Maybe a Tiki Bar?

Those were my initial thoughts as I gazed upon my flip flops, rash guard, board shorts and beach towel lying in a pile next to my bedroom dresser.

It was Monday morning and the evil alarm clock just rang……

I smiled glancing at this beautiful mess on the floor.  Memories of a great beach weekend floated through my 6:30 am consciousness.

I thought back to those weekend trips Marie and I took with the Syds to destinations such as Williamsburg, Cooperstown and Cape Cod staying at bed and breakfast homes with names such as The Cedars, The Gray Goose and Mostly Hall.  We would return to the B&B in the late afternoon, sipping cocktails on those wrap-around front porches, fantasizing about owning of one of these fabulous “escape from the world” lodging establishments.  The Original Plan was for the girls to run the day-to-day B&B, while the guys would create a small local bookkeeping practice to help cover our operating cash flow.  Both couples were “pre-kids” and in our late twenties.  Life was nothing more complicated than enjoying a cool summer breeze sitting on a white washed rattan reclining chair with a beverage in our hands…… 

This past beach weekend with friends rekindled some of those long ago buried thoughts.

At age 50, our “career” lives now consist of the relocation of the corporate headquarters, unplanned acquisitions and mergers, offices closing, companies sold, downsizing and out-sourcing headcount options.  While our “personal” lives consist of college aged children, aging parents, dwindling mortgage and retirement account balances.  We now find ourselves sandwiched in between two generations sailing into our middle years.

We skimmed along the water, the bright sun shining down on our mortal bodies, the wind flying through our now thinning hairline.   No worries…..as the boat motored on to our destination – Nat’s Cove.  This was the preferred sandbar destination of all the Monday through Friday working types.  It was here that an assorted collection of weekend pirates, sun worshippers, sailors, wenches, water rats and party animals assembled when they weren’t concerned with being serious career-minded attorneys, accountants, engineers, contract specialists and the like.  In this part of the world; smiles, waves, beers, wading in the water and relaxation ruled the day.  It was life on the water.  Life indeed!

It was like a Jimmy Buffett song had sprung to life right in front of my very eyes.  I had indeed found me a (temporary) home among my brethren folk!

I chatted aimlessly about a number of topics with my friend as she sat contently in her bright pink floating chair sipping a beer.   Her son starts college in two months, while my daughter returns to college entering her sophomore year.  We covered a lot of ground here.  I felt good that I was able to give her some scoop about kids attending college in the year 2011.  As we talked, I could notice her more relaxed body language and personal stress-meter rapidly decreasing.  It was like some battery charger was connected to her floaty chair so that with each sip of beer her blood pressure dropped 5 points while her “chillaxing” quotient raised 20 points.

However, when the conversation turned to our careers, I really envied her.  She remains committed to her career path with a passion that still exists all these years later.  Long hours in the office with many sacrifices made along the way by both she and her husband have afforded her family a very nice life.  However, I was struck by the fact that all this good fortune had not really changed her core beliefs.  She remains a kind hearted, fair minded, generous human being.  In these visible moments it was easy to see why she remains successful with her chosen profession.  When it was my turn, she was more than eager to listen to my life gripes; offering suggestions, encouragement and a different perspective on things.    

Later in the evening, we all relaxed in the living room continuing our off-the-clock

“I’m on vacation” - behavior.  Remember that scene from the movie “The Big Chill?”  After a few rounds of margaritas, beers and Licor ‘43’….the conversation turned from favorite rock bands, concerts and vacations to any regrets in life or what would we do differently.   A group therapy session ensued while our generation’s classic rock played quietly in the background.  It was refreshing to hear even from this group of over achievers (excluding yours truly) that there remained many open items on the group’s collective Bucket List that didn’t (only) include someday playing Pebble Beach!

Sunday was our beach day.

As we drove along

Atlantic Ave.

I began to notice the unique mom and pop stores that dotted the beach strand.  Surf shops, ice cream parlors, restaurants, personal service stores, etc….  Could I do something like this?

There is no doubt that that I was made for this beachcomber lifestyle….but my bank account….not so much….at least not now.  But what if we downsize and move to Somers Point?

While I remain this flip flop kinda guy in a winged-tip world, I do feel strongly that the tide is changing.

PATCO Train Conductor – “Last stop…..15^th/16^th Streets and Locust.  Train is out of service.  No passengers please”.

It was Monday morning.  I was ten minutes from the office.

How many more years until Lauren graduates Rider?  How many more years left on the mortgage?

Is it time to start over by the beach?  Maybe that Tiki Bar idea?

I would play Jimmy Buffett music non-stop on the restaurant’s PA sound system, while Marie made her world famous salsa and other to die for food specialties.  I would mix boat drinks and converse with the patrons asking them about their stay at the beach and sympathetically listen to them when they talked about the jobs they dislike back on the mainland.

My photography portfolio (including framed photos for sale) would adorn the restaurant’s walls.  My photography business card would be found at the cash register.  School Boy Heart photography services; family portraits, sunrise/sunset, family reunions and vacation DVD packages set to music available upon request.

It may be time to draft that beach business Mission Statement, develop a marketing plan and crunch some price-point numbers.

Yeah….maybe a Tiki Bar is in my immediate future.

If Tom from Michigan can start Wet Wendy’s in Cozumel, maybe it’s my time?

Then again, there’s always that floating twister raft idea I had in the ocean on Sunday afternoon. 

Whadda think Marie?   Sherry?

Stranded on a sandbar…..and lovin’ it!