LIFE'S A BEACH
by Graeme Olsen
Where are you spending time this Christmas?
| In an online survey we conducted
several months ago, we found that two thirds
of you live less than 10km from the beach,
and almost 90% live within 50km of the beach.
The ocean lifestyle is one that most of us
enjoy in the south west, and many of us take
for granted.
Now don't get me wrong - there are some
FANTASTIC places inland in the south west.
The deep green forests, the tiny country
towns, the farms. They all have their own
unique beauty. But for many of us the beach
is a place that we
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| like to be near - and for good
reasons too. Traditional and stereotypical
Aussie culture is, amongst other things, often
portrayed as life by the beach. |
Perhaps one of the reasons why the
beach is so popular is because of the lifestyle
it promotes. Free and laid back, which is something
Australia is known for. By and large, Australians
are adept at having a good time enjoying the simple
things in life, and the beach offers that to everyone
who has the chance to go.
Perhaps another reason it's popular
in Australia is because it is indeed free of cost.
You simply walk out the door with your towel and
sunscreen, and you're equipped to spend a very relaxing
day enjoying one of the great free pleasures of
life.
In the south west, we are particularly
blessed to be so close to some of the best beaches
in the world. We've written about some of them before
in our South West Secret
Spot story. We have some of the best surfing
beaches in the world in the south west. And our
coastline is littered with sheltered bays that provide
calm waters, clear snorkelling, and white sand for
the perfect family day out.
Don't know where to go? Just head
south and/or west and you'll find a beach! We've
got our own list we like to visit, plus another
list (way too long) of the sites we still want to
check out. I'm hoping I can live to 500 just so
I have time to see them all.
Every now and then I hear people in
the south west say things like "Oh, I haven't
been to the beach in AGES....". Like most good
things, we can take them for granted and before
you know it you spend most of your time not doing
them. The only advice I have is to make yourself
get out there and have a life - you won't regret
it. Some of us from South West Life have recently
been making a point of regularly going down to our
local beach after a hard day's work for a quick
swim. Even on the days it seems a little cool, it
has always been very worthwhile. Try it.
Beaches are a particularly great place
to spend time with family and friends. Want to know
where you can find me on Christmas Day this year?
If all goes to plan, I've organised to be sitting
on a secluded beach with my wife, kids, and friends,
building serious sand castles (ie. I'm taking a
shovel), snorkelling, swimming, eating, drinking,
sleeping, taking photos, and generally just fellowshipping
with other people.
Now that really is the South West
Life.
December 2002
