Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I grew up near the ocean and the number one thing for us was knowing our limit. We also didn’t have a lot of beaches with lifeguards.
But it’s also about respecting the power of the ocean, rip currents, etc. Also, the shark thing a bit, given how much more common they are.
Most little kids like to wade and play in the tidal pools and dig in the sand. So it depends on your kids.
“Sometimes that shark, he looks right into you. Right into your eyes. You know the thing about a shark, he's got...lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eye. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be livin'. Until he bites ya and those black eyes roll over white. And then, ah then you hear that terrible high pitch screamin' and the ocean turns red and spite of all the poundin' and the hollerin' they all come in and rip you to pieces.”
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I grew up near the ocean and the number one thing for us was knowing our limit. We also didn’t have a lot of beaches with lifeguards.
But it’s also about respecting the power of the ocean, rip currents, etc. Also, the shark thing a bit, given how much more common they are.
Most little kids like to wade and play in the tidal pools and dig in the sand. So it depends on your kids.
“Sometimes that shark, he looks right into you. Right into your eyes. You know the thing about a shark, he's got...lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eye. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be livin'. Until he bites ya and those black eyes roll over white. And then, ah then you hear that terrible high pitch screamin' and the ocean turns red and spite of all the poundin' and the hollerin' they all come in and rip you to pieces.”
Anonymous wrote:I grew up going to the beaches of Long Island where the waves are big. It taught me to have a healthy respect for the ocean. I can read the waves and know what to do with waves of any size. Most people don’t get this education. Ocean swimming is fun but I understand why people don’t want little kids in there or are scared.
Anonymous wrote:I grew up near the ocean and the number one thing for us was knowing our limit. We also didn’t have a lot of beaches with lifeguards.
But it’s also about respecting the power of the ocean, rip currents, etc. Also, the shark thing a bit, given how much more common they are.
Most little kids like to wade and play in the tidal pools and dig in the sand. So it depends on your kids.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am from the mid Atlantic, no way would I ever go swimming at a local beach. Now, when I go to Florida I do go swimming, but I feel strange doing it as it was really dangerous to go swimming at the beach in NC where I grew up. Like the pp said, the US is a large country, and only a small part of it has beaches that are really safe to swim.
I grew up in SC. We swim in the ocean and I feel ok doing it because I know how to handle waves, etc. You just go out past the breakers. If a wave is about to hit you and you are deep enough,, go under it.
But I grew up hearing to never go to NC beaches because they are dangerous. The outer banks for example has cold water and dangerous rip tides. I would never vacation there.
Anonymous wrote:Immigrant here. I’ve noticed that Americans seem to prefer lounging by the pool or sitting out on chairs at the beach, rather than actually swimming in the ocean. If they do go in, it’s just for a short period or to get their feet wet. In my country, we actually go in deep and spend time swimming or just hanging out in the water. Why don’t most Americans do this too? I know most of you (middle class and above) learn to swim so what’s with the Pool/ Sun bathing preference?
Anonymous wrote:I grew up near the ocean and the number one thing for us was knowing our limit. We also didn’t have a lot of beaches with lifeguards.
But it’s also about respecting the power of the ocean, rip currents, etc. Also, the shark thing a bit, given how much more common they are.
Most little kids like to wade and play in the tidal pools and dig in the sand. So it depends on your kids.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Immigrant here. I’ve noticed that Americans seem to prefer lounging by the pool or sitting out on chairs at the beach, rather than actually swimming in the ocean. If they do go in, it’s just for a short period or to get their feet wet. In my country, we actually go in deep and spend time swimming or just hanging out in the water. Why don’t most Americans do this too? I know most of you (middle class and above) learn to swim so what’s with the Pool/ Sun bathing preference?
Salt water bad for skin. Sharks. Jellyfish.
Huh? I grew up on the beach and found salt water to be GREAT for skin. It has great healing properties.
It dries your skin.