typecasting

i've always had this theory that there are two types of people in this world: beach people and mountain people. sure, there are people who might define themselves as both, but if you press them, they'll pledge their allegiance to one side or the other. we lived in asheville for five years, and what a fabulous place it is! no wonder it's always on the covers of those in-flight magazines, with articles waxing poetic about all of its charm and eccentricities and downtown culture and outdoor activities. the only problem i had with asheville was that there just didn't seem to be any ocean nearby. (i'm somewhat geographically challenged, so i did look.) even more difficult, it was a 7-hour drive to my parents' beach house on topsail island. if you haven't guessed by now, i am a beach person. i love to look at the mountains and think they're beautiful, especially in the fall when the leaves change ... but i am not a mountain person. i don't like to hike. or camp. or bike. or white water raft. or ski. or do anything in the cold for more than two minutes. so really, a lot of the allure of asheville was lost on me. now, the beach ... well, give me the sound of the waves crashing, the cool wet sand beneath my feet, and the sun setting over the water, and i would die a happy woman. if i can't live on the beach, i figure the next best thing is to live within a short drive's distance, with a free place to stay. our move back to raleigh has given that to us. we're headed back down to the beautiful shores of topsail this afternoon! happy 4th of july!