(no subject)

There is a small pile of play sand on my balcony. I didn't know where to dump it when I needed the bucket, so I tossed it onto my balcony to let the elements deal with it.

The elements are unkind to my hibiscus, but they are oblivious to the sand.

I went out, barefoot, to water the plants, and stepped on the sand-- it's perfect sand, powdery soft and giving. I stood there, wiggling my toes, marveling, and realized I want to go to the beach. I'm not usually given to desires like this. They're usually far-off. "I'd like to go kayaking and see manatees." "I'd like to go to the north coast of Florida and go whale watching." "I'd like to go snap pictures in the Everglades."

No. I want a beach. Right now.

Only problem is: Miami has subpar beaches. No pristine white sand, no beautiful water. All my fond beach memories are of places like Sanibel, or in the Caribbean. I've been to South Beach in high school, and it was nice enough, but crowded and I hate getting to Miami Beach or parking there (there is no viable public transportation to the beach). Key Biscayne has a lot of broken shells, so you can't take your sandals off until you're all but in the water. The nicest sand, actually, is Matheson Hammock, which if you look at the photos is an atoll. The beach itself is rock and mangroves (I don't know why the first picture is the Miami skyline, since Matheson Hammock is in a different city). It doesn't count as a beach, to me.

But I guess that's where I'm headed.

I require beach friends to take a road trip to the west coast for beaching.