Town is jampacked right now.

Of course, it’s summer, July 4th week – so to be expected.

But the beach is packed, there’s cars all over our normally empty street – and golf carts everywhere – even one parked on our front lawn with a couple of passed out patriots.

At least I think they’re patriots: They’re dressed in red, white and blue, wearing “Look at me – I’ve Voted!” stickers, and talking about how their political grandparents were able to run the country with ‘light’ dementia.   

Who are all these people, and where did they come from?

There‘s good and bad news living at the beach, and summer has many of the ‘bad news’ stretches.

And hurricane season can be the ‘worst news’.

But good news all around on a daily basis: Walking the beach a great start to the day, the village home to fine shopping and great restaurants, the white sanded – and generally uncrowded – welcoming beach, and solitude. This is a small town, after all.

And heat!

Though embracing the heat a preemptive strategy – there’s no getting around it, and there’s always outdoor seating at your favorite restaurant!   

But the summer – along with GA/FLA weekend and ATL spring break – produces crowds, which are the opposite of solitude.

And producing ‘bad’ news:

Morning beach walk more crowded – with a lot of people who don’t wave back – they must be from NY;

The village full up – along with the restaurants, still waiting for our name to be called from last Thursday;

The beach littered with rental tents, now relatively upscale: Several had massage therapists on site, others with stuffed dogs – dealing with ‘No dogs on beach in summer 9-5’ – and cappuccino machines. We count tents on our walks as a ‘crowd in town indicator’.     

And of course, golf carts everywhere.

Which is a fairly recent development, cart rental agencies sprouting all over the island.

They’re a year-round phenomenon, but locals know the ‘ground rules’, the major one: Pull over to the right and slow down when traffic backs up behind.  

But with summer, we’re now in a barrage of 12 year-old drivers, people hanging off the top and sides, and turn signals apparently stuck in the turning left position.    

But the passing of the 4th leading to new optimism: Walking the beach the day after, multiple volunteers were cleaning up fireworks and beach crud, reminding that we are indeed in a small town.

And the latest hurricane news positive – for us – as Beryl is tracking through Mexico and on to Texas. And hurricane season almost over – only 5 months to go!

On balance though, the summer rush is a good thing.

Beach walking returning to locals, but many visitors now waving back in a friendly fashion. Or most do…that could have been a blind couple this morning. And the sunrise and sunset, fabulous!

The 3 months of serious restaurant business makes great fall dining possible.

Once Labor Day arrives, dogs are again allowed on the beach throughout the day, which means you can get a great deal on a stuffed dog from the tent rental folks.

We still have our stuffed yellow lab, guarding the front porch, securing the house.

And the heat will dissipate. But given that it’s hotter than hell everywhere, no worries…

And the best news the return of solitude – -we live in a small town, of which we’re reminded when everyone heads home.

Though even I’ll admit it’s fun to see families having a blast on the beach, body surfing, building sandcastles.

But golf carts remain an Old Man Rant (Shakes fist angrily!) …

For 237 more posts like this –each with a wish for a hint on how to pass that golf cart– go to beersatthenifty.com. Your phone will display every post, and you can waste an hour or two.

Or send me an email to the site, and I’ll add you to my Sunday distribution.

And I’m now on Substack at justluckytobehere.substack.com. Same stuff, but a different location.

ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR IT WITH THE FOLLOWING ‘AGING HIPSTER MUSIC’:

Big Thief is a fine band, Adrianne Lenker a fine lead singer. I’ve saved Big Thief’s ‘Simulation Swarm’ and ‘Born for Loving You’ and Lenker’s ‘Anything’ and ‘Sadness as a gift’ to the BATN playlist – which I believe is available as a playlist on Spotify.