Come Monday, I wake up early to start the extensive preparations. I pack a cooler with ice packs, flavored lemonades, juice boxes, and fresh watermelon slices. The fruit is my attempt to balance out the endless snacks, because it’s all about the snacks at the beach, especially with growing kids around. I stuff a beach bag with salty and sweet treats, wrapping sandwiches in cling film—extra ones for those that inevitably get “too sandy.”
I assign my daughter the task of filling water bottles for everyone, which leads to her eye-rolling and a ten-minute search for the very bottles sitting right in front of her. I hand them to her, and she sheepishly shrugs. I fill a large container with ice water, understanding now that hydration is vital, unlike my childhood days of chugging warm soda.
Next, I embark on a scavenger hunt for sunscreen. I search through closets and bags for various types: face lotion, lip balm, spray, and traditional lotions. The days of slathering on Hawaiian Tropic oil are long gone; now we prioritize sun protection.
“Kids! Grab your rash guards!” Cue the groans of “We don’t want to wear those!” and “We can’t find them!” I grab my own cover-up and my beloved beach pants. Yes, they exist, and I unapologetically love them.
As I shove items into bags, the kids manage to pull things out, all while asking, “Are we leaving yet?” After a lengthy hunt, I finally find hats for everyone, knowing they will likely end up in the sand, but hey, sun protection is crucial.
Out comes the beach umbrella from the garage, complete with its spider inhabitants. We must have it; being “middle-aged” means I can’t handle the direct sun like I used to.
I assign my son to find the towels. Like his sister, he claims he can’t find any, but eventually emerges with a crumpled bag of them.
The biggest change? Now, I bring chairs to the beach. I can no longer lounge on a towel without suffering from the heat. So, I pack the chairs—definitely a sign of adulthood.
Then, we gather beach toys: boogie boards, footballs, shovels, buckets, and more. Kids today seem to get bored easily at the beach, which is almost blasphemous. Lastly, we cannot forget the goggles; kids today won’t dive into the water without them. I recall a time when we swam without a care, burning eyes and all.
Before heading out, I grab Band-Aids (because someone always seems to get hurt at the beach) and bug spray (as someone will undoubtedly attract mosquitoes).
Total time from the first planning text to actually leaving? Ten days and three hours.
I toss a magazine on top of the pile, holding onto the hope that beach days will once again feel as carefree as they did in the ’80s.
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Summary
Reflecting on beach days from the 1980s compared to the present offers a humorous contrast in preparation and expectations. From spontaneous outings with minimal gear to extensive planning and packing, the experience has transformed dramatically. Nevertheless, the nostalgia for simpler times lingers, reminding us of the carefree joy associated with beach trips.
Keyphrase: beach trip then and now
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