A hard rain is gonna fall in the upstate today according to the meteorologist machine. I’m sitting cocked in an electric recliner enjoying a cup of coffee made with water I’m not accustomed to. I don’t mind beach water coffee to me coffee has better flavor with a hint of salt.

I’m temporarily dissociating with life in a two bedroom condo in Isle of Palms. I haven’t been out of town in a while.

Went for a Long Beach walk (autocorrect is capitalizing assumptions here) yesterday while my feet crushed the sand with the occasional run in with upside down seashells that I refer to as beach legos. It may rain here soon I’m trying to decide if I want to brave the rain for a walk. It’s 62° I’m not concerned about hypothermia but I’m also trying to avoid discomfort at any levels.

The island is quiet. My morning is quiet. My stomach is the only thing making noise this morning I eat like there’s no tomorrow when I come to the beach and my stomach isn’t enjoying my decisions.

Normal day eating routine- no food until at least 10am. Fruit, nuts, yogurt and or granola.

Lunch I may eat half a sandwich or I’ll graze on some cold cuts with a cracker or two, my stomach is leaning towards the gluten free thing. Or it’s all the glyphosate.

Probably the glyphosate

And then for dinner I tend to eat whatever is thrown at me. Take out rotation or the three meals we cook at home.

Day one here?

Two double espresso coffees

Apple fritter

Chicken and egg biscuit

Assortment of chips throughout the day

Pizza slice with wings

M&Ms (any bag size is one serving size with me)

Dinner – chili cheeseburger with fries and some queso dip.

Pretty sure I had a cookie after dinner.

If I were to walk into the water there would be a whale sighting confirmed shortly.

I do this every time I’m at the beach. Pairs well with taking my shirt off. I don’t do it when I go on cross country trips. You don’t take bathroom breaks for granted when you’re in the middle of nowhere.

Also I’ve never been a walk around with your shirt off type. I’ve always found it odd when I see guys getting out of their car to pump gas with no shirt on. Or when I watch videos online and see dudes casually sitting on the sofa with a beer can in their hand while shirtless.

Especially in the summer months in the south.

On leather upholstery

All I can see is your hairy back oil soaking into the fabric. You ever wonder why old bed pillows turn yellow?

You’re welcome.

If you’re one of those people you be you. I’m only saying that I’m indeed not one of those people.

Also some of you should always have your shirt on in public..

Sorry

tangent

Alligator country is wild. Everyone just walks around while eating dipping dots with mammal eating reptiles hiding in the bushes and water sizing you up to see if you’re worth the meal effort. I’m not one to be walk around in fear of the local wildlife but I do enjoy having all my toes attached. Still I’d rather see a large gator over a grizzly any day.

Anyone else have to pack sound when they travel? Residing in the south your entire life you pick up some sleeping habits over time. Not every home had hvac in the 70s. You had shaking window units and or box fans in the windows. I’ve always went to bed with a soothing hum in the background. Sleep is a challenge without it now. We travel with a tiny speaker that specifically plays brown or fan noise while we sleep. Can’t bring the home oscillating fan it’s a tad obnoxious to pack. Small fans pack small sounds. I use a phone app when I camp for fan sounds. I keep it at a low level I still need to hear what’s around me but those whippoorwills are obnoxious at night. Wildlife doesn’t adhere to noise ordinance. There’s no nature hoa.

Sleep in complete silence? Do I look like a psychopath?

During a cloudy pause down here I drove to the local REI in Mt Pleasant to kill sometime. REI is a store I visit a lot. I’m in the Greenville one once a week and I’ll drive to the one in Asheville once a month. “

REI is too expensive”

Not really they all cost about the same it’s not REI that’s expensive just some of the brands they represent. I’ll never buy arcteryx brand shit it’s ridiculous. I go for their returns. Most of my gear has been bought slightly used.

Everyone in the Greenville store recognizes me. They’re always friendly but I’m the type that likes to duck in and duck out when I go shopping. I don’t need assistance in fact I’d rather not have assistance. I know it’s polite protocol to acknowledge a regular. I do it at the deli it’s the correct form of hospitality. For me? Just smile and say hey and I’m good. Don’t follow me around the store I hate it.

I’ll leave.

I ran into the store manager from Greenville he’s now the manager of the one in Pleasant. Great guy super nice. We chatted for a few minutes and we went about our day. He must’ve made a few employees aware that a “regular” was present because after that I had about a half dozen employees aware of my wandering. Lots of engagement.

Great hospitality. I’m grateful. I really am. I just hate it.

I spent an hour there. It was raining. I grew up reading Sears catalogs. I like to slowly peruse the aisles. I like to touch merchandise, hold it in my hands. I don’t buy clothes without trying them on. I’m a physical shopper.

Leave me to my tidings. Buying that giant camper for my truck without ever seeing one up close was a big deal for me. I still have one more week or so.

I need sand on my feet. The salty air is calling.

Peace.