socialized beachs

California is known all over the world for its splendid beaches.  Miles of sand beckon the walker, swimmer, tide pool explorer, surfer , bike rider and sun worshipers.  The ocean's allure affects everyone and on a sunny day the beach is packed.

The one thing i look forward to every year when i visit San Diego is walking the beach.  i can go for miles and miles watching the ocean, searching for treasure, or just people watching.  i drive there early every morning to enjoy a little bit of solitude and connection with an element that i need to soothe my soul.

i've been fortunate to meet interesting people that also share and love the beach and that is the topic for today.

Coastal communities all over the nation devote considerable resources to providing access for everyone.  All up and down the east coast, west coast and the gulf region Americans enjoy the beach. They pack up their families, picnic baskets, umbrellas and join millions of others all over the country for a day at the beach.  No one thinks about this in terms of shared value or shared assets, its just there.

Californians pay taxes to keep the beach clean, pay lifeguards to save them when in distress and provide public bathrooms and water fountains.  Most beach goers never think that without a communal regard for creating space that all can enjoy we would not be allowed on them.

Pure capitalism would allow each edifice that was built along the shore to extend fences down to the waterline.  Only the people owning those properties would be allowed to enjoy the spit of sand in front of their home, hotel or club.  People wanting access would have to pay for the right to enjoy the beach inside the fences.


i call our beaches "Socialized Beachs" and thank goodness so many of us want to keep them just the way they are.  We all pay for the right to use them but imagine if you couldn't.  What would San Diego be like without socialized beaches?

All up and down, what is known here as the Strand there could be fences breaking it up.  You wouldn't be allowed to walk uninterrupted because all those property owners would want to keep you off.  So remember, the next time you complain about paying taxes consider those socialized beachs and parks and thank your lucky stars that pure capitalism didn't prevail.