usvi-on-line
Beach etiquette - selection of "your spot"
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
I think if you don't have beach etiquette, you probably don't have general etiquette either.
We try and set up camp away from people, mainly because I smoke and I don't want to bother other people. I always have a ziploc bag in my beach bag for my cigarette butts and for any small trash. We also bring a plastic grocery bag for larger trash.
We were at Francis a few years ago and there was a Caneel Couple that was pretty close to us, but provided the best entertainment ever. He was LOVING the beach and she was miserable. He was floating and singing and she sat on her towel in the shade and would not reply when he yelled from the water to the beach. It was hysterical because we knew that she could here him, but chose to ignore him.
Sometimes it can be amusing, other times annoying. Another time at Francis we had to listen to a huge group scream and yell back and forth for about a half hour. Parents drinking on the beach and kids yelling for them to come in the water. Back and forth, non stop.
We packed up and hit Skinny's for burgers and beers.
That is the great thing about STJ, I can pick up and go somewhere else!
We try and set up camp away from people, mainly because I smoke and I don't want to bother other people. I always have a ziploc bag in my beach bag for my cigarette butts and for any small trash. We also bring a plastic grocery bag for larger trash.
We were at Francis a few years ago and there was a Caneel Couple that was pretty close to us, but provided the best entertainment ever. He was LOVING the beach and she was miserable. He was floating and singing and she sat on her towel in the shade and would not reply when he yelled from the water to the beach. It was hysterical because we knew that she could here him, but chose to ignore him.
Sometimes it can be amusing, other times annoying. Another time at Francis we had to listen to a huge group scream and yell back and forth for about a half hour. Parents drinking on the beach and kids yelling for them to come in the water. Back and forth, non stop.
We packed up and hit Skinny's for burgers and beers.
That is the great thing about STJ, I can pick up and go somewhere else!
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toes in the sand
- Posts: 994
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:21 pm
We are usually early to our first beach of the day and pick a comfortable spot (clean, some shade, a branch to hang stuff on, away from "traffic" and can easily be seen from the water). We have had people park close to us but since we are in the water most of the time it is no bother to us. Sometimes it is nice to have someone to talk with and also watch our stuff while snorkeling. I don't mind kids as they are usually (unless they are whinning brats) entertaining to watch on the beach as they are almost always having fun. When I am at the beach I am so relaxed that there is very little that can bother me. When we move to the next beach we try to find a spot that is comfortable and I like at least 30ft. or so between us and our neighbor so as not to infringe upon their privacy.
"got a drink in my hand and my toes in the sand"
Wow, so much for going to St. John and leaving your hang-ups at home. It's "Love City" folks, relax.
A lot of factors go into picking a spot on the beach. High and low tides, direction and path of the sun, time of day, length of stay, proximity to facilities, etc. Given those factors, if you're camped out in a prime spot you have no right to lay claim to any perimeter beyond what is reasonable regardless of how empty the beach is.
By the same token, courtesy and etiquette dictate that one's enjoyment of the beach should not infringe on another's right to enjoy the same - however that does not include creating an arbitrary swathe around your location and declaring it your personal space.
I may not particularly relish the thought of you plopping down next to me, but the beach is there for all to share and I’ll quickly get over it. In fact, if you’re an attractive single female I won’t even mind if you want to share my towel.
A lot of factors go into picking a spot on the beach. High and low tides, direction and path of the sun, time of day, length of stay, proximity to facilities, etc. Given those factors, if you're camped out in a prime spot you have no right to lay claim to any perimeter beyond what is reasonable regardless of how empty the beach is.
By the same token, courtesy and etiquette dictate that one's enjoyment of the beach should not infringe on another's right to enjoy the same - however that does not include creating an arbitrary swathe around your location and declaring it your personal space.
I may not particularly relish the thought of you plopping down next to me, but the beach is there for all to share and I’ll quickly get over it. In fact, if you’re an attractive single female I won’t even mind if you want to share my towel.
Ya know, this whole conversation drives home some of the reasons my kids wanted to skip St. John for spring break 2010 and go this August instead. Too may people who don't get it taking up space in our freakin' paradise!
Spring break 2008 was dreadful. We saw over 100 people on Little Lameshur and this was not for a big party, they were small groups.
Cheers, RickG
Spring break 2008 was dreadful. We saw over 100 people on Little Lameshur and this was not for a big party, they were small groups.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
I like privacy but have learned to pretty much shut out kid's crying and yelling as I deal with it at work daily. 
Don't get me wrong, I love kids, but I don't want to deal with them on vacation.
I am a VERY early riser so if I had someone to go with I'd be at the beach at 7 am and then there is not an issue. By the time the crowds come, I am ready to go somewhere else.
How is July for crowds? I may have talked my husband into next July! (25th anniversary).
Don't get me wrong, I love kids, but I don't want to deal with them on vacation. I am a VERY early riser so if I had someone to go with I'd be at the beach at 7 am and then there is not an issue. By the time the crowds come, I am ready to go somewhere else.
