“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 655 (Friday) New Year's Eve

Mr. Sandman?

A last-minute vacation day was scheduled for the 31^st, just one day in advance. While adding entries to my timesheet on Thursday, the vacation hours accrual was still pretty healthy, the to-do list was short with no deadlines looming, and it became a “Why the hell not?” situation. Of course, true to form, there was no plan in mind for anything fun when the time off was requested, but at least it wouldn't be dominated by a vet, dental, or medical appointment. 

As always, except for the one day a year when there is a medical appointment involving bloodwork, the day began with coffee. It was a leisurely experience, with a side of chocolate babka and a couple episodes of Doctor Who from BBC America’s ongoing marathon. The coffee provided the lubrication to get the mental gears turning. On the last day of a year that had some wretched moments, it suddenly felt important to do something more than nothing.  

The problem was the same one as always when looking at free time. There are too many options. Drive to the beach? Walk in the woods? Visit thrift or antique shops? Tackle the perpetual junk room? Include Winston in the activity? Having more than one or two options nearly always induces paralysis.

A neutral-toned day.

It had been an idea all year to get to the beach, and yet, I hadn’t been since October 2020. A visit to the beach won out and near the end of the pot of coffee, a plan began to take shape. Winston was left at home because the times he has been to the beach he tried to run away, and his company would force the exclusion of other side excursions. On the list of 2021 goals, “Get ass to the beach” can now be crossed off. More than likely, the mostly intact list will have 2021 scratched out and replaced with 2022.

Random snow pile.

There was a ride along Route 1A through Salisbury and Seabrook where the houses are stacked three deep and close enough together that the only clues the ocean is nearby are the occasional numbered yellow signs for “Beach Access” and a narrow footpath. They looked less impressive than I remembered. In Hampton, things loosen up on the ocean side of the route and it’s possible to see the expanse of ocean from the road. The only snow pile seen anywhere so far this season sat opposite Playland Arcade.

Hampton Beach had quite a few people walking on the sidewalk and on the beach. It was a neutral-toned day colored in tan sand and varying shades of gray for the water and sky. The boardwalk is boarded up for the season and several hours before the planned New Year's Eve fireworks, all was quiet on the ocean front. A freshly sculpted sand snowman stood watch near The Seashell Stage.

Shell wings were abundant.

The beach visit was brief. Time was enjoyed walking on the beach, which was littered with a bounty of blue shells spread open like wings. Walking on the beach is always nice, but it’s even nicer with someone to chat with. The rest room was visited, and thanks given that it was open. Then it was back on the road. 

Before leaving the house, an online check for thrift stores near Hampton yielded a Goodwill store not far from the beach. The shop was neatly arranged but the housewares department failed to deliver. The current thrifting list includes café curtains for the window over the kitchen sink and 8.5-inch soup bowls.  While in Goodwill, another customer was overheard telling her companion that “the prices are better at Savers,” which contradicts my experiences at Savers, but gave me the idea to check for one nearby.

In traffic filled Plaistow, the Savers store matched my experiences with the stores in Worcester and Nashua. The Savers chain seems to be undeservedly proud of its used merchandise, with prices that often match and sometimes exceed prices at Target and Kohls for brand new stuff. I wished I had asked the woman in Goodwill which Savers she visits.

Savers offered me no treasures inside, but next door was an Aldi, which caused my pulse to quicken. There was a trip through grocery Wonderland with many treasures found at prices worth taking out the wallet. I had imagined grabbing some fresh mushrooms and coffee creamer, but it turned into a three bags full situation, possibly exacerbated by it being 2:00 with hunger firmly set in. The weekend, which until the Aldi trip was 100% free of plans, now has a spinach, mushroom, and cheese quiche and lohikeitto (Finnish salmon stew) penciled in for a flavorful start to the New Year.