ocean vs desert and other land

[scrubbyfish]

After one more forum post about how "everyone dreams of living on a boat" or "at the ocean", I have to ask: Does anyone else (like me) not love the ocean? Anyone else prefer being way inland? The desert? Lakes, streams, creeks? Not as a cheap consolation prize, but as your first choice?

Why is the ocean so often assumed to be other people's dream, the ultimate for almost any person?

I get that some people truly love, love, love it. They should totally get to live near it.

But I don't hear this assumption in one person about another re: other parts of the planet. Why not?
Why does oceanside often cost more just by virtue of being oceanside?
Is it that a high percentage of people hold ocean as their first choice?
Where are the desert fans?
Where are the people that dream of getting into their oceanside car and driving fast and furious as far inland as possible?
Are there any books that explore this as "the dream"?

[Dexterous]

My fondest vacation memories were at the beach, so I suppose that positively influenced my thoughts about living there.  I did end up living on the beach for 5 years, and most of the allure went away after ~2 years.  I eventually got annoyed having to clean sand from everywhere, deal with jellyfish, algae, gulf oil spill, hurricanes, etc..... and therefore preferred the pool for sunbathing or swimming.

My intentions now are to have a house in the mountains of Romania, and to own a sailboat for living onboard part of the year.  The sailboat is due to our #1 passion:  travelling.  It will allow us to travel around the world on our own terms and avoid hotels/apartments/planes.

[pbkmaine]

I think there's a romanticism about it. We all come from the ocean originally; it's our primordial home. I find it beautiful. I was in Maine, my former state, in August, and had a lovely time sitting on a rock watching the sun set, smelling the salt air, and feeling the wind on my face. It filled my senses. Having said that, I now live inland, in central Florida, and the nearest body of water is my swimming pool. Floating in a pool and looking up at the amazing clouds in a Florida sky with the scent of citrus in the air also fills my senses. For me, there has to be water but not necessarily ocean. The desert would not work. A stream, river, lake or pool does nicely.

[SnackDog]

We love the ocean and the desert.  We have a house by the ocean and are thinking about a second one in the desert.  Summer by the sea, winter in the desert.

[justajane]

My ideal would be neither ocean nor desert. It would be rolling, green hills -- a lush landscape. Kind of like the Cotswolds where there would be a mist in the mornings and hedges or rustic fences separating properties. I love farmland with silos and farmhouses. I live in the Midwest where most of this is flat, but I prefer hills. And some quaint little towns would be nice. Basically what most of England looks like.

[HappierAtHome]

Don't love the desert, but I definitely don't have any preference for the ocean either. I like green spaces. Water is necessary only for sustaining life, to me, not for gazing at or swimming in.

[Gray Matter]

I enjoy the ocean as one of the many types of geographic diversity the planet has to offer (mountains, plains, deserts, forests, swamps), but I do not value it over the others.  And I have no need to live near it.  I do prefer greenery over desert, but I don't like to feel too closed in (dense forest), so my preferred environment would be a place with rolling hills, streams, some woods, some meadows, etc.

[EricL]

The desert seems pretty harsh at first but it can grow on a certain type of person. It's quiet - really quiet - and the remoteness and lack of distractions promote an inner quiet appealing to the mystic. The heat often accentuates it. And the desert isn't always plain. The bare landscape can shift dramatically with the rising and setting sun in ways woods, cities, and even seasides can't match. The dry climate is also a great relief to senior citizens. Living in a desert is also very cheap.

[RetiredAt63]

You can move here  ;-)  We are agricultural, mostly dairy, so lots of silos, farm equipment on the road (not an issue for me, but definitely picturesque if you like large farm equipment), international plowing matches every so often (it was in Chute-à-Blondeau in 2011 and I wandered around and they are interesting, this year it is in Finch if you want to Google it).   Downsides - forests being cut down for more fields for soy (high prices right now), huge numbers of flies and Asian ladybugs coming in the house when the soy is cut. 

My dream is probably coloured by summers in the Laurentians as a kid.  I want water (fresh is fine, salt would be a new adventure) and some woods.

As many of you know from my Moving to BC? thread, I would love to move to the east coast of Vancouver Island, that hits all my buttons.  If that doesn't work out, the Rideau Lakes area also looks pretty good, and fewer moving hassles (no change of driver's license, etc.).

My ideal would be neither ocean nor desert. It would be rolling, green hills -- a lush landscape. Kind of like the Cotswolds where there would be a mist in the mornings and hedges or rustic fences separating properties. I love farmland with silos and farmhouses. I live in the Midwest where most of this is flat, but I prefer hills. And some quaint little towns would be nice. Basically what most of England looks like.

[forummm]

People have evolved to live near water. Before modern plumbing, civilizations could not exist without being near a steady supply of water. And water means life and a source of food (both from fishing and from game that also need water and from agriculture). We look for water on other planets because water means life.

But in the modern world it doesn't really matter so much as a practical matter. It's just part of our DNA.

[scrubbyfish]

Oh, I am relieved to read posts where the first love is other than ocean! I am not alone. (Well, I knew I wasn't, because I have very happy neighbours, but I was starting to wonder on the forum.)

