SANDY SIESTAS

In my mind, summer days spent by the ocean are a cure-all for everything, every time. Tensions and pressures melt away under the heat of the sun as easily as butter, and the hours of the day become elongated, unfettered by the demands of regular obligations. There is a singular sense of gratification tied to lying on a beach for hours on end, growing gradually greasier throughout the day from habitual sunscreen reapplication, with miniscule white crystals of salt accumulating on limbs and eyelashes both. Concerns are limited to the heat, and the answer to that is always another swim. Repeat as needed. Break up the days spent lying on the sand with bushwalks, which will deplete your energy so that you’re ready for another few days of constant repose. Whatever the case, parents undoubtedly find delight in watching their kids collapse into bed at the end of the day, glazed in sand and docile from heat-induced fatigue.

This summer ritual is not exclusive to Australia — think coastal European cities, south-east Asia, west coast USA, and so