Destination: Beach

The beach, the pool, the sun

I love the sun. My friends call me a sun goddess. If there’s a little sliver of sunshine under the umbrella at a restaurant, I’m sitting in it.

My grandad – rooted in Slovenian and Croatian heritage – lived for the sun. He could spend all day in the sun and never tire of it. After growing up in a sun-starved West Virginia town, at age 21 during WWII, he arrived in Myrtle Beach (South Carolina) where he trained US soldiers for the physical rigors of the front. There, in the sun, he felt most alive.

My parents fell in love on that very same beach; it’s where my dad proposed. Family vacations were always an escape to the beaches of the Carolinas or Florida.

As an adult, I’ve explored the Caribbean – Virgin Islands to Bahamas, Puerto Rico to Trinidad – and every other summer, I’ve spent a week in Aruba. Florida also tends to call me back at least once or twice a year, either to West Palm Beach or Fort Myers. Two extremely different places; both incredible.

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Vacations and their relaxing atmosphere.

Unlike destination travel (another passion for a different time), my idea of a vacation is when the sun takes center stage. Adventures (if there are any) are a mere sideshow. I wake up with some coffee from the local roaster, toss a few snacks purchased at the local market in my beach bag and head for a chair in the sun. My friends or family might join me; they might not. This is MY time.

“I can actually sit by myself with some music on from 8 am to 3 pm and not move.”

My senses come alive. The crystal blue sea and sky stretch before me without a cloud (there’s nothing worse than cloud cover for a sun goddess!). A soft breeze carries the hint of suntan lotion. There’s a glow of sweat. As the droplets form, it feels like all the built-up stresses and toxins are leaving my body…like a sauna or hot yoga. But unlike hot yoga class, the easy tunes of Bon Iver or Ben Harper are now playing in my earbuds.

As the sun wanes, the lure of the destination calls.

After 3 pm, I’m ready for action and less “social distancing.” Some days it’s an adventure. We put wine in our daypacks, break a sweat as we hike to a hidden beach on Saint John and enjoy the conversation and the view as the sun begins to set. Or, we might be drawn in by a lively Happy Hour while walking around downtown West Palm Beach. Some days, we simply curl up in our beach house and re-watch “Parks and Recreation” or another favorite show. My only criterion: It has to be something that helps me to relax even more. This is not the time for a whole lot of brain stimulation. This is vacation!

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For dinner, we look for a place that’s very fresh, not stuffy and true to the local culture. It is certainly locally owned and their menu includes seafood, shellfish, maybe even alligator bites. Not long after dinner, I head to bed. Tomorrow’s another day in the sun!

Beach bag essentials:

Towel (bright, plushy and soft is best)
Sunscreen (45 SPF, at least, so they tell me)
YETI 20 oz. insulated tumbler (full of ice)
Phone and earbuds for beach tunes (or my trusty sand-proof speaker)
Chair (optional, if you prefer to travel light, just lay on a towel on the sand)

TIP: Don’t forget to remove your sunglasses (they’ll give you a tan line you don’t want, trust me)

Dreaming of a sunny escape.

As I write from my home office today, traces of beach vacations surround me. No, not the 18-year-old version of me that curated beach-house objects, but the more mature me who takes comfort in interior design that’s mostly white with reclaimed wood and a hint of azure blue like the Caribbean Ocean. When I get a moment, I flip through Instagram posts too cautious to plan, but for now, content to dream, to anticipate the escape to a sunny destination that I know will always leave me feeling recharged and ready to take on the world.

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Jesse Collins, Senior Marketing and Communications Manager, oversees marketing and branding for REHAU Americas.

Next stop: Take a tour of REHAU projects by the beach

J&J Custom Cabinets Residence | Corona Del Mar, California
A wave of REHAU products make a splash in this modern beach house remodel

ESJ Towers | San Juan, Puerto Rico
Beachside resort upgrades to REHAU window and door designs and reaps big rewards.

Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside | San Diego, California
Sound abatement qualities of REHAU windows enhance idyllic setting of San Diego Holiday Inn

Bright Wood Works Inc. Kitchen | St. Petersburg, Florida
REHAU Matte Surfaces Cool Down This Hot Florida Kitchen

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San Diego Central Courthouse | San Diego, California
RAUMAT is a great fit for this high-traffic, modern courthouse.

U.S. Department of Agriculture | Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
REHAU window and door designs allow USDA to pair aesthetics with energy efficiency