Should I stay or should I go?

Every work place has its own rules and regulations, some rules are more important and written somewhere in the organization's policies and some are not exactly official and are not written anywhere but are commonly known and followed by most. A good example of an unofficial rule in a society that values high quality of life but unfortunately is located in a region with mostly shit weather all year round is, when it is nice weather, drop everything, go outside and enjoy while you can.

Good rules are easy to adopt, especially if they make so much sense. I personally don’t like too many rules but the above example is definitely one I am very strict on keeping. So how can I allow myself to go out and have fun when there’s so much work to do?

Remember many years ago, we used to use only paper and pen? Yes, before we all had personal computers and way before the internet became part of our daily lives. So school bag is ready, packed with a notebook (the original notebook, filled with papers), pen, pencil, sunscreen, sarong, hat, sunglasses, cooler bag with drinks & snacks and I’m all ready for another beautiful day at the park / lake / beach / forest, to be outside, get active and inspired, think, plan, schedule and document. 

And if I want to include a bit of workout before and after the hard day at work I’ll ride my bicycle and not the car. I love the summer!

Un beso para mi (short story 10)

And there he comes... she thought to herself while shaking off the drops from her body. Just got out of the water from her morning swim, all wet and loose, feeling her back and neck muscles relaxing after the effort. "Yo no compro nada, gracias" she was already used to reply each time when someone approached her with whatever craft, fruit or any other goods they had for sale. With or without goods, everyone who passes by, along the beach or on the road just behind, in town and in the bars, always the same old sentences: "Hola chica, mi amor... quiero ser tu marido... que linda.." Can't blame them for trying, it's just part of the game.

This time he had pareo for sale, "no tengo dinero en la playa, amigo" she replied and then, just like that, a refreshing sentence she has not heard before from a pass by.. he said without hesitating.. "un beso para mi".

Another day in paradise (short story 8)

She woke up to the sound of the birds as any other day, opened the curtains and the door to her balcony and immediately knew from the smell in the air that it finally had rained last night. She stretched her arms, her neck and back and as the sun was shining brightly through the trees she thought to herself, what a beautiful fresh day in paradise. Heading down to her beach, this time all the way down to the big pool between the reefs and the weed, she was all excited to see what this amazing spot will bring her today, now, in her own private paradise. Step by step into the sea, slowly and calmly as if not to disturb the life underneath, taking long deep breaths welcoming every little wave that splashes to her skin an extra inch with each step further and then stopping to enjoy the chill water as it gently touches her. The endless horizon she can picture with her eyes closed, the whale shaped rocks not too far from shore, the hills along the peninsula on the west, the deserted white beach with a palm tree leaning side way on the east, smiling to her self as IT IS one of the most relaxing enjoyable moments that she knows, early morning when it is quiet and all to her self. Take it in, take it all in. She kept standing at the point just before the water reaches above the belly button enjoying every breath with a light movement, first with her fingers drawing eights in the water, then small circles with her wrists as it grows and move the hands then the arms, stronger movements almost as if she was dancing in the water to the rhythm of the waves when she then realised she was not alone in her little spot in the water in paradise. A school of fish was swimming right towards her, then made a turn away from her. She stood there watching without a movement, checking them out as they were checking her out (or not...), swimming in circles around her, first a big circle then a bit closer and swam away. That was nice, I wonder what they think of me she thought to herself as she noticed them swimming back towards her again. And so they swam towards and away from her. Oh ye, of course, she laughed, silly me, fish have a very short memory, they can't remember they've just been here, she was smiling to this thought when she suddenly noticed that each time they change direction more fish are joining the school. It kept growing and growing as she counted at least 100 fish swimming in a structured double pyramid shape. Not really paying attention to how long she's been standing there breathing, watching, playing, smiling she then felt a little hot and sweaty, she dived straight in to join the school but they were not as friendly and could not be fooled to think that she was one of them and just like that, they swam away...

Life on the beach (Short story 3)

There's so many things to do on the beach and usually my chosen activity depends first on nature...

On every beach I can find some creatures, usually small, not so visible at first, but if I sit down on the sand, not too far from the water, I can usually spot some crabs running around and other types of sandy creatures...

Depending on the weather as well, sometimes it is just too hot to move or do anything outside the water. Watching these creatures, chasing and catching them is one of my ways to entertain myself on the beach.

Lying down quietly and listening to the sounds of the waves, the birds catching fish in the water, is one of my favourites... but if the beach is crowded, especially with loud kids and families, then there's probably just one thing left for me to do... go find a quieter beach!

View from below (Short story 1)

I love the beach and I know I'm not the only one. Of course not all beaches are as nice, inspiring and fun but the important thing is that they are by the sea.

Living in the Netherlands is not the ultimate place for beach lovers, not even close, but the country lies on the coast and therefore has many beaches to explore, from south to north. So I did.

During my first years living in the Netherlands I explored many of the beaches, from Texel Island in the north to 'Scheveningen in Den-Haag, yes, there more to explore south of the capital but come on, it is the North Sea...

If you never had the experience of sitting on icy sand on the beach in the cold dutch winter, then you don't know the feeling of a cold frozen yet sinking ass...(and you didn't miss anything).