Throwback Thursday – A Holiday Weekend

Yes, I know it is only Thursday but I am sure you are already planning for a long holiday weekend, right?  This post was originally written back in 2013 (when I was a newbie to blogging).

Growing up on the Jersey Shore, Memorial Day weekend was filled with mixed emotions. It was the start of the summer season which meant the “bennies” (or shoobies as we called them in South Jersey) would be invading for the next few months.

In high school, I worked at Kohr’s at Third Avenue so this was the first BIG weekend we got to work. Typically, we started working on weekends when it was nice around Easter. This was the weekend we were able to reconnect with old friends who came home from college or those who traveled to work for the summer. We enjoyed days on the beach and long nights on the boardwalk – working and hanging out with friends. The summer traffic was never really thought about nor did we really think about the people invading our beaches.

Fast forward to my mid-20’s when I moved to South Jersey – living just outside of Ocean City and working in Atlantic City.  I came to dread this weekend. No longer did it hold the joy of traveling to the beach and long nights of hanging on the boardwalk. Now it was filled with shoobies/ bennies who congested the roads and littered our beaches. It made parking impossible. The joy of the summer was replaced with dread. Honestly, we spent more time at the beach from Easter to around the middle of June then we did the entire summer. Those were the days filled with sunshine, quiet moments on the beach and only a little bit of traffic mostly caused by locals.  

Yes, I know it is great for the economy and a definite plus for all of the small businesses in the area. For many businesses, the summer season is what carries them through the long cold winter.  As for me, I will wait until the mid-week between now and mid June to enjoy the warmth of the beach and strolls on the boardwalk. Then I will wait, patiently, for the crowds to go home before I head back to the beach. The pool at the complex will be my haven during the day and on an occasional mid-week night, we may travel down to take a stroll on the boardwalk.

Last Sunday after we celebrated our wedding anniversary at the Wharfside in Point, we rode along the beach.  I will admit, the excitement of seeing the rides going, people walking on the boardwalk and some traffic brought back so many memories. I actually can’t wait this year to enjoy some of the craziness.

What are your plans for this weekend at the Jersey Shore? Do you have any tips for avoiding the crowds and still enjoying our wonderful beaches? I would love to hear them.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

The “Unofficial” End of Summer

YEAH!  Today is Friday and for many, they are looking forward to the LONG Labor Day Weekend.  This weekend is filled with the last hurrah before the kids go back to school.  The “unofficial” end of summer.

Being born and raised at the Jersey Shore, I have learned to look forward to this weekend. It is the weekend when most “shoobies” head home.

 A shoobie (if you are from South Jersey) is some one who wears socks and sandals on the beach, typically coming to the shore for a vacation or long weekend or a day trip.  Of course, if you are from Central or Northern NJ, these visitors are called “bennies” and are usually from NY.  They are what keeps many businesses in our area open and able to sustain during the long cold winter months.  YEAH!

When I was in high school, I longed for the summer.  The boardwalk in Asbury Park got busy and I got more hours at work.   We didn’t mind sitting in traffic or the lack of parking spaces.  Fast forward to living in South Jersey near Ocean City and believe it or not, I didn’t think it was that bad, either.  Yes, there was a little bit more traffic.  Yes, there was a few less parking spaces.  Yes, we had to pay to park.  Given all of that, I loved taking the kids to the boardwalk and people watching.  The crowds never seemed that bad.

Fast forward to NOW!  Living in Central Jersey (Brick) again, I am back to CELEBRATING the exodus of people.  For some reason the crowds seem worse, manners were left at home and oh, did I mention the traffic.  I can go back to driving the highways and enjoy my happy place – the beach/ boardwalk in Ocean Grove.  I no longer have to find the shortest or less traveled distance between any where I want to go.  I can enjoy the boardwalk and we can walk the lake. Will I miss the warmer weather? YES!  Will I miss the seasonal businesses that will close?  YES!

Will I miss the “shoobies” and “bennies”?  NO!  Please no hate mail.  All I ask when you visit is that you bring your manners and remember that for some of us, this is home and not just a vacation spot.  We welcome you into our “HOME” and ask that you treat it as if you were a guest in someone’s (physical) home.

So, are you excited about or dreading the start of the LONG Labor Day Weekend?  Share your thoughts with us..

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Summer KickOff

TGIF!!!  Not only is it Friday BUT it is also the start of a long weekend – Memorial Day weekend.  For those of us at the Jersey Shore, this is the official start of “tourist” season or better known as summer.  It is a love-hate relationship.  We love the influx of people for the seasonal businesses BUT we hate the traffic.

Starting today, I will travel the back roads more than normal.  I will avoid the beach and boardwalk area on weekends.  I will secretly pray for Labor Day weekend to come and all the tourists go home.  Don’t get me wrong, growing up at the shore was AWESOME!  I loved working at Kohr’s on the boardwalk in Asbury Park.  I anticipated the start of the season and was excited when we opened at Easter for weekends.  I knew that summer wasn’t far away.  Then I dreaded the final closing of the store in late October for winter.

