If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Living on an island you would think I would have my fill of water, sand, and salt life. Sound the game show buzzer. The correct response is that I need to be by the water. I can’t be landlocked. It is not in my plans.
My skin lights up when I’m by the ocean. Everything about the salt life has my name on it. Summers on Long Island can be brutally hot and humid. The type of humidity that sent 1980s permed curly hair screaming for a can of Stiff Stuff hairspray or worse – a baseball hat that couldn’t fit all of those locks underneath. To escape the heat we would head to the beach for a day with our friends. We would ride our bikes or if lucky enough we had a friend with a sibling that drove and we’d literally pile in their Chevy Nova until we could drive ourselves.
No beach chairs then – just towels and blankets stuffed in a canvas beach bag, bottle of Coppertone, can of Tab, transistor radio tuned to WBAB, plastic bag of ice, and a bologna sandwich with mustard. The crowd at our town beach was a combo of electric and chill all at once. Everyone from town was there and you always met people from neighboring towns that you’d see out at the local bars each week. The best part was this guy that roamed the beach selling ice cream. You’d hear him dragging his cooler and barking “Ice cold Fudgie Wudgie Bars”. Man – to me that was the coolest job around (pun intended). I grew up wishing to always be on the beach no matter where I was in life.
When the kids were small we fell in love with Florida’s west coast on a vacation to the Clearwater area. We drove through a town called North Redington Beach. That was it for me. I fell in love with everything about this jewel of a town. It was gorgeous and sleepy. It had edge yet was classic. I created a whole Pinterest board about the town on the plane ride home. To this day I still check the real estate prices and am saving my sheckles to buy something there soon.
I literally have the entire house I would like all mapped out. I’ve built it in my mind for a few years. I can see what I’m wearing as I sit outside at my pool looking out over the ocean (a pool – ocean/gulf combo is a must in my mind). There will be a dock and a boat. At the base of the dock will be a small hut or maybe a “she-shed” where I keep the paddle boards and yoga mats. I have even designed where I will write. A desk made from retired surfboards will be placed in a room with a floor to ceiling window that looks out over the Gulf. That will be where I answer all writing prompts one day as I sip Iced Americanos and reach into the cooler for you guessed it – a Fudgie Wudgie bar.
Enjoy your weekends my fellow dreamers!
OMG…the fudgie-wudgie guy!!! All east coast beaches have one. Wildwood and Ocean City girl here.
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Thank you for getting that!! I can still hear him!
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Me too lol
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Wow! Your love for the ocean and beach life truly shines through your words. I love how vividly you’ve painted your memories and dreams—it feels like we’re right there with you, cycling to the beach, enjoying the sun, and dreaming about your perfect house. Your passion and imagination are contagious. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful slice of life; it’s incredibly inspiring!
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Wow!! Thank you so much! I can literally smell my new home. That’s how vivid my thoughts are! A huge thank you for following my blog.
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Wow! Your energy and enthusiasm really shine through! The excitement of a new home and fresh ideas is always something special. It’s truly enjoyable to follow your blog and read about your experiences. Keep sharing your thoughts like this!
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“I literally have the entire house I would like all mapped out. I’ve built it in my mind for a few years.” From your mind’s eye to reality! North Redington Beach . . . just needs an Ice cold Fudgie Wudgie Bar Guy. Ha, ha
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Ha!! I’m sure we could hire one! Hope you are having a great weekend.
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North Readington Beach, huh? I’ll have to check it out. I’m looking at real estate prices in Naples and the Tampa Bay metro! … ok ok…Miami too 😁 . Mike
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I hope you get that dream Karen! 🙂
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Thanks Mike! I certainly hope so. I hope you make the leap too given that you’re checking out prices. The thing that holds me back is the hurricane rebuild factor. I’ve heard my dream area is still in a rebuild since last year’s storm. One day…We will get there Mike! 😁
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Oh the ocean and islands and sand and sun, never had or heard of a fudgie wudgie bar but I can imagine it from the fudge bars my uncle used to give me as a kid, it was a treat because it was his favorites and we got popsicles but now and then we got the fudge bars.. mmmm and I can see the entire beach 🏝️ signature with your name all over it. I can’t wait to hear about you writing ✍️ there one day.
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Kerri you will all be invited to my beach home for a party!!
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Wonderful! Houses in that area are a bit expensive, but hey, that’s what the lottery is for. I’ve lived on two islands, Puerto Rico and Hawaii, and island living is pretty awesome. Some people complain about island fever, but life on the beach isn’t for everyone.
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Gosh what gorgeous places to live!!! You are right. Beach living is not for everyone. That’s ok – more room for us!
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Yes! 🙌🏼
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And I will definitely be there!!!
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We still have the “Fudgie Wudgie” man up here at the Jersey Shore. It never gets old. But a can of Tab? Kiki, you’re such a Boomer!😎
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Proud to be a Boomer! 😁
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