Living is Easy

White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, is one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. I do not understand why it hasn't hit Samantha Brown's repertoire but it should. Exquisite turquoise water lapping white sand that is soft on your feet and pleasing to the eye. The pelicans swoop down to catch their tasty treats and catamarans swing gently anchored a few yards offshore. Sounds idyllic, doesn't it?

The Soggy Dollar Bar, one of the best beach bars in the Caribbean (won such an award in 2008 and 2009), is situated along the shoreline. Boaters crowd the bay, rain or shine for a swim, for time in the Adirondack chairs, to munch the grilled spicy chicken and to sip the world famous Painkiller concoction served by Mic, the British Virgin Island bartender extraordinaire. Music plays and the ring toss game provides the possibility of athletic prowess for those who wish to be achievers at some point in their day. Sounds perfect and it pretty much is. People are happy at the Soggy Dollar, smiles are part of the uniform - a good time is had by all. As my grandmother would say - if you do not have a good time, it is your own dang fault. (Yes, she would say dang!- Sometimes when she had her dander up it would actually be damn!)

The local residents of White Bay periodically walk through the Soggy Dollar crowd. I wonder what they think. Are they delighted people are having a good time or do they feel invaded by happy feet padding among the Palm Trees? Sometimes they sit among the crowd, sometimes they just keep moving. I wonder if they would like a piece of the pie or if they are content with their way of living. I wonder if they think we are silly with our big yachts, our swinging hips and brightly colored jams. Would they like to be island entrepreneurs or do they want to spend their time in the hammock watching the clouds, birds and us?

I know I would want to compete. I would want to build the best beach bar to rival Soggy. I would spend my days trying to do one better, to determine the niche that would put my place on the map. Make the crowds switch allegiance to the new hot spot. But where would that get me? Not sure anymore. Maybe it is better just to take one day at a time. Not certain that is so cool either.

Individuals far smarter than myself have pondered "smell the roses" question. Is it nurture or nature that causes some to define a quest while others enjoy the ride? Can we blame our parents, our teachers, our siblings, or the bully next door with our viewpoint on life? (I personally think Margaret Leahy making the cheerleading squad in seventh grade and ditching me as a friend because I couldn't do a triple cartwheel has quite a bit to do with my yearnings for measurable success.)

We need to define and be satisfied with our own agendas; we should be not be afraid to examine our choices and change direction. The biggest mistake would be to wake up one morning and say where am I and how did I get here? Especially if it isn't where you want to be.