So, if there are some people whose first choice is land, green rolling hills, desert, etc, why is there a common assumption of ocean love? Is it just like how some people assume everyone else is heterosexual? Perhaps the assumption, when it's present, is really only a reflection of the writer's own orientation, and the leap is just unfortunate? I understand that humans require water, etc, but that doesn't mean being at the ocean or on a boat feels necessary or desirable or happy for every person or even most people.

I currently live in something between the desert and green rolling hills: semi-arid, and feet from a creek and a lake. I adore it, always have. I've also loved pure "green rolling hills". (Every time my son sees another photo of just that, he shows it to me excitedly, "Your favourite, Mummy!") I've lived in lots of different places in the world, and all of my favourites were land, most were green rolling hills. I once lived in a beautiful small city, a few blocks from the ocean...and visited it twice (and only because I knew I was "supposed to") in seven years, lol.

EricL, your post was trippy for me. You described perfectly both what I love in a desert and semi-arid climate, as well as so much of my personality.

If anyone knows of books or movies, fiction or non-fiction, where a character was desperate to get away from the ocean or a boat, I would love to hear!

[TheBuddha]

Several times in my life I've started a novel, and then quit when one of the opening scenes was on a boat, or it was clear much of the novel would be about boating (otherwise, I scrupulously finish books I start). For some reason I just don't care for it.

I like deserts, but not all of them. I don't like it when they're flat, featureless, and too hot. I really like New Mexico. Santa Fe in particular, although I like the whole state. I love the Mojave desert. I enjoy driving through Nevada and seeing the Great Basin and all that high desert. Phoenix itself is okay, but it's surrounded by the type of desert I don't like: flat, boring, hot sand.

What I love about living in California is that I'm in close proximity to almost every type of geography.
 

People have evolved to live near water. Before modern plumbing, civilizations could not exist without being near a steady supply of water.

This is why I've always been so impressed by the Romans. Other civilizations built their cities by the river or ocean, the Romans were like "fuck it" and built an aqueduct to bring the water wherever they wanted.

[forummm]

People have evolved to live near water. Before modern plumbing, civilizations could not exist without being near a steady supply of water.

This is why I've always been so impressed by the Romans. Other civilizations built their cities by the river or ocean, the Romans were like "fuck it" and built an aqueduct to bring the water wherever they wanted.

Rome is actually located along a major river (Tiber) and right next to the Mediterranean. But they did build aqueducts to bring in more fresh water as the size of the city grew and the Tiber became polluted. They had aqueducts outside of Rome too.

[wenchsenior]

There is something particularly zen and hypnotic about the ocean. I think it soothes a lot of people. It can also be very stimulating to be near moving water. So that's likely part of the ocean attraction.

That said, I love mountains, ocean, desert, hardwood forest, northern mixed coniferous forest, subtropical dry-scrub, tropical jungle, and green rolling open prairie. I've lived/worked in all of these environments. Ironically for someone who loves a huge diversity of landscape, I've ended up stuck living in one of the ugliest, most uninspiring ones in North America.  COME ON financial independence!

[vern]

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/02/04/51-living-by-the-water/

[EricL]

Scrubbyfish, glad you liked it.

Buddha, yes my post had the American southwest in mind.  I've been to other deserts that weren't as nice. I have seen fabulous pictures of the deserts in North Africa that rival it.  But they are an acquired taste.  For everyone that loves it five will run away screaming.

[Roland of Gilead]

I can fish in the ocean, in the desert about the only thing I can do well is die.

[scrubbyfish]

I know a lot of people love the ocean, and that each of these has lots of reasons for loving it.

Anyone else actively repelled* by the ocean?
Anyone else willing to explore what some people's "assumption of ocean-love" in others is about?

*I've hung out at six distinct parts of the world's oceans, and do love warm ocean bays. But I don't love the vastness or sound anywhere, and am entirely repelled by Canada's cold ones.

[Jon_Snow]

Huh. Interesting thread. Scrubby, I've seen you state your ocean-ambivalence before.

Myself, I have no trouble finding beauty in ocean, desert, or lush forested environments - I actually own land in each of these environments and they all provide me with immense pleasure in their own unique ways. And the fact that I can ply the waters of the ocean to provide for my wife and I...well, that also adds a practical utility to the ocean (both cold B.C. water, and bath-tub warm Sea of Cortez) in addition to it's grandeur and beauty.

I really feel little desire to "pick favourites" here. ;)

[Quinn]

First thing that came to mind when I saw the thread title was an (imaginary) epic showdown between the Mariner from Waterworld and Mad Max. Which could be all kinds of awesome.

[scrubbyfish]

First thing that came to mind when I saw the thread title was an (imaginary) epic showdown between the Mariner from Waterworld and Mad Max. Which could be all kinds of awesome.

...and my heart, of course, went immediately with the Mad Max team! Loved those movies.

I was tickled last night to find myself watching a movie set in...a desert! Woohoo! ("The Host")

[yuka]

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/02/04/51-living-by-the-water/

I love blogs like that one! Another classic is:   https://howtowasp.wordpress.com/

Where I'm living right now, I have mostly perfect weather, and if I walk two houses down to the corner, I can look down the street and see the ocean. But still when I see pictures from friends who are out in the mountains back home in VA, I miss the hell out of all that green.  The ocean is pretty cool, but if I'm idealizing an outdoor