Is something wrong with me for not liking the beach?

Chacun a son gout (each to his ow taste). Perhaps you prefer to vacation in the mountains?

I love the beach. The presence of the water makes me feel peaceful and relaxed. I don’t like just laying out in the sun, but I love walking laong the beach or shelling.

Still, it is fine with me if you stay away from the beach.

Not at all. Of course, there is a big difference between a clean soft sand beach near clear blue, mild temperature waters and one that’s hard, strewn with garbage and crowded with people who smell like coconut and sweaty butt wading in dark waters full of algae.

I love most aspects of nature, the beach, the mountains, the desert, snow, rain etc. But my best friend doesn’t like the beach at all and his reasons have to do mostly with his sense of fastidiousness. He likes to be clean and thinks that having sand on his feet, or in his shoes or in his car is kind of like what it might be for me to step in poop. So I totally respect that he has a different sense of what is acceptable and what is not. He also, despite having a gorgeous body, has always been very modest and would never dream of taking his shirt off in public. My best friend’s boyfriend is also like that. So I have to respect that. The other thing that my friend doesn’t like about the beach is the fact that (at least in summer) it’s always crowded and he can’t stand being in crowds. And he can’t swim either. So all of these things put together, it makes perfect sense that he doesn’t like the beach. And it’s OK if you don’t like it either. Just tell all these folks who are giving you grief what you do prefer and try to get them to try some of those things with you. They might learn something and have a bit of fun too.

No. Lots of people despise feeling the sand underneath their feet or on their skin, which is inevitable when you go to the beach. Some people are afraid of the sea, thus have a fear of going to the beach. There is nothing wrong with not liking something or someplace, as we all have our valid reasons for liking or disliking something.

Nope…nothing is wrong with you. The beach seems to fall into one of those ‘love it or loathe it’ categories. There are plenty of people who hate the thought of going to the beach, either due to a fear of water, the creepy crawlers that live in the ocean, the sand, the heat, being seen in public in a swim suit…the list goes on.

For those that find your preference unfathomable, just chalk it up to a lack of education and/or empathy. In a way, it is sort of like the atheists who live in the Bible Belt. They have their own opinion, but rarely share it because they know that it is more often than not a moot point.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
“If this were only cleared away,”
They said, “it would be grand!”

Lewis Carroll

I am not as keen on the beach today as I used to be. I only like it when it is deserted in late Autumn or Winter.

Yes there is something wrong with you. :) We are pretty forgiving though.

When you say “the beach” where are you referring to? Going to the beach in Northern California is mostly going for cold foggy walks. It is much different in Hawaii o southern California.

For me to enjoy the beach, it needs to be warm and the water needs to be warm.

It makes sense to me if you don’t like it.

Not a thing wrong with you. My husband doesn’t like the beach, though he has never really said why. I like it if there aren’t a lot of people around and it’s not bathing suit season. I love the sound of the waves and walking on the sand.

Nothing is wrong with you. I don’t care much for the beach. There is no universal “cup of tea”.

@zenvelo I am referring to really any beach. I’ve been to beaches in South and North America, and I don’t like it. IDK why, but it seems that people want me to, and that I’m really supposed to.

@HollyF – I wonder if it’s some kind of mass media appeal that these people have fallen under. We see beach scenes and everyone is gorgeous and having a great time, so why wouldn’t we want to go? Or maybe they’ve had great experiences at the beach?

To me, this is like people who don’t understand those who don’t like a particular food. Take marinara sauce as an example. If you tell someone that you don’t like marinara, they will insist that you just haven’t had “good” marinara. They will drag you to Italian restaurants that they love or take you to their Italian grandma’s house so you can have her marinara because it’s “the best ever.” They cannot understand that you just don’t like marinara. Same thing with the beach. How could you not love the sand, sun and surf? Doesn’t everybody love the beach? Well, no. But they probably won’t ever get it.

I personally hate the beach. The only thing I like is volleyball, and even then, I’d rather play somewhere not covered in sand. Log cabin in the forest? Sign me up. It’s on a mountain? We’re leaving now.

@tedibear Those the exact responses I get when I say I don’t like marinara, mashed potatoes or cheese cake. “Have you had REAL cheese cake? My aunt makes cheesecake that brings tears to the eyes.” “How were the mashed potatoes prepared? Did you have the right consistency of gravy?”

I just get a slap in the face when I say I hate bacon

Sand everywhere and in everything (and I mean everything), salt everywhere and in everything (ditto), ferocious sun burns, undertow and people with loud music. What’s not to like?

Give me a freshwater lake any time, preferably in the mountains like Lake Placid.

Maybe, but so what?

People sometimes think there must be something “wrong” with me because I like to stay at home. I enjoy my home. It suits me. I don’t have to look for parking, pay too much for bad service, wait for a table, etc. Maybe there is something wrong with me. Again, so what?

PS: There are lots of things that are wrong with me, and I already know that – I’m not asking for a list. But there are a lot of things right about me, too, and I’m working on improving some of those things. Working from home, as a matter of fact.

@Prosb You only dislike bacon because I haven’t made it for you.

It certainly depends on what you don’t like about the beach. I used to get to the beach several times a year long ago and I was comfortable there and in the water. In the last while I don’t get to the beach often and I worry about sunburn and being hot and sand and… oh gawd it’s Cold!!

I don’t know why you don’t like the beach and you shouldn’t have to justify to anyone why you don’t like the beach. Personally I find the beach to be nasty, people spit, piss, and shit in the water and on the beach sand…what’s to like about the beach under those conditions.

Different strokes for different folks. Maybe you would rather go to the mountains, and that’s fine, too. I have never understood why some people feel that just because they like something, others should, too.

@tedibear Of course, be sure to make me a few strips sometime. =D

I’m not really a beach fan.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU!!!!!! This is why the world is made up of so many different places, nobody is expected to like all the same things. My little 2 year old baby who has alot of medical issues can’t tolerate the heat that comes along with going to the beach. I have tried taking her twice and the way I look at it there are other places more suited for her than the beach. If I want to take my other daughter to the beach then I will find her a sitter.

I loathe the beach here on the east coast. It’s really just a crowded mess of horrible people. There is very little nature to be had.
I spent some time on the west coast (Santa Barbara and Big Sur). Redwoods, amazing cliffs, can find a private beach any time you want, sea lions, nature, quiet, beauty, etc.
Two different things.

What do you want us to tell you? Yes there is or no there isn’t. Not liking the beach isn’t indicative of a problem, whatsoever. Why would you think it is?

Never had a bad experience, but ever since I was a child, I’ve been terrified of the water. I still get nightmares about drowning. I lived in the Caribbean for more than 20 years and I didn’t even own a bathing suit. Never learned to swim. I don’t go into pools either. I’d rather spend 2 days in NYC or Paris in the winter atttending cultural events than 2 weeks in Hawaii, the Seychelles or any similar spot getting skin cancer lying around in the sand.