Oceans

Sometimes you just have to be by the water

Dear Friend,

Do you love the ocean? Do you need to be by it? Does it call to you? Any time I am remotely close to the ocean, I have to go see it, to touch it. I am an anxious, active person who has a hard time sitting still or doing any one thing. But I can look out at the ocean for what feels like hours. It makes me feel small and still. 

The metronomic crashing of the waves paces out my breaths, my heart rate, in a way nothing else can. The endless water fading into the sky, the rocks and driftwood of a Pacific Northwest beach, they create an alert-but-calm feeling that I have struggled to describe for years. The ocean is a drug to me and I crave it perhaps too much.

When we decided to create a home base in Leavenworth, I was counting how many hours away our favorite beaches and bodies of water are. The Puget Sound counts (at least to an extent) for me and when we were in Seattle a few weeks ago, I told the family I just needed to walk by the water, to see it, on the first day. We got out on a Ferry the next, but I couldn’t wait. I needed to breathe salt in the air. To settle my soul just a bit.

I know cruises get billing as cheesy vacations. And they are. But also, I never feel so peaceful as in the middle of the ocean. When everywhere you look is blue sea and blue skies. When nothing can touch you and even the news is far away. 

My love for the ocean is not necessarily a love of being in it or swimming. I like those things, too. But mostly, I just want to be by it. To be in its presence. The beaches of the Pacific Northwest are not often hotspots for sunbathing or swimming, but mostly for walking, running, looking at tide pools, climbing around driftwood and rocks, playing frisbee with dogs and breathing in fresh air. They are places for picnics, bonfires, and hikes as much as anything else.

As soon as the weather started to turn warm this spring, I told Clay that I wanted to go to the beach. It was time. We’d endured (and very much enjoyed) the winter, and now it was time to emerge from hibernation. He quickly planned us a trip (with friends!) to one of our favorite Oregon Coast campgrounds. We found out more friends would be in town and it’s been the best weekend of quiet morning walks on the beach with the dog and laughter with friends. My heart feels so full.

Our littlest often says days are the best ever and will say repeatedly “I love our life.” Me, too, kiddo. Me, too. Especially this long weekend of ocean walks, campfires with friends, and springy PNW weather. It’s hard to imagine anything better.

Friend, I hope you get to the Ocean this year. I find that at least once a year does the trick for me. I hope you get to have sandy toes and run in and out of the waves like a kid. I hope you get to stare out for a few minutes, steady your breathing, and just take it in. Let it fill you up.

See you down the road,

Jamie