Beach Therapy

For years I did my best to avoid taking tropical vacations because as far as I was concerned, one beach or infinity pool is just like any other, and there were way more interesting places to visit. My original 'Bucket List' consisted of historical places, adventurous quests, and monumental achievements. The Louvre, the Sistine Chapel, visiting all fifty states, writing a book, etc. Sand and oceans did not make the first list or even the second one. People who swore by Caribbean locales were short-sighted and limited in their thinking, or so I thought.

I'm now on my third list, which includes writing a screenplay, visiting all of the Major League baseball stadiums, and experiencing at least fifty countries. The other items are a bit more personal, but I will give an update on my progress. The first screenplay should be finished in the next two months, and I'm at nine ballparks, and I'm at seventeen countries with two or three more being added by the end of the year. But, back to the beaches.

Every January/February, I go on a solo trip to rejuvenate my soul and inspire my spirit. I've been doing it for the last seven years and I always return home with my batteries charged and my mind at ease. Charleston, West Palm Beach, and Lake Geneva were some of my early destinations. I relaxed, visited museums, dined on amazing food, met new people, and I thought I would be content to keep planning domestic jaunts.

In late 2020, I was discussing my plan to visit southern California with a travel agent friend. They asked me to run my costs by them, which consisted of a hotel for five nights, a rental car, food, and of course, airline tickets. When I finished, they gave me the price for an all-inclusive resort plus airfare to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. My mouth dropped open when I realized how similar the costs would be. And that's how I ended up going whale watching, visiting a lighthouse, and falling in like with beach vacations. I hadn't fallen yet.

The following year I went to Punta Cana, and yeah, that sealed the deal. I visited the oldest church in the Americas, went to a chocolate factory, and I fell asleep in a hammock suspended over the shoreline, with the gentle waves of the Caribbean caressing my back. That was the tipping point for me, and now I need two or three beach vacations every year. I highly recommend them for spiritual and physical rejuvenation, as well as for the contentment which comes with being totally relaxed. I also get a nice tan.

There are thirteen sovereign countries in the Caribbean, as well as thirteen dependent territories, plus there are countries that border the Caribbean. So, if I add those to my list, that will put me over thirty without Europe, South America, or Africa (which has fifty-four countries). It will also give me a chance to enjoy different island cultures, relax by a pool, and enjoy tropical drinks while lying on a beach with the sound of the waves as my soundtrack. I've enjoyed Curacao and St. Lucia so far this year, and there are rumors of Barbados and Antigua or Saint Martin being discussed in my brain for later this year or early 2024. Sounds good to me.

Beach therapy is highly recommended.