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Happiness is: A Day at the Beach
Happiness is: Sitting on a Dock by the Bay...

There's a scene in the movie, The Prince of Tides, starring Nick Nolte and Barbara Streisand, in which the Nolte character is remembering a single, happy day from his traumatic, difficult childhood. In the scene his mother takes her young children to a dock and tells them that she has a special gift for them to see. The kids are very excited and keep asking her what it is and she tells them to just sit on the dock, look toward the sun and they'll see the gift arrive. They watch the South Carolina sun go down with rapt attention oohing and ah-hing over the beautiful colors streaking across the sky and when the sun finally disappears completely the youngest child, a girl, claps her hands together, tells her mom that was the best present ever and asks her to paint the sky all over again. To that little girl watching the sun go down over the water was pure magic and ecstatic happiness.
I've had my own share of sorrows and rough times but a day spent at the beach has always been joyful, no matter what challenges I was facing.
For the first 5 decades of my life, trips to the beach were treasured, special events that occurred every few years but for the past decade I've been blessed to live close to the bay and ocean and visiting the beach several times a week is one of my life's greatest pleasures.
This hub is a pictorial essay that answers the question, "According to you, what is happiness?" My answer is that happiness is spending a day at the beach and I hope these fun and beautiful photos will show you why I feel that way.
Happiness is: Hang Gliding at Jockey Ridge State Park

When my son was little and our family was vacationing in the Outer Banks, NC, we took him to Jockey Ridge, the highest natural sand dune on the United States East Coast to watch the sun go down and I was amazed how many other people flocked to that same location all sitting on the dune and watching the sunset as if they were at a drive-in movie theatre. There was something about watching it as part of a crowd that intensified the feelings of awe and joy and I remember thinking that this is one of life's greatest pleasures and it's free. It doesn't get any better than that, does it?
But read on, there are still many other fun and happy things to do at the beach.
Happiness is: Running through a Water Fountain at the Beach

You probably don't remember the first time you ran through a water fountain or sprinkler, but I'm willing to bet that after the initial shock of getting wet you loved it as much as the tiny tot on the left, and were fascinated by how it worked like the little guy on the right.
Happiness is: Wearing a T-Shirt...

Happiness is: Building a Sculpture...

Happiness is Flying Big Kites at Ocean City, MD.

Happiness is: Waiting for the Waves...

Happiness is: Doing Hand Stands on the Beach...

Happiness is: Riding Your Bike on the Boardwalk...

Happiness is: Running With Your Twin on the Beach...

A Few Thoughts About Siblings on the Beach.
Sibling rivalry can be fierce during our growing up years but there's something about the beach that temporarily squelches our competitive natures and doubles our pleasure. Suddenly, we're almost overjoyed to have this special person to spend the day with. Sure we may tease them, but in the end we'll give them a great big hug as seen in the next two pictures.
Happiness is: Burying Your Brother in the Sand...

Happiness is: Having a Sister Who Knows You're Afraid of Heights...

Happiness is: Playing Paddle Ball on the Beach With Your Sister After You're all Grown up...

A Few Thoughts About Animals on the Beach.
Most pets enjoy the beach as much as their owners do and they sometimes act just like humans while they're there.
Then there are the very strange humans who dress up as animals.
I hope you enjoy the next set of photos which illustrate the point I'm trying to make.
Happiness is: Being a Dog on the Beach...

Happiness is: Seeing Lady Gaga on the Boardwalk...

Happiness is: Having a Daddy Who Wears a Cow Costume...

