Laurie,
Perfect example of two different groups of people seeing the same thing and wildly different reactions. Beach people like us love it and others do not.
Freedom,
I always find the beach day to be about the same as a day at the pool as far as expenses go. A couple frozen drinks and a nap. Who knows what the weather will be, it's abnormally warm today there, and it's abnormally cold here. So if I had a beach and 70 degrees, I would be in my chair with a smile, and if it's warmer in the water on raft with a bigger smile.