Esther McCarthy: People show their true selves on the beach - here's who I've seen this summer
A lifestyle columnist reflects on the behavioral patterns of beachgoers during a summer heatwave. The piece uses humor to categorize different types of people found at the seaside.
Why it matters
It offers a lighthearted cultural observation on human behavior in leisure settings during extreme weather.
With the weather the way it is you could almost believe this photo was taken in West Cork. Picture: iStock
Now that we apparently live in The Bahamas, our new reality revolves around desperately rooting out those joke fans you got for a hen that have hilarious (filthy) slogans on them, spending all your money on sunscreen and blackout blinds, and existing on iced foodstuffs.
I have adapted quickly to this alternate universe and am embracing our sun-soaked days with aplomb. I have instructed the eldest boy to sell all our long-sleeved, long-legged garments and burn the rest. We’ll never need them again. The duvets have been discarded, replaced by light sheets and sticky air. We have accepted that the beach is our second home, and securing a good spot is crucial.
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