The title of this story is not “Our Beach Vacation,” and for good reason. Before one actually can dip their toes in sand, plunge into the ocean, enjoy and relax in the tranquility that only comes from the sound of waves crashing ashore, one must first make certain purchases.
In our case it was lots and lots of purchases. Perhaps our preparation will help you in yours. Then again, a look at our long laundry list of items may dissuade you from ever driving to the beach again.
First, and perhaps the most important preparation, was the car. With the nearest beach less than a 5-hour drive away, and inexpensive gasoline, it’s hard to justify the expense of flying to Cancun. Or so I thought. A quick check of tires and it was obvious that four new ones were in order. After all, The Wife and I were transporting the most precious and cutest cargo of all, our two granddaughters, Little One and Sweet Caroline.
New tires mounted and balanced: $600.
Our small SUV was also due for an oil change and the guy at the dealership said they had a special on servicing transmissions that day. He also informed me that my vehicle was well past due for such service. Two hours later I exited the dealership with new oil, transmission serviced, and a new luggage rack. Yep, didn’t have one of those either. With all the kids stuff in back, our luggage has to go up top.
Oil change, transmission servicing, and shiny new luggage rack: $475.
Next up: Bathing suits and beach stuff. Imagine my surprise when the sales person at the clothing store stated that the price of bathing suits for the little girls wasn’t mislabeled after all. How bathing suits for a 3- and 2-year-old are as much as for an adult I have no idea. It’s not even a third of the fabric so it should be only a third of the price. Same goes for hats, surf shoes, and sun glasses.
We also had to buy sun block, aloe for where the sun block wasn’t applied correctly, sand shovels, buckets, and the simply-must-have crab catcher. Never caught a crab in over 55 years, but I’m still gonna try.
Bathing suits: $75. Don’t know about total for beach stuff yet – still buying it.
All my life I’ve gone to the beach to lay out on a towel spending endless hours soaking up the sun rays as skin slowly bakes to a crisp. Not any more. With such fair-skinned babies, portable shade must be brought to the beach in the form of a pop-up canopy. Being as I didn’t have one, one had to be purchased.
But not just any canopy would do. Nope, ours had to have not only sides, but also an awning in the front, and sand-filled support weights. After all, we don’t want any sun to get in or our shade to blow away.
Portable shade with awning and leg weights: $350.
One of the last items on my list to purchase was beach toys and beach snack food. I thought toys used in our sandbox and normal everyday snacks would be just fine. Silly me. We’re going to the beach so only beach toys and beach snacks will do.
I thought we would buy them at the local big box discount store with the blue roof to save a little money. I was wrong once again. Genuine beach toys and beach snack food can only be purchased from stores located at the beach. You will also pay twice as much for the same items you could’ve purchased back home, but try telling that to two excited grandchildren running up and down the isles at the genuine beach store pulling everything off the shelves.
Purchases of genuine beach toys and snack food: $200. Repair to one shelving unit: $50.
Gas cost was $100, and the beach condo for five days another $2,000. The total for our family beach vacation before we even set foot on the beach or bought food for five days: $3,750.
An all inclusive carefree trip to Cancun for four adults: $2,400. No car-servicing, luggage rack, or portable canopy with leg weights needed. Children eat and stay for free.
Outing with a professional crab catcher is also included.
[Rick Ryckeley has been writing stories since 2001. To read more of Rick’s stories, visit his blog: storiesbyrick.wordpress.com.]
