The signage, turf wars and umbrella setup en masse are confusing and bewildering issues. I saw the umbrella "spread" (all empty, save a small handful) at Grayton Beach this week and felt both frustrated and sad. Sometimes I feel capitalism is moving at such a rate that vendors of all kind (umbrellas, food, drinks etc.) could quickly and easily commercialize these beautiful beaches to such an extent that an ultimate relaxation spot would become exhausting.
I have a memory seared into my head from childhood that reminds me of the debacle of whose beach/water it really is, if that can ever be adequately defined. I was playing on the beach at my dad's house on Old (Scenic) Hwy 98. We were throwing a ball back and forth, and not paying attention to whether or not we were directly in front of my dad's place. A bit east is a small townhouse development - The Green Reef Club. The ball landed way east, and as I retrieved it, I stopped to look at the ocean. Out of nowhere, I heard a man yelling at me and walking toward me. He proceeded to order me off "his" beach, to never return, and if he saw me again, he'd alert the sheriff. Perhaps an extreme example, but one that's likely occurred countless times. I was just a kid, enjoying the beach, and this cantankerous man made me cry...for what...?
I wouldn't want that to happen to anyone, much less a child. I wasn't tossing empty beer cans. I wasn't building a bonfire. I was taking up a sliver of space for just a moment. Sorry to digress, but perhaps others have experienced this.
