The last of the beach days

As our summer starts to draw to a close I find myself spending more time at the beach. Perhaps it is the knowledge that this will be our last month spent on these sands, not just for this summer – but in all likelihood forever. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t doubt we will visit here again countless times. But I do not think it will be home for us again.

When my husband asked me the other night if we were going to the beach again the next day (just a little jealous that he couldn’t join us). I jokingly replied that I had decided that this was what life was for,  long walks along the beach and then afternoons spent in the water, so of course we were. But really I wasn’t entirely joking for me there are not a lot of things in life that can beat the feeling of your feet sinking in the sand, waves washing over you. One that does is watching Oliver experience the beach. The minute he hits the sand his strides lengthen, he’s drawn to the water in a way that makes me think it is an urge somehow bigger than himself. He can happily spend the whole day swimming, jumping waves, collecting treasures and digging in the sand.

I have heard this connection you get from being barefoot on the beach as earthing and I can see why. You can’t fail to leave the beach appreciating the beauty of life and the power of nature, somehow more in touch, more consciously connected with the earth around you then you were before your visit. And for me an evening stroll along the beach after my boys have gone to sleep is the ultimate in earthing. Nothing but me and the sand under my feet, waves roaring beside you, sun sinking behind Mauao. Any problems you have normally don’t feel quite so huge after soaking in the vastness of the ocean beside you for a while.

Now that the to do lists that were once seemingly endless have dwindled to a few last details to organise and we are nearly due to get our bus back, we have finally been able to set a leaving date. Wayne has given notice at his job and the days are steadily ticking by to leaving day. I thought that perhaps this time would be a bit nerve-wracking as we let go of the last security blanket of a steady income coming in every week. But instead I am still positive that we will make this work and surprisingly calm about the whole thing. I do expect a few doubts to try to creep in on the day we actually drive away from Te Puke, but that I guess is simply being human. So until that day I think I will continue to enjoy the beach as much as the weather will allow me to and I will definitely continue to soak in all that wonderful earthing energy.