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New Englanders like me wait with baited breath for the arrival of beach weather. In comparison to our long, long, cold, snowy winters, our summers last really only two months so the anticipation of its arrival drives many of us to the beaches even before they officially open on Memorial Day. Rhode Island is known as the Ocean State and has some of the most beautiful beaches on the northern east coast. When I lived in Boston, I noticed the Bostonians wear hardly any outer clothing at the first sign of a day over 50 degrees. Most of the young people are wearing shorts and T-shirts as I always was still “freezing” until it was really, really hot. In fact I shed my down jacket yesterday afternoon for the first time this year and I still have my heat on!
For those who are fortunate enough to own properties on or near the beach front, renting your little house or bungalow can be very profitable during the summer. Rates per week are exorbitant as everyone wants a piece of the action or, should I say, a piece of the sun.
My best friend Ruth’s sister Gini rents a cottage every week in June down in Narragansett, R.I. in a quiet private village called Breakwater Village. In fact she has to start looking a year in advance to secure a place for the week. Everyone takes a chance that the weather during his or her week will be bright and sunny. Some are less fortunate. The week that Gini chooses is always the week that includes Ruthie’s birthday and all the “girlfriends” are invited for the week. The week kicks off with a huge lobster dinner (I think everyone but me likes lobster) and the gentlemen are invited to join for that day only!
Most of our time is spent on the private beach or on the lawn chairs reading or sunbathing. Most of the girls opt for the beach, which is not far from the cottage down a small dirt path.
In the early evening we take a walk around the village and talk to people who are sipping on a glass of wine or enjoying a sailboat pass by.
Christopher Kuster’s painting reminds me a lot of the quaint little beach houses in Cedar Key, FL, with their pastel fronts and the cool palm trees swaying in the breeze. If you have never been to Cedar Key, put it on your list of beautiful places to visit when you are in north central Florida.. This quiet little town has fewer than 1000 permanent residents and is full of great shops, terrific restaurants and seafood. In fact Cedar Key rivals New England as one of the nation’s top sources of farm-raised clams.
Back at Breakwater Village in Narragansett, we are getting ready for Ruthie’s birthday party. What better way to end the week with celebration and a wonderful view of the bay? No matter what part of the country you have your favorite getaway cottage at the beach, THASC’s Christopher Kuster reminds us that it is all where we want to be come summer.
Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend which is the signal for the official opening of summer beaches in Rhode Island and more importantly the remembrance of our veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may be there.
See you on Thursday.
Regards from Breakwater.
-Maria
THASC is a unique small American business producing cards and other promotional products.
www.thasc.com
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