I’ve been spoiled for much of my adult life.
When I was first married my wife and I lived at the base of Cape Ann in Massachusetts while I attended seminary. Our favorite weekend activity was to take “the drive.” This route traversed the perimeter of the cape, frequently with little more than rocks and waves between us and the Atlantic Ocean 1. During the summer months we also had our choice of beaches to visit 2. My wife and are not “beach people,” but an afternoon in the sun was a fun way to do some reading and chat with friends 3.
For the last sixteen years we’ve lived in Palmyra, situated along the bank of the Delaware river. I get to stroll along the bank and watch the sailboats glide over the surface. On occasion we also get to watch large cargo ships power up to Trenton or down toward the Delaware Bay. The first day of Spring when I spot sailboats moored in the river is one to which I look forward every year. It marks the coming of warmth and life and chats with friends out on our back porch.
After being spoiled all these years by being near the beauty of water 4, I can’t imagine living in a land-locked area. I need a stream, lake, or river nearby. Something about these features helps me find moments of peace in a turbulent world.
One cool thing to note in the photo below. What appears to be a falling leaf is, in fact, the silhouette of a bird of prey soaring over the water.
- And through some cool little towns which we didn’t have the money to enjoy back then. ↩
- Good Harbor was my favorite, as it had waves. I don’t see the point of swimming in the ocean without waves. If you can’t body surf it’s just a cold, salty, lake. ↩
- I also learned how to play Cribbage at the beach, so that was cool. ↩
- And I’ve been fortunate to live in areas where catastrophic flooding is almost unheard of. That helps my appreciation. ↩
Painfully Hopeful 
Ah, I do love the water, too. I can’t bear to be far!
Being land locked would feel very strange.