I take beach chair therapy pretty serious...it's not just some random thought with a picture of a beach umbrella or beach chair. You first have to start with a beach. Now I'm fortunate that I spend four to six months living by the sea and it's one that I carefully choose. I love white sandy beaches but I settled on one covered with crushed sea shells giving it a cinnamon color against a gray sandy background. Suits my eye for some reason and always a nice cool ocean breeze. The beach is lined by a reef and on some days if the tide is strong it will uncover the rocks and give the beach dimension and nice places to explore. It's a quiet beach with mostly residents but the usual summer crowd makes people watching more interesting.
On therapy days I try and set up around noon. It takes me that long to get all my chores done...:). I take a good sturdy umbrella that screws into the sand and tilts slightly toward the wind. A linen shirt is a necessity along with a good straw hat. I have this ole Panama Jack hat that has served me well for a number of years. It works great until the wind blows over ten then I switch to my RELAX cap. A good chair with at least three pockets is a must. I fill mine with a Coke, a thermos of rum and an insulated cup filled with ice.
Now let's talk about a few things that will make a lot of difference when it comes to set up...twist your poll into the sand until it reaches the moist layer, then take a bucket of sea water and pour around the poll. This will seal it and keep the wind from pulling it lose. I always anchor the poll with a ten foot cord and spike. Don't hammer the spike into the ground, but dig a a shallow hole and turn the spike side ways and bury it. Just a suggestion from one that has experienced many runaway umbrellas. Always, always open your umbrella into the wind. You will know if you get it wrong.
Music, if course...a selection of songs labeled Ocean on my ole my IPod and a very well placed speaker. On the last visit from my friend Jes B. Rambling he surprised me with this little round speaker called 808. Designed by a French company but I'm sure made in China. At any rate, a good one. Just place it in the apex of my umbrella and I get a rainbow of sounds...thanks my friend. Took a few pictures of Jes's last visit. When I fully recover my mental abilities and recall the visit I will share. Rather distorted at the moment.
Now how does one prepare the mind for beach chair therapy? For me I watch the children play...really don't know why, just seems in their every move you can tell what their little minds are thinking..they have a lot of free behaviors...oh, did I mention the rum and a splash of Coke...;).
Self...tell me what you are thinking...
