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 Even neat freaks can enjoy a beach treat By Hannah Pittard So you’ve been talked into going to the beach for the day with your friends. And these friends — although you really like them and enjoy spending time with them — are of the messier variety. Here’s what you’ll need to safeguard yourself and your car from the mess-mongers. • A couple of plastic bags Oh, who are we kidding? Take a box of plastic bags. These will come in handy when your friends are about to throw their sopping wet suits onto the seats of your car. They’ll also be useful for bagging your sand-soaked flip-flops. And, if you’re really freaky about keeping things neat and clean, you can demand that your friends put a plastic bag over each of their feet because, let’s face it, it’s a long walk from the shower to the car and the parking lot is bound to be sandy. • Towels That’s right, as the neat freak, you’re automatically the designated parent. Don’t count on your friends to bring their own towels. You’ll also want at least one extra towel for each seat in the car. Go ahead and cover the seats once you’ve arrived at the beach. This way you won’t have to worry about doing it when you get back from enjoying your day of fun on the sand. • Dry clothes Don’t count on your friends to bring a second pair of shorts or a back-up T-shirt either. So go ahead and back a second outfit for each friend if you’d like to keep things ultra clean and dry. • Greaseless sunscreen You’re a tidy person; you probably don’t want to deal with the mess of a sunburn, but you probably don’t want to deal with the grease of sunscreen either. There are more than a few brands out there that make greaseless, oil-free sunscreen. • Baby wipes You’ll want these because it’s almost a guarantee that you’re friends won’t have the same taste in oil-free sunscreen as you. They’ll opt instead for a butter-like tanning enhancer spray lotion, which they will no doubt want to spray on themselves while sitting in your car. • Earplugs Yeah, that’s right. The beach will be loud and so will your friends — better to plug your ears and pretend to hear everything they’re saying than to listen. Just be sure to smile and nod when anybody looks your way. |
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