The Jersey Shore - In Winter??

So this evening I will be taking the sjam minivan down to Ocean City, NJ for the weekend.  We try to go down this weekend each year to celebrate my mother in-law's, father in-law's, and wife's birthday which all are in the early part of the year.

Now what's the purpose of going to the beach in the dead of winter you may ask.  Even though you can't go out on the boat or sit on the beach, I find the winter very enjoyable down there.  The town itself becomes a ghost town which gives you the feeling of having everything for yourself.

Growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, the Jersey shore is a destination that becomes a second home to many of us.  And while I can go there in the summer and get that type of enjoyment, there are just way too many people.  Need milk?  Go to the grocery store which is a zoo and wait in line before driving home in traffic.  But in the winter time life is laid back with nobody around.

We still manage to take a walk on the beach and find the time to head for the boardwalk.  While a lot of stores are closed, there are still enough open which include some of our favorites (Mack & Mancos Pizza, Fudge Kitchen)!

My wife and I have grown up at Ocean City during the summers and an occasional winter day.  For me personally, it is one of the most relaxing places I can find.  I read more and enjoy the scenery more than anywhere else.  I don't always have the feeling of rushing to the next task either.  We often talk about finding job opportunities not too far from there and making it our permanent home.

So I look forward to getting out of work today and driving down to a relaxing, ghost town where I can stare at the ocean and own the whole town (with maybe a few other people).