I hope you have enjoyed this pictorial essay about why I think happiness is spending a day at the beach and that you get to visit a beach someday soon.
For those of you who have never had the great pleasure of experiencing sand, surf, sun and sunsets, I hope you will consider adding a trip to the beach to your bucket list. No one should die without seeing the ocean at least once in their lifetime.
Beach Poll
Have you ever been to a beach by an ocean or bay?
Comments
OMG! What an awesome hub! Great pictures. Thank you for the most enjoyable day at the beach. Can't beat that!. :)
These great photos truly brought a smile to my face this morning and some wonderful memories from vacations past.
I really enjoyed looking at all these magnificent beach pictures as I sit here in cold Minnesota. It's snowing here and very bitter cold out. It sounds like you are so connected to the ocean and nature. Was that you sky gliding? Very cool if it was. I have never done that but will put it on my bucket list. Thanks for letting me visit the beach today Gail. It was a nice change of scenery. Happy New Year :-)
We can surely do a lot of things to make us happy. But among all the things you have said, I love watching the sun go down... the sunset near the beach. There is something wonderful about each sunset as it tells us that it is the end of another day. A great time for me to reflect what have I done and accomplish for that day. Its also a great time for me to take the pictures of the sitting sun... Great hub and up for this one!
So beautiful! It's been way too long since I've been to the beach. I remember once trying to teach a friend how to bodysurf. He said, 'just tell me how to do it, don't make it sound like religion.' But I feel connected to God in the surf, and on the beach. It is the perfect place. Your pictures are awesome. Love those red headed kids! (Had two myself)
HBN, it's been so long since I've dropped in, so I wanted to revisit and catch up with you. I hope all is well Gail. As soon as I drop by your page, I'm reminded of the many places that you've made me want to visit! It's funny, sibling rivalries describe my two young ones perfectly. I don't know if it's their age(7-4) or the fact that I have a boy and girl. Words of wisdom for sure. I do know one thing, girls are much harder to raise then boys:) Best wishes always
The only real vacations are beach vacations. Relaxing, no agenda, no schedule, sunny or cloudy, at the ocean east coast west coast, caribbean, Europe or Australia...great hub it is relaxing to read!
Reading your hub was a nice little break in the day. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the great pictures. Voted up and beautiful.
Dear Gail ~
This is an outstanding, fun and beautiful hub. The photos are just amazing and bring back so many great memories of growing up near the beach.
Love your captions included in each photo and who can forget the stunning sunset alive with breath taking colors featured in " The Prince of Tides."
I voted up and completely across ( which I rarely do ) and will pin and share. This is just an amazing presentation. Thank you for taking me back to such a wonderful time in my life and visits to the beach. Hugs ~ Audrey
A wonderful hub, great pictures and I couldn't agree more about the beach! Voted and pinned!
After reading your hub, there's no doubt that the beach is a somewhat breathtaking respite from the daily grind. Though I have taken a break from working since having my first (a boy!) 2 months ago, my days working as a nurse made me long--pretty much daily--to escape to a beach. My aunt and uncle own a beach house, in Myrtle Beach, and my husband and I try to visit at least once a year. The last time we have been able to go, however, was over a year ago just before he deployed to Kuwait with the U.S. Army. I'm looking forward to going again VERY soon! :)
The beach is one of my favorite places on earth. I don't get to visit nearly as often as I would like, but when I do, I know the memories will last a lifetime. We were in Gulf Shores a few weeks ago and my two daughters buried their older brother in the sand . . . and they are 14, 17, and 19! That kind of fun never gets old. I hope we get to visit beaches more often as our family grows and we create more memories for the next generation. Thank you for the thoughts and photos.
....I am incredibly fortunate to live only 100 feet or so from my beach and lake of Erie and right now because the tide is low the beach looks like a football field and I walk there everyday with my deaf cat on his leash but I take the leash off him and let the 'man' walk free - which he loves - often when I walk around the bay of the lake - I call them my writer's walks - sending you warm wishes and good energy from lake erie time ontario canada 12:29pm what is your weather like? Here, we've had snow and cold but it's sunny today, dry and no wind
