We both love the BEACH – with its sunrises and sunsets!

Walking the surf – toes in the sand and cold water to sip on!

Our life now consists of two beaches that are close – one four miles and one six miles!

When we were first married – our dreams were beach vacations – but that was not always an option!

Money – we had to save what we could – taking four kids to the beach was expensive.

Our first “FAMILY” vacation was to a rental – off the beach – at Lake Erie!

I really do not remember much about the house – it was one level – sat on a bluff with lots of trees- and you could walk to an overlook and down below and see a small rock-strewed beach.

The boys would go down the side to the beach – the girls not so much.

Later – we would pack up and drive to the beach in New Jersey – having picnics on the way –

saving as much money as we could – Sherry was excellent at that!

The Outer Banks was our later goal in life and we managed to do that with friends and their families-

later my brother and sister and their families.

Today – here we are – Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach – within minutes we are on the beaches!

We also are within a half hour to forty-five minutes of Holden Beach – Oak Island –

and North Myrtle Beach!

Our dreams have come to be – we are now living the “BEACH LIFE” while on the mainland-

away from the storms – Hurricanes can and do have an effect on us –

But – we will deal with it at the time.

Ocean Isle Beach and the pier – this beach is not as flat as Sunset Beach –

but this beach also has a community center with bathrooms – outdoor showers – and free parking!

The Community Center has a large open-air covered porch with many picnic tables.

There is a nice beach entrance and a large volleyball net and court.

This beach is also where we shell hunt and the month of April is known for the large Counch shells!

There also is a large park with a stage and live music all summer long!

There are more places to eat and ice cream – slushes and stores here!

Sunset Beach is my favorite beach to walk on – it is flat and easier to walk – we often go here –

They also have live music on Thursdays with the band on the pier and you set up below on the beach!

It also turns into Bird Island – a protected area and where the “KINDRED SPIRIT MAILBOX” –

This is a mile and one-half walk from the pier –

and has been there for over forty years!

Two benches and the mailbox sit up near the top of a dune.

There are plaques for remembering those who first put this here and a large piece of driftwood-

with a plaque in honor of those two people all the years ago.

In the mailbox is a journal and a pen for you to sit down and leave a message.

these are collected-

and are at a University for recording the history of “THE KINDRED SPIRIT MAILBOX”!

Thank you for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – A DREAM OF LIVING NEAR THE BEACHES!