How to Pack for Two Weeks at the Beach

I've just returned from a lovely, relaxing vacation on Cape Cod. Well, as relaxing a vacation as one can have with a six-month-old puppy and a husband who doesn't go to the beach. Yes, my little hubby doesn't like to swim in the ocean. Doesn't like to sit on the beach. Not without good reason, mind you. He has vision problems that preclude his being able to see without his contacts, and his vision cannot be corrected with glasses. And he's not a fan of seaweed.

So our vacation consisted of sleeping incredibly late every day, having a lazy brunch on our private deck off the master bedroom of our rented cottage, and actually having the time to read the newspaper. Then I would walk down to the beach in the late afternoon, just when the crowds were thinning out and the sun wasn't strong enough to burn me to a crisp. About an hour later, the hubby would drive all the way to the beach with the puppy, and drop her off with me for her swimming lessons. (It's half a mile - tops - to the beach)

Gracie the pup had never been to the ocean, and was initially reticent to step into the surf. Perhaps she inherited a fear of seaweed from her dad. But after several days of slow coaching and encouragement, my little girl was doing the doggie paddle like a pro. She would then sit in my lap on the jetty, eliciting "Awww's" from passersby.

While dogs are not technically allowed on the beach in season, I noticed that the locals all bring their dogs down for a dip at about 6:30 - 7:00 in the evening. Gracie had a regular doggie playgroup nearly every evening. Just as the sun began to set, we'd all head back to our respective homes or cottages to get ready for dinner.

Now, here is where the title of this piece really comes in. Over the course of two weeks, I found that I wore: a bathing suit; shorts and a top; sandals or flip-flops; sometimes a sweater. What I packed was: a really nice dress in case I booked an audition (I did not); a strapless beach dress; three pairs of crops; a pair of jeans; a pair of shorts; two sweaters and a hoodie; two pair of sandals; one pair of nice shoes; one pair of flip-flops; three cover-ups; four camisoles; eight tops; two summer scarves; a straw hat; pajamas and a robe. I also brought along a full set of makeup (just in case that audition popped up, or if we went out to a fine restaurant); day cream; night cream; eye cream; my headshots and resumes (see above), and a ton of reading material.

After twenty years of vacationing on the Cape, you'd think I would have known better. But we used to go in September when the weather was very changeable. Now that said hubby works as a teacher, Septembers are out and August is in. It's really not that much different in terms of crowds, and the economy has kept the rental rates flat. But it is warmer.

So I've devised a list for all of you who will be heading to the beaches next Summer:

A bathing suit or two (sometimes they don't dry out overnight, and there's nothing worse than pulling on a cold, damp bathing suit)
One cover-up or pareo
One pair of shorts
One pair of crops
One pair of jeans (in case it gets chilly, or you go the the movies, where the air-conditioning is blasting)
Five or six colorful tops
One nice dress in a crush-resistant jersey (This can be black, but it's more fun in a color. This is what you'll wear should you get that audition or go to a fine restaurant.)
Flip-flops (if they're black, you can wear them to your audition and/or restaurant. as well as the beach)
Good walking sandals
Your regular skin care items (this you really can't leave at home, because you have to take extra care of your skin at the beach)
SUNSCREEN
A sun hat
An umbrella

You can pack all of the above in a carry-on. Bring a beach bag to carry any prescription medication that you are taking, and maybe one beach book. (Summer is not the time to catch up on your Dostoevsky.) Also, you can use it to collect shells, beach glass and pretty pebbles, even though your home is already overflowing with these items.

If you do land that audition, go to your friendly neighborhood drugstore and purchase eyeliner, mascara and blush. Better still, you should be able to fit that much makeup and one lipstick in your purse. You will never end up wearing any makeup otherwise. After two or three days, the sun will have kissed your skin with a soft, warm glow, even through the sunscreen.

Then you will be able to relax and kick back, never having to worry about how you are going to fit everything back into your suitcase, along with all the gifts you will have purchased, when you are trying to check out at ten o'clock in the morning.

A special note on wearing black: don't. You're at the beach. Everyone is happy. You're happy. Save the black for when you're back in New York. The obvious exception, of course, is that audition that you keep trying to land. If you're a New York actor, it's almost expected that you will wear black. Hence, that one black dress. But you'll stand out more if you wear red. Or blue, green, aqua, turquoise, orange - whatever color brings out your tan.

Oh, and about the pajamas and robe - we had house guests for a couple of days. That was the only time those items were needed. As I said, it was a lovely vacation!