How is July for crowds? I may have talked my husband into next July! (25th anniversary).
we always travel to stj in march (when the weather here just gets too rotten to bear) so there's plenty of people around during high season.
i'm basically anti-social and my wife is a social butterfly so we have no clear plan of attack at beaches...one thing i know is that st john is not mine and i don't get special privelidges just because i'm on vacation, so we don't waste energy staking our claim to territory (and setting ourselves up for a border confrontation) we travel light and if the situation gets ugly we move on to one of the other million nice places on the island.
i think the cranky beach space owners are almost as offensive as the horribly behaved general public...and i'm always surprised when people are surprised when they run into the bad behavior of a-holes...did you really think the sheeple would suddenly grow manners just because they are on vacation?
there is no a-hole screening process to pass thru at the ferry dock so we just chill and enjoy our time in paradise and take the path of least resistance. no problem mon.
i'm basically anti-social and my wife is a social butterfly so we have no clear plan of attack at beaches...one thing i know is that st john is not mine and i don't get special privelidges just because i'm on vacation, so we don't waste energy staking our claim to territory (and setting ourselves up for a border confrontation) we travel light and if the situation gets ugly we move on to one of the other million nice places on the island.
i think the cranky beach space owners are almost as offensive as the horribly behaved general public...and i'm always surprised when people are surprised when they run into the bad behavior of a-holes...did you really think the sheeple would suddenly grow manners just because they are on vacation?
there is no a-hole screening process to pass thru at the ferry dock so we just chill and enjoy our time in paradise and take the path of least resistance. no problem mon.
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aroobagirl
- Posts: 316
- Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:58 pm
- Location: Fairfax, VA
We are just so lucky to have found such a great place!!
I'm pretty much agreeing with you all on the lesser the better, but sometimes that's not happening.
Like I said, you'll recognize who wants to talk to you, as well as those who are judgemental.
I had a guy say to me, "Fuck you for judging me!" once, and we both had a laugh, and are still friends to this day.
I don't have any children, and understand that that's a completely different dynamic while on vacation.
My personal sheer joy is held in the knowledge that if I'm kind to others, I'll get it back.
As I said before, We're all in this together, no?
Smiles-
Jimmy
Like I said, you'll recognize who wants to talk to you, as well as those who are judgemental.
I had a guy say to me, "Fuck you for judging me!" once, and we both had a laugh, and are still friends to this day.
I don't have any children, and understand that that's a completely different dynamic while on vacation.
My personal sheer joy is held in the knowledge that if I'm kind to others, I'll get it back.
As I said before, We're all in this together, no?
Smiles-
Jimmy
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piscesgirl0314
- Posts: 598
- Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:31 pm
- Location: Chesapeake, VA
mahojim wrote:I'm pretty much agreeing with you all on the lesser the better, but sometimes that's not happening.
Like I said, you'll recognize who wants to talk to you, as well as those who are judgemental.
I had a guy say to me, "Fuck you for judging me!" once, and we both had a laugh, and are still friends to this day.
I don't have any children, and understand that that's a completely different dynamic while on vacation.
My personal sheer joy is held in the knowledge that if I'm kind to others, I'll get it back.
As I said before, We're all in this together, no?
Smiles-
Jimmy
Well said, Jim...
Rick-RickG wrote:Ya know, this whole conversation drives home some of the reasons my kids wanted to skip St. John for spring break 2010 and go this August instead. Too may people who don't get it taking up space in our freakin' paradise!
Spring break 2008 was dreadful. We saw over 100 people on Little Lameshur and this was not for a big party, they were small groups.
Cheers, RickG
Just realized where your "ticker's" at...
I hate you.
Ok. I don't hate you.
I'm just a jealous bastard.
Have fun!
Smiles-
MJ
mahojim good attitude hope we meet someday and can have a drink or two while on Island, Well said We get to the beach early so we get the primo spots. We spread out enough so people would have to move our stuff to invade our personal space. If ya set up right beside us ya get what ya get. If your that annoying to us we will probably just leave. Only happened once so far. Better chance you will leave cause we will scare you away 
Now that being said we have met some really nice people in the past including peeps with there kids that were close to us. I'm a happy drunk so I can make the best out of most situations, just don't try to steal my vodka
Oh and the cig butt thing what the heck. I'm not a normally a smoker but tend to become one part time while on vacay, due to Andy smoking. Can't help it they taste so good while drinking. But come on peeps don't use the beach as a big ashtray
put them in there proper place 
We get to the beach early so we get the primo spots. We spread out enough so people would have to move our stuff to invade our personal space. If ya set up right beside us ya get what ya get. If your that annoying to us we will probably just leave. Only happened once so far. Better chance you will leave cause we will scare you away Now that being said we have met some really nice people in the past including peeps with there kids that were close to us. I'm a happy drunk so I can make the best out of most situations, just don't try to steal my vodka Oh and the cig butt thing what the heck. I'm not a normally a smoker but tend to become one part time while on vacay, due to Andy smoking. Can't help it they taste so good while drinking. But come on peeps don't use the beach as a big ashtray
put them in there proper place