Andy grew up coming to Ocean City, NJ every single summer of his life.  When he first told me this, I was a bit skeptical; I mean, I grew up roaming the country and finding myself in new places most of the time.  The most frequented vacation home my family ever had was visited three times in my 26 years of life.  Sure we may have visited friends repeatedly and had some favorite campgrounds but a “vacation” was generally meant for adventures.

But since I married Andy, I’ve been at OCNJ every single summer, even if it’s only for a day.  I’m already hoping that a trip will work out next year to introduce our new baby.

Andy and I have visited some other fun places during the summers and I want to continue that; but it’s been nice to have a familiar place ready and waiting every summer.  I’ve had few things to sink roots into in my life, the most notable being my grandmother’s house, so the feeling of familiarity is very special to me.

So this year, with a week here with Andy’s family and then another week with MY family (they are renting Andy’s family’s home), I am in complete bliss.  I’m kicking back my feet, and getting all my favorite treats on the boardwalk.

Ah, the boardwalk.  I love the OCNJ boardwalk.  How could you not?  In the morning, it’s filled with families on bikes stopping for hot fresh apple cider donuts – I like to sit at Oves sipping my iced coffee and watching them zoom by.  I’d prefer to be out there with them, but I can’t with this belly!

In the evening, it’s jam packed with young teenagers with their friends, while their parents are trailing somewhere behind them; with little kids clamoring to go to the amusement park; with endless drippy orange-and-vanilla swirl custard cones from Kohr Brothers.

So my skepticism is gone.  The world is full of places that I can’t wait to see, but I am learning to see what it feels like to have a place full of memories to come back to over and over again.