Wikipedia defines beachcombing as “...an activity that consists of an individual ‘combing’
(or searching) the beach and the intertidal zone, looking for things of value,
interest or utility.” Rande and I have combed the intertidal from the black
beaches of Costa Rica to the green beaches of Hawaii looking for "things of
interest." Now, with more free time and many miles of beaches nearby, we're working
on proficiency. Our favorite beach is an uninhabited stretch of white
sand south of Punta Arena on the Sea of Cortez. It’s great for seashells and glass.
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| Rande beachcombing near Punta Arena |
Rande collects sea
glass, but she’s also attracted to shells,
rocks, wood and bones. Beachcombing to her is walking meditation; listening to the waves and the sound of her footsteps in
the sand is a way to focus on the present (known as mindfulness). She may be onto something. Dr. Deacon Ritterbush (aka Dr. Beachcomb) describes
beachcombing as “…an inexpensive way to achieve better mental, emotional and
physical health; and a spiritual means to weather life’s challenges.”
