Virginia Beach, my longest vacation

Virginia Beach or Gatlinburg, Tennessee? My boss was on the other end of the phone asking me where he wanted to go for my next work assignment. I blurted out “Beach” before even weighing the options. I already lived in Beckley, West Virginia and didn’t like living in the mountains, so a summer working and spending my free time by the sea was an easy winner for sure!

My husband, an elementary school teacher, agreed with my choice. Our three children were also excited. I quickly started looking for a summer rental and found a furnished condo several blocks up the coast. Quickly, we settled into our “work-play” routine. Of course we did the typical tourist things like parasailing, sailing the boardwalk, enjoying the entertainment up and down Atlantic Avenue, all for free. On Wednesday and Sunday nights, the city hosted a fireworks display at 10:00 p.m. that drew “ooohs” and “ahhhs” and applause from all who saw it.

As the summer days faded, I found my routine shifting from “accidental tourist” to “local resident.” I was able to help the bewildered tourist get their bearings and suggest the best restaurants where local residents ate. I made friends with the clerks at the fresh seafood market, and the clerks at the post office greeted me by name. As the time to pack up and head back to the mountains approached and another cold, gray and snowy winter approached, I tried to fill every moment with my new beach lifestyle.

The following summer I applied to return to work in Virginia Beach. This summer I convinced my husband to annually rent a small beach house just two blocks from the ocean. It was one of the original beach huts, full of charm and quirky character. My husband wasn’t interested in the annual deal, but my determination won out in the end. We arrived, our van loaded with basic household necessities, a little black “pound pup” named Buddy, and three excited children. Quickly, we scoured thrift stores for basic furniture to get us through the coming year.

I was in my element! After a day at work, I’d walk through the door and immediately throw on matching shorts, a T-shirt, and a pair of flip-flops from Old Navy. My flip flop collection was so much bigger than my dress shoes and so much more comfortable! I learned new ways to prepare the different varieties of seafood from the seafood market employees. Spreading out the newspaper and dumping the freshly steamed crab legs on the table was a treat that was hard to beat! A few small bowls of melted butter with Old Bay, an ice cold beer and sweet iced tea along with a roll or two of paper towels vied for the setting. We would all sit around the table, cracking crab legs, butter dripping from our chins, and sharing stories of our day.

My husband was reaching the point where he could retire from teaching, and our youngest son was close to starting high school. At the end of the summer the decision was made that he would enroll in middle school to prepare him for the transition to high school. My husband would finish his year teaching in WV and he, our son, and I would take turns driving to and from the beach to West Virginia and back every other weekend. On each trip to West Virginia, I would load up some small furniture and some of our other belongings to settle in “our little beach house,” as I fondly called it.

That was ten years ago. My husband is now retired. It took him a little longer to finish his retreat, so it was just me and our son with our long-distance visits. Our house in West Virginia is for sale, but is currently rented. We have moved from 27th street to 5th street and live in a condo that has much more space across the street from the ocean! We are preparing to move everything that is stored to the beach. Just the other weekend our grandkids were visiting and I woke them up to go see the “rising sun”. I put on the t-shirt and shorts and of course the matching flip flops and stuffed two little cups into the pockets of my shorts and held the two little hands of a 2 and 3 year old dressed in their character pajamas and somehow a Woody. doll and a little panda bear, we walked across the street and sat on the sand in utter awe as the sun rose over the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. Seagulls flew overhead and several large fishing boats plowed through the waves taking tourists to spend the day making memories. The runners were out, in addition to the cyclists, working out. I saw the oceanfront “wake up” through the eyes of my grandchildren. A memory that I will treasure forever.

Yes, I LOVE Virginia Beach! It is the largest city in the state of Virginia. I think it is a city of two parts. The city itself with all the various communities, and then the waterfront. It is a city full of people from all branches of the military. You’ll find people from all over the world who now call Virginia Beach “home,” as well as this girl who has lived in Arlington and Fairfax, VA, North Carolina, New York, and West Virginia. I’m finally at home”.

The climate is fantastic if you like very little snow and mild winters. I’ve lived here during a hurricane, but it doesn’t compare to the fear of hunkering down and wondering if a tornado is going to wipe out your house! It can get pretty hot in the summer, but usually for a few weeks I would consider it “unbearable”. Summer storms can blow up quickly and yet blow out to sea just as quickly. Fall is nice with temperatures in the 70s and 80s. There always seems to be a festival or event nearby in every season. Any type or variety of food is available and the farmers market is one of the best I have ever shopped at. The schools are great, there are colleges and technical schools that teach any subject you want to learn. Recreation centers with low annual membership fees and did I mention they cater to all ages and have pools and climbing walls and amenities too numerous to mention? Spas, a good massage or a good cup of coffee, everything can be found in almost every corner. State parks, amusement parks, children’s entertainment venues, and concerts abound.

One of the best decisions I have ever made was to make Virginia Beach my home. The best “working vacation” I’ve ever taken was making Virginia Beach the destination. It is perfect? I guess that depends on your definition of perfect. Yes, there are a few things I’d change to suit my taste, but overall it’s as close to perfect as you can get. If you miss the snow and world-class skiing, hop on a plane from Norfolk International Airport and head west to the slopes. If you’re in the mood for a Broadway show and you’re not going to Chrysler Hall, which is nearby, take a plane to New York. You can come and go anywhere from right here!

Yes, I’m sold in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Give us a try sometime. You never know, we could end up being neighbors!

Come visit us, or stay for the rest of your life, you will love it!