Beaches and Pools

Yesterday, after our exciting day at Fenway, the family and I decided to spend the day in Cape Cod, since we were almost there already.  My wife had been there many times before, but although I spent many summers as a child along the Massachusetts coast, I had never really been to the Cape proper.  This seemed like a great opportunity for me to expand my vacationly horizons, and for the kids to be hopefully amused enough to stop tormenting their parents and each other.

We started the day at the beach.  Now, I have to tell you right now, I am not really a beach person.  I don’t like being covered with sand.  I don’t like baking in the hot sun.  I don’t like stepping on rocks and shells that hurt my feet.  I don’t like touching icky seaweed.  The only thing I really do like about the beach is swimming, but only when the water does not instantly transport you into a state of hypothermic shock.  In other words, not in New England.

The water was very cold yesterday, and so I did not go in.  I mean, I tried.  I put my feet in.  I ran in up to my knees.  I got the bottom of my bathing suit wet, but then I saw those waves crashing nearby, and, well, let’s just say there were certain places that I was not willing to plunge into the icy deep just yet.  Instead, I hung out on the beach and tried to help Ruby and Edward build and destroy a sand castle, respectively.

By the end of our time there, I was hot, sandy, sweaty, sticky, and grumpy.  I could probably be quite happy never going to another beach, and I was sooooo ready to get out of there.  Of course the kids didn’t want to leave, because they all had a great time.  When we got back to our motel after lunch, it was decided that we would continue our swimming adventures in the pool.

I love pools.  I am a pool person.  Pools are warmer than oceans, there is no sand, and the depths are well marked.  You can get right into the appropriate amount of water for swimming without wading out half a mile.  You can play with toys and not worry that they are going to be lost at sea, or carried away by the tides.  I had a fantastic time in the pool.

Edward and Ruby both loved jumping in from the sides, and we played with a beach ball and various other pool toys for almost 2 hours.  If anyone ever got tired while they were swimming, the shallow end was only a few feet away.  Pools are the bomb.  Why anyone would go to the ocean when they can be in a pool is beyond me.

Now, let me clarify before I get yelled at here (even though I know that it’s too late for that).  The ocean is very beautiful.  Listening to the sounds of the waves and the birds is very relaxing.  Agreed.  Pools do not win the gold medals for beauty and serenity.  But for swimming and having fun, pools are where it is at.  At least for me.

But either way you want to look at it, we had a great day.  My wife and I had a great day off with the kids, playing in the water and getting a break from life.  Ruby got to build a great sand castle and practice her floating in the pool.  Edward got to eat ice cream and french fries for lunch and knock down a great sand castle.  The day was a win-win-win-win.  But I’m just saying, the pool part was way better than the beach part.