You know those people that live near mountains, but never ski? Well there are also people who live near the beach, but never actually get sand between their toes. I am not one of those people. Since visiting Miami Beach last month, I’ve road tripped to Myrtle Beach (and Charleston), SC; St. Petersburg (and St. Pete Beach), FL; and, the Outer Banks of North Carolina. While some travel was work related and some was family related, all of it involved beaches. A coincidence? Not really. In July I went home to Philadelphia and took a side trip to the shore for – yes, that’s right – the beach. In fact, the day I went to Ocean City, NJ I had already seen the Atlantic Ocean next to my house. Even more unbelievable was the day this summer I left Florida for Oregon – I saw the Atlantic in the morning and the Pacific in the evening.
Happy place #1: The beach (The path leading to the beach on North Carolina’s Ocracoke Island.)
I’m thankful for the beach on Thanksgiving and every other day of the year.
When I have to go to the “interior” area of Florida, I rush home to get back to the beach. Why? Because it’s the place where my senses have a positive experience (except when the bugs are out of course!). I love the smell and taste of salt air. I love the feel of ocean breezes and the feel of sand under my feet. I love the sound of crashing waves. I love the sight of the sun reflecting off the water and watching the sky change color over the dunes as the day turns into evening. And, yes, maybe this all sounds cliché, but, I really mean it.
The happiest day I had in 2014 was the one where I woke up really early in San Francisco, walked through Golden Gate Park to a local coffee shop and then enjoyed the coffee on Ocean Beach. In fact, I enjoyed that day so much that almost a year to the day later, I was moving into my Vilano Beach house – 489 steps from the beach.
Yes, the beach is my happy place.
Happy place #2: Improv (Backstage before It’s All About Amy at the Tampa Bay Improv Festival.)
While the beach is my happy place because of what it does to my senses, improv is my happy place for what it does to my mind – gives it permission to turn it off. Whether I’m practicing an exercise in a workshop, or, performing on stage in front of an audience, improv gives me the gift of the present moment. Whatever is happening in life before the improv experience and whatever might be happening in life after the improv experience doesn’t matter. All that does matter is that moment with the ensemble. To be able to turn everything off, to create something out of nothing and to discover the magic of the moment – together – is indeed a happy place.
Yes, improv is my other happy place.
What are your happy places?
UPCOMING HAPPY PLACES:
Street Improv warming up before the First Friday Artwalk in St. Augustine
Street Improv at First Friday Artwalk
Friday, December 2nd
6 – 9 p.m.
Aviles Street in St. Augustine
Imagine showing up at your favorite community event and being able to jump into an improv game – or two … or even three! That’s Street Improv! No theatre needed. We play games with each other and the public and spread the joy and magic of improv as we do.
Holiday Improv Hangout at Limelight Theatre
Sunday, December 4th
6 – 9 p.m.
11 Old Mission Ave.
In our special edition Holiday Hangout, we’ll be celebrating the St. Augustine improv community. Bring a dish and drink to share, and, bring a canned good – for people or pets – to be donated to the hurricane relief efforts. And, be ready to play St. Augustine’s favorite improv games!
Please visit The Adventure Project’s calendar for more details.