When I moved to South Jersey, it never really hit home the difference in the traffic or influx of people during the summer.  We were a year round tourist destination.

I think old feelings of owning the beach and boardwalk resurfaced when Belinda and her friends wanted to go to the beach in the summer.  We always took the kids during the week and on weekends prior to Memorial Day.  Then if at all possible, we avoided the boardwalk except for occasionally in the evenings in the summer.  Belinda’s first job was on the Ocean City boardwalk.  UGH!  Traveling back and forth was always a test of timing – not only with traffic but with the 9th Avenue bridge opening.  That love-have relationship was passed on to my daughter.  Shore residents truly believe the best time for the beach and boardwalk is as soon as the weather breaks 60 before the “tourists” (or better known as shoobies) arrive and then after Labor day until you can’t stand the bitter cold anymore.

So, what is your fondest memories of Memorial Day weekend?  Share them with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Summer Kick Off

YEAH!  Today is Friday and for many, they are looking forward to the LONG Memorial Day Weekend.  Don’t get me wrong, I do remember those days but now my thoughts have changed ever so slightly….

Being born and raised at the Jersey Shore, I have learned that this is the first official weekend that the “shoobies” return.  A shoobie (if you are from South Jersey) is some one who wears socks and sandals on the beach, typically just coming to the shore for a vacation or long weekend or a day trip. Of course, if you are from Central or Northern NJ, these visitors are called “beenies” and are us usually from NY.  They are what keeps many businesses in our area open and able to sustain during the long cold winter months.  YEAH!

When I was in high school, I loved this time of year.  It was when the boardwalk got busy, I got more hours at work and we didn’t mind sitting in traffic or the lack of parking spaces.  Fast forward to living in South Jersey near Ocean City and believe it or not, I didn’t think it was that bad.  Yes, there was a little bit more traffic.  Yes, there was a few less parking spaces.  Yes, we had to pay to park.  Given all of that, I loved taking the kids to the boardwalk and people watching.  The crowds never seemed as bad down there are they do up here.

Fast forward to NOW!  Living in Central Jersey (Brick) again, I am back to dreading the influx of people.  For some reason the crowds seem worse, manners were left at home and oh, did I mention the traffic.  It is the time of year when I find the shortest or less traveled distance between any where I want to go.  I avoid the boardwalk and we walk the lake.  I avoid the beach and stick close to our condo complex pool.  I LOVE the warmer weather.  I LOVE that seasonal businesses are open and busy.

Okay, so for those “shoobies” and “beanies” – no hate mail please.  This is just my only vent for the summer and then it is over.  All I ask is that you bring your manners and remember that for some of us, this is home and not just a vacation spot.  We welcome you into our “HOME” and ask that you treat it as if you were a guest in someone’s home.

So, are you excited about or dreading the start of the LONG Memorial Day Weekend?  Share your thoughts with us..

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

The Start of Summer at the Shore

Growing up on the Jersey Shore, Memorial Day weekend was filled with mixed emotions.  It was the start of the summer season which meant that the “bennies” (or shoobies as we called them in South Jersey) would be invading for the next few months. 

In high school, I worked at Kohr’s at Third Avenue so this was the first BIG weekend that we got to work.  Typically, we started working on weekends when it was nice around Easter.  This was the weekend that we were able to reconnect with old friends who came home from college or those who traveled to work for the summer.  We enjoyed days on the beach and long nights on the boardwalk – working and hanging out with friends.  The summer traffic was never really thought about nor did we really think about the people that invaded our shores.  

As I got older, moved to South Jersey (just outside of Ocean City), I came to dread this weekend.  No longer did if hold the joy of traveling to the beach and long nights of hanging on the boardwalk.  Now it was filled with shoobies/ bennies who congested the roads and littered our beaches.  It made parking impossible.  The joy of the summer was replaced with dread.    Honestly, we spent more time at the beach from Easter to around the middle of June then we did the entire summer.  These were the days that were filled with sunshine, quiet moments on the beach and only a little bit of traffic mostly caused by locals.

Yes, I know it is great for the economy and is a definite plus for all of the small businesses in the area. For many businesses, the summer season is what carries them through the long cold winter.  This year holds even more challenges at the shore as many businesses are still recovering from the devastation of Sandy.  

As for me, I will wait until the mid-week between now and mid June to enjoy the warmth of the beach and strolls on the boardwalk.  Then I will wait, patiently, for the crowds to go home before I head back to the beach.  The pool at the complex will be my haven during the day and on an occasional mid-week night, we may travel down to take a stroll on the boardwalk.  

What are your plans for this weekend at the Jersey Shore?  Do you have any tips for avoiding the crowds and still enjoying our wonderful beaches?  I would love to hear them.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!