I live in a small town here in Colonial Beach VA. It’s referred to as CBVA according to the local bumper stickers. There’s also a moniker that this town goes by; “the playground of the Potomac”. CB has a long stretch of beach and a boardwalk running along it. Spending an occasional late Friday night there, I’ve experienced firsthand how it got that nickname. Watching the many smiling faces rolling out of the restaurants and bars on the boardwalk.
It reminds me a lot of growing up in the chill Beach town of Huntington Beach, California. A cool vibe to be perpetuated that feeds one spirit. I like being by the beach and the water. The smell of the salt air invigorates my soul and brings back memories. Experiencing the golden hour at sunset this evening down on the boardwalk reminded me of Hawaii, where I spent most of my life. A very tranquil and refreshing time of the evening, to reflect on the many blessings experienced during the day.
The visitors on the boardwalk come and go. All drawn here by the same mellow beach town vibe that Colonial Beach has to offer. A place to reacquaint with one’s natural senses, observe the tranquil beauty, slow down a notch or two, while becoming whole again.
Could that sense of spirit be accomplished in the big city where most of the visitors come from? Most likely not. It’s probably a missing element of their daily existence. That’s why they come to CB; to recapture a sense of belonging. Finding a place amongst others whom seek the same less hurried pace of life.
I’ve been blessed to live in small towns most of my life. What a gift to get to know one’s neighbors and contribute to the idyllic lifestyle that only exist in small towns. People come to CB for the sense of simplicity that they don’t find back home. They stay for the sense of community.
What fond memories I have of my past existence in the small towns I’ve lived in. For example Huntington Beach, California where my family moved to back in the late 60’s when I was a youngster. A beach town where one could have a campfire down on the beach and spend the night snoozing in the comforts of the sand, warmed by the sun.
Then 10 years later, just having turned 21, I had a golden opportunity to move to Hawaii. I was fortunate to live in Kailua, Oahu on the “Windward side”. Another classic example of a mellow Beachtown community that I was so fortunate to call home for several years.
I recall fondly the memory of the small town farmer who used to offer farm raised eggs and would deliver them to your doorstep like clockwork. One day in December he surprisingly didn’t show up. Upon making contact with him, he explained it was winter and the weather had changed. He boldly explained his reason for being a no-show. “Brah (brother) it was in the upper 50s this morning. So no can get my car started”.
I love living in small towns! We get to feel each other’s pain 😉
A few years later in life, I was blessed to live outside oof Haleiwa, Hawaii on the infamous North Shore of Oahu. Better known as a surfing Mecca of the entire planet. The world would come to the North Shore every winter when the big surf showed up. They held surfing contest at infamous spots like the Bonsai Pipeline, Sunset beach, and in the 20 to 30 foot surf of Waimea Bay.
Year round we had 4,000 to 5,000 residents spread out over about 8 miles of Haleiwa. Better known as “Town” to the North Shore locals. When the big surf came up (20 to 30 foot waves) one would wake up in the morning only to find salt encrusted windshields on their car from the ocean spray during the night. I can still sense my whole house rumbling from 30 to 40 foot waves breaking on the outer reef.
I remember being entrusted with running my former boss’ screen, printing company in Honolulu back in the late 70s. It was over an hour drive to get to work from where I lived in Sunset Beach. I had hired a fellow surfer and a former high school classmate / friend to assist me in running the automatic T-shirt presses. One morning he didn’t show up for work. Having the title of production manager, I called him to inquire why he didn’t show up that day. He simply stated “sorry brah, surfs up! I’ll probably be there tomorrow“. Well, that was on a Monday. He finally showed up for work on Thursday, once the surf had died down. We were neighbors on the North Shore so what could we do but to grin and bear it?
I love living in small towns. One gets to vicariously enjoy the surf through their missing neighbor.
In the late 80s / early 90’s I was fortunate to live in the vicinity of Kahala, Hawaii a suburb outside of Honolulu. I had a screen printing company there and was blessed to employ my older sister Kris, my mother Lois, and my younger brother Paul for a period of time. In addition, my daughter Bree, and my nephews Sage and Christian were a part of my life. After living alone out in the middle of the Pacific for almost 15 years, it was good to be around family again. We lived close to the heart of the big city in Honolulu for services, but we were residing “up Mauka” or up in the surrounding mountainous communities outside of Honolulu.
I will never forget getting up in the morning at “oh dark early“ to ride my bicycle up Tantalus mountain with fellow Cyclists before our workday began. We’d start at 5:15 AM and ride straight up the mountain for an hour and a half to get our morning workout in. Then we’d end up at the YMCA to swim in the pool and take a shower before our workday began.
I recall doing several laps in the pool after the bike ride to stretch out my legs. Lo and behold, the lane next to me was vacant. After doing a few laps and coming up for air, I looked at the next lane over. There was the governor of the state of Hawaii catching her morning swim, one lane over from me complete with her bodyguard, watching the lane in between us.
I love small towns! It allows one to rub elbows with the reigning authorities.
Another thing I really like about this unique, small town existence here in Colonial Beach is the opportunity to get involved. Whether it be via volunteering and working side-by-side with your neighbors, expressing oneself at Town council meetings, or simply having the opportunity to hire and work with young people, it’s a privilege to participate in a place where most “everyone knows your name”.
It has truly been a privilege to call Colonial Beach my home away from home. After 45 years of living in Hawaii, I was so very fortunate to discover and become a part of this unique community almost 4 years ago. Indeed, what a refreshing experience to go without a Starbucks or a Costco in one’s neighborhood. Better still, to be fortunate to have fellow neighbors whom are making a run into Fredericksburg, in which they call you up and ask if you need anything from Lowe’s or Wegmans.
Yes, there’s some minor inconveniences living in a small town like Colonial Beach. But the many blessings acquired by living here far outweigh the minor drawbacks one sacrifices to preside here. Plus we have the annual part-time residents via the Ospreys. Whom also frequent Colonial Beach for that same sense of belonging and getting one’s needs met in such a high caliber manner.
Where else but in Colonial Beach, can you freely drive your golf cart below the speed limit, have time to pause your cart, stop and say hi to your neighbors in the opposite lane, and wake up most every morning to stillness. Without the noise and hustle/bustle of the big city. One’s gotta count their blessings!
I LOVE SMALL TOWNS. May it continue.
With Aloha, GPH