This is an amazing hub post. For me happiness is indeed a day at the beach with my friends or family!!
Gail, I love the beach, the sea and the whole atmosphere there. Your pictures are awesome. I really enjoyed them and made me feel as if I was there right now enjoying the views.
I always enjoyed collecting shells, making sculptures, standing in the water and feeling the sand move beneath my feet as the waves receded taking some of it along.
Voted up, beautiful and awesome. Shared this hub too.
I have commented once but want to come back to let you know that I am posting this great gem on our FB page :-
http://www.facebook.com/#!/EveryoneHasADream
and also on my page :-
http://www.facebook.com/#!/EddyAnnieInspire
Thank you for sharing and here's to so many more by you .
Great work and enjoy your day.
Eddy.
Very refreshing Hub
The beach has a big effect on people. Kind of spiritual. It's a place people feel happy, can reflect on life, can let out feelings, can get some inspiration, can even heal gradually - letting negative feelings go.
I'm glad you enjoy your time there. Thanks for sharing the lovely photo's. Everyone's having a beautiful time. I wonder how long those 2 girls stood together on that pole. lol.... and I will look out for that scene in the Prince of Tides.
voted up beautiful and awesome! Living in South Florida my entire life, there's nothing more relaxing and fun than spending a day at the beach. This is happiness for sure!
Your photos are beautiful!!! I agree, happiness is a day at the beach and my favorite part of summertime. Very nicely compiled hub :)
Your hub and photos sure make the beach look fun. This is one of my favorite things to do. I could be a beach bum. Great hub! Sharing!
Beautiful-beautiful pictures. And so very true, on the beach all siblings and actually everybody just bury the hatchets ~ maybe because of the overpowering beauty of the sea?
Happyboomernurse, I am way too late for the party, but this is the wonder of Cyberspace. Time is totally irrelevant. I've enjoyed this hub just as much as I would have enjoyed it the moment you have posted it...
Voted up and delightful :)
Your photos are gorgeous, and convey your emotions well.
We live by the English Channel. Our beach is stones, not sand. It is often wet, windy and cold. All the same, we consider ourselves very blessed to live here.
We love walking along the beach in winter, when it is empty and the wind is blowing (especially if we are properlydressed for the weather.) It is lovely to see families having fun in the summer.
Thanks for sharing the happy memories. Loved it. I live very near the Pacific Ocean so often visit the beach and it is always an awesome experience.
Voted up on all scales, and yes I love being at the beach, actually me and my lovely wife just went to one at Long Beach, New York recently with a work friend of hers, and I will create a hub soon about it all.
I loved your images here and especially the one with the two sisters standing on the log there u in the air, lovely photo's. Yes indeed this all spells happiness, and love as well, and more of this needs to be spread around the globe so more people can focus on such things, but its tough when people have no money or no means to think of being happy though, it cost where I live to go to the beach pretty much and the economy is still rough for most city folks out here in New York.
So I'll keep praying for the countless less fortunate families who haven't the privilege to afford such a luxury today, but on the note you've posted here I love the Happiness concept entirely.
Voted up on all levels and out for sure.
Wow! What fantastic photos. I use to live at the beach and my mother still does. I am going soon. Your words were very touching.Voted up and shared!
You are so right, happiness is a day at the beach. All the worries and cares left at home for the day and absolutely everyone laughing and enjoying life.
Your photos are just fantastic especially the sunset, that is awesome.
Thank you for sharing.
Some of my favorite trips were to the beach! There's something about the ocean that makes me happy. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos!
Nice photos
I think you might need to change your name to happyboomerphotographer. You take amazing pictures that always make me feel like I'm standing right beside you soaking in whatever experience you are capturing. I really like the sundress/bike photo and truly wish I was relaxing on that beach right now!
Wow.. Beautiful scene !
Happiness is also a day at the beach with your metal detector. Loved the photos.......and love the beach!!! Voted this hub up!!
WOW, beautiful scenery and cute kids. Go to a beach when you are unhappy or frustrated would release all the negative emotions.
Happiness IS a day at the beach! :) Ever since I can remember, I've believed that I NEED to get a fix of ocean air and sea water in order to stay happy and healthy (of mind).
I love your hub and smiled all the way through it as I went from one photograph to the next depicting happy people on the beach. Your lead picture of the sunset is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. It just makes me want to sit on the sand with my brushes and paints!
I don't know how I missed this earlier, but you definitely have my up votes now!
I saw many fun activities at that beach. All of them gave happiness. I love all the pictures here. Thanks for share with us. Voted up and awesome :-)
Prasetio
All wonderful things to enjoy at the beach indeed. Those are some great pictures, I gave them and the presentation a vote up and beautiful.
Such beautiful pictures... loved them, especially the very first one of the sunset and then the story you told to go with it. My husband grew up in California, so naturally, the beach was always part of his life. Being from Wisconsin, the first time I got to go to go to the beach was during a High School Band Trip to Florida. Now, I live in California. My favorite thing about the beach is walking the boardwalk and getting a Cheese on a Stick. Otherwise, there is also Charlie's Chili... one of our favorite restuarants! Great hub!
The beach is just a little piece of heaven! I try to get there at least once a year. Some of my favorite are in South Carolina. I love all aspects of the beach, even watching a summer storm come in. The lightening display can be beautiful. Thank you for sharing your wonderful beach scenes.
Amazing pics.... must have been tough clicking such detailing pictures amid enjoying so much!
Indeed... we are all compelled to believe that happiness is irresistible at the beach!
Great hub
Hi HBN! I just watched Prince of Tides recently and it was just as great as the first time! The scene you mentioned was still amazing! It's the simple things in life that make us the happiest. It's something about water and sunshine that puts life into perspective. Fab pictures and hub!:)
This is such a fun and cheerful, feel-good hub! I love your great photos! I have been fortunate to visit many beaches as a child and as an adult. I agree with you--it is a definite "must go" destination for everyone. I have especially enjoyed beach trips with my children--although my twins (at a year and half)screamed at first when they heard the waves. The sound really bothered them. After they saw how much fun it was, they really loved it. Voted up!
Gail, if this doesn't put a smile on your readers faces then nothing will. Made my day. Really enjoyed the photos and your captions, you hit the nail on the head with this one. Voted up, shared and everything thing else...
Hi Gail,
This is a happiness hub for sure! Just looking at the many fabulous photos would bring a smile to most people's faces as it did mine right now. Thanks for this treasure! Up votes plus SHARED.
Thanks for the trip to the beach. My wife and I live close to the Oregon coast. We love the hypnotic roar of the surf. Just returned from a cruise to Hawaii. Aloha! Your friend, Gary.
Hi happyboomernurse,
Happiness is a state of mind and your mind sure is at peace to have enjoyed so many pleasures of life and pix them. LOVED each pix of yours. The sunset pix at the top is just out of the world.
Being at the beach with no wires to help us stay connected is BLISS and time to liberate and enjoy yourself.
voted up and sharing it across!
Great hub! Great pictures! Just very well done. Thanks for putting this together and sharing your imagination and creativity. Rate up and more.
Absolutely beautiful, creative and entertaining = = = = = = happyboomernurse hubs!!!
I hope to be "sitting by the dock of the bay" at some point again, but for now, I will have to settle for Lake Erie. Great work Gail!!!
Sharyn
Wonderfully scribed piece, just as each human is born with a different face SO also do ?? find happiness in different, small and strange ways. Happiness is an independent version of every human. Good job!
Gail ~ My latest hub ( will be published in about an hour - "How do you feel when comments are not replied to" has a link to your profile. Thanks for being just the example I needed for my hub.
Not sure how I missed this one before. I love the seaside. No, I LOVE it. Heaven, bliss, peace, joy - just a few of the words that come to mind. There is something about a vast blue ocean that just fills me with stillness, or makes me aware of stillness within. Just thinking about it now is making me feel happy!
Oh, and that first photo is just so so utterly stunning!
What a treat this hub was Gail. I feel better after spending time on the beach with you and your great photo's. I started giggling when I saw the sister and brother laughing because of the bumps she put on her brother. I hit many buttons. Thx for the uplifting photo hub.
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