Oceangoing Vessel

I MISS THE SEA. 

I have been blessed to see the Long Island Sound, and to drive over the Hudson River, on my precious visits to Sis during this pandemic. We went fishing out on the swells, and that was a gift. We've seen boats bobbing in the marina, a fishing pier, sandy beach, swaying marsh grass.

BUT I MISS THE SEA. 

Have not seen it since Dan, Punch and I scooted up to the Cape for a long weekend in March, right before Covid took hold. It was cold in March, and we didn't spend much time at the beach, that's for sure.

I AM SO EXCITED. Moey and I are doing our annual girls' day at the Shore tomorrow. Lorraine usually joins us, but can't this year. Moey suggested we stay over one night since it will be so hot and I SAID GREAT. (First, I checked with Dan, since he will be home base for Punchy.)

We are going to clean, charming Spring Lake for the day. You have to buy your day beach passes ahead online....no money changing hands. The B&B is ordering them for us ($10 each). We are going to a B&B with an excellent rating....Covid rules, etc. 

I CAN'T WAIT. 

They even have a 7 to 8 am beach yoga class on Thursday mornings and I hope I can set my alarm for that.

I FEEL SO LUCKY.

This excitement about heading to the sea? I like to think it comes from my Irish mother, who loved Rockaway Beach, and I think from her father, who hailed from County Galway and had eyes like a light-blue sky over the ocean. My grandmother--Alice--packed up a trunk and her four young children and took a cab to Rockaway for a vacation every summer. I guess my grandfather was there part of the time.

TCOY

1. Cool bath.
2. Talked to a friend and to Sis.
3. Read with a friend/important.
4. Booked the B&B. Moey and I will get to relax and talk by the sea.
5. Healthy foods included red cabbage, asparagus, fish and fresh cherries.

$ SPENT OUT OF POCKET

• My half of B&B, for one night/twin room counting tax, $10 daily beach badge fee, $20 beach yoga reservation, anytime coffee bar and of course, breakfast, $159.10. It's amazing how many taxes are charged for one night's stay in Spring Lake: occupancy tax; town tax; and NJ sales tax. (The three total $32.94.) BTW, I called the place directly and got a better nightly rate than on booking.com....about $34 less.

total daily spend: $159.10.

ongoing monthly spend as of July 28: $2,536.27.

avg daily spend: $90.58.

P.S. That 1974 album cover above? It was the first album I ever bought. I got it used at the record store on Washington Avenue one summer, at the Bergenfield Sidewalk Sale. I listened to it over and over and over again on the portable record player in the bedroom I shared with Sis--when I was alone.