A Day at the Beach

Galveston Beach

I’m not exactly sure what it is about the ocean, but Pat and I have always been drawn to it.

Whether it’s the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, or one of the Great Lakes, there’s just something about being near the water that helps us relax.

The funny thing is, we don’t surf, deep-sea fish, sail, or even eat much seafood. We might wade into the water up to our ankles, but that’s about it.

We simply enjoy being there.

Over the past couple of days, we found a quiet spot overlooking the shipping channel into Galveston Harbor. We spent hours watching the steady procession of ships entering and leaving the port. It was fascinating to watch the harbor pilots guide massive vessels through the channel with such precision.

Around us were people fishing, families enjoying the shoreline, and couples doing exactly what we were doing—simply slowing down long enough to appreciate the moment.

Today we took a long walk along the beach.

Partway through our walk, our daughter called Pat to discuss some wedding plans, so I wandered ahead by myself for a while.

The breeze was steady, giving the waves a constant rhythm as they rolled onto the shore.

Pelicans glided effortlessly overhead, barely moving their wings as they rode the air currents. Every so often one would suddenly fold its wings and dive into the water after a fish before climbing back into the sky to continue its graceful patrol along the shoreline.

The seagulls were another story altogether.

They darted back and forth in every direction, constantly looking for food. When one found a French fry or another snack, the others immediately gave chase, trying to steal the prize instead of finding their own.

Watching the two species side by side was entertaining.

The pelicans seemed calm and methodical.

The seagulls reminded me of rush hour traffic.

One of the things we’ve come to appreciate about RV travel is the people we meet along the way.

Yesterday afternoon the weather was warm enough that we decided to spend some time at the campground pool.

Within minutes we were visiting with people from several different states. One couple happened to be from Minnesota, another followed hockey, so conversation came easily.

A little later, a younger couple arrived with what seemed like an endless stream of children.

Curious, we struck up a conversation and learned they were from Jordan, Minnesota, traveling with their eight children, ranging in age from three to twelve.

What impressed us wasn’t the size of their family.

It was how the children behaved.

They were polite, respectful, and clearly enjoyed being together. The older children naturally watched out for the younger ones. They played for hours in the pool and later at the playground near our campsite without arguments, yelling, or the kinds of disagreements you sometimes expect from large groups of children.

It was refreshing to watch.

Days like this remind me why we enjoy RV travel so much.

There are no lawn projects waiting, no house repairs demanding attention, and no schedules that have to be followed. We have time to read, take a walk, play cards, meet new people, or simply sit quietly and watch the world go by.

We’ll be heading home in a couple of days, and I can already feel thoughts of appointments, projects, and responsibilities beginning to creep back into my mind.

Occasionally, I envy the full-time RVers we meet along the way. Their lifestyle has an appealing simplicity.

Then I remind myself how fortunate we are.

We have a home we enjoy, family and friends nearby, and the freedom to lock the front door whenever we need a break from everyday life.

For us, it’s the best of both worlds.

And after a week like this, that’s more than enough.