live at the Jersey shore

South Jersey, near Atlantic City. I liked it at the time and love to go back, as I still have family there, but don’t think I could live there now. The traffic and the costs are maddening. And I keep thinking about how it could all be wiped out by a big hurricane like Katrina, or just global warming…

I also hate the way that all the cool old beach houses have been torn down and replaced by oversized monstrosities. I wish we didn’t have to despoil every cool bit of coastline with condos and massive tourism. Sometimes small is best.

but ALWAYS wanted to live down the shore. i don’t want to feel like a tourist in a place that i love. want to experience the quietness of off-season. want to go to bar-a and see lifespeed every tuesday and not have to drive an hour each way. want to walk the beach in my barefeet and a sweater in the autumn. want my own house and ride my bike around town.

I’ve lived in Manasquan & Point Pleasant Beach up until I came to college 5 years ago.

The only miserable thing about the shore is the droves of stuck-up city-folk coming down to their expensive summer homes.

If it weren’t for their interest (coupled with the greedy towns), we wouldn’t have to pay $5 a day to get on the beach.