There are very few things in the world that I love more than an afternoon spent on a beach with the sound of waves rolling in the distance. While my version of a perfect day at the beach has overcast skies (the blusterier the better) and is not tropical in nature, I think most people would say that they enjoy spending time by (or on) the water. It’s why I chose to share the ocean as my first in the Luxe Love series we announced in January.
In case you weren’t reading with us back then, we asked what luxury meant to people and then split the “things” that make up luxuries into two parts – the luxe lists, which would be considered luxuries or luxurious by most people and the luxe loves which were the little unique things that give you (and possibly you alone) personal pleasure. One of the most rewarding things I have done in my entire life has been to sit down and clearly be able to define what those personal luxuries are. Think about it – can you list the three things that mean the most to you in a heartbeat? The things that make you tick? The things you would spend all day doing if you won the lottery? The things you could talk about for hours? The things that maybe you can’t because they are so personal but meaningful? These are what we want to help you define in order to help you cultivate those loves into a fulfilling hobby, provide you something to go to bed dreaming about (other than that hunk in the TV show) and give you a greater sense of happiness.
So let’s talk about my luxe love. When I was growing up, I did not live near an ocean. We went on vacation to nice and warm places with beaches and I honestly never enjoyed them that much – if you don’t know, I wear SPF 110 on rainy days and avoid the sun because I’m as pale as anything and burn super quickly. It’s likely why I’ve been drawn to the West Coast and the rain forest climate that I currently live in. Being near the water makes me happy and I don’t even know that I can articulate all the reasons why. I think if I had to guess that it’s the specific continuity of the ocean’s waves that appeals to me. No matter what has happened, the waves keep coming. It’s a reassuring message.
Somewhere in the time I went from random beach dweller to passionate beach advocate, I convinced my husband that we needed to save up and buy a beach house. Somewhere that we can live that’s close enough to our home in the city to allow us the ability to go there on weekends and get away from it all. Somewhere close enough so it’s used and isn’t just a place that sits and collects dust until our once or twice a year trek. Somewhere like this little gem of a place that I found on last summer’s trip down the Oregonian coast (PS – they were doing renovations and had a port-a-potty outside. My dream beach house does feature indoor plumbing)
Part of what I have enjoyed in the exercise of figuring out what makes me tick is that it has allowed me to take something I like (the ocean) and transformed it into a dream goal (own a beach house). It makes skipping the new pair of heels a little easier when you think that the money could be going to a little slice of your own personal paradise. Sometimes the heels are just too pretty to pass up, but at least I’ve come to realize I’m delaying the dreams a little bit with every new pair. Or, rather, delaying frivolities on the beach like this.
In short, I wanted to share this luxe love of mine with you in hopes that you can find something in your life that makes you smile as large as I am in the photo above while covered in several pounds of sand. Because that’s really, at the end of the day, what luxury is all about… Finding things that give you immense personal enjoyment and pleasure.
If you love the water as much as I do (or want to own a beach house even remotely as much) then be sure to follow along with the rest of our ocean inspired and beach house inspiration boards on Pinterest.
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