Beach, Beach, at the Beach!

I'm at the beach at an Internet cafe. Funny how focused I am when I am paying for internet time by the minute!

It's been interesting. For most of my life We have rented a house on LBI ( Long Beach Island.)

Not every year, but every time we have come down we have been in a house. We rent large homes so that the seven of us have lots of room. We have allowed the kids to bring friends and usually have a houseful. We cook most meals and go out one night to a great seafood restaurant.

I feel as though I am living in an alternative universe this vacation and it is very strange!

Because We only had four days to get away and most homes here rent by the week we decided to stay in a hotel for the first time. Also my daughters were already on the island staying with my sister and her family. My son is here staying at his girlfriend's rental and my other son couldn't get off work. So we only needed one room for my husband and my twelve year-old.

No romance on this trip.

Oh! You should know that there are no chain hotels on the island or chain restaurants.

Anyway, I was SHOCKED when I started calling around trying to make reservations for this trip.

Most, if not all rooms were booked. On the entire island. The average price of a hotel room?

$350

and...up!!!!!!

We are not talking the Dorado or Ritz Carlton.

We are talking beach hotels, old, muggy, no amenities (internet.)

Only one even resembled a decent hotel, Daddy O's which is new and the rooms are amazing.

Read- $400 and up.

So, we sucked it up and were lucky enough to secure a room at a ramshackle motel that had just had a cancellation. And the room was only $250.

We are talking motel, you know drive up. I don't want to sound like a snob, but I haven't stayed in a motel this shabby since 1978's senior prom!

But, we decided that it's fine. I mean how much will we be in our room anyway? My sister's place is nearby ( she has a full house and we appreciate her inviting our girls) and we figure we will be hanging over there most of the time.

Except we didn't anticipate the paper thin walls and the poor toddler next door who is obviously VERY constipated. We knew this because of his bloodcurdling screams and painful crying.

We were glad to hear that his father was supportive as we heard him imploring the little one to,

" just push, keep trying!"

And, we didn't anticipate that the lovely weather PROMISED by our weatherman (they NEVER lie) did not materialize. It rained all day yesterday and is threatening to today.

Oh well.

The other problem we have encountered is that we don't know where to eat.

Sounds stupid right?

I mean we have come down here for years, you would think we would know. But we always cook down here, so it has been a big job trying to decide where to eat.

So, that's my story so far. We still are glad to be here. Change of environment is always good.

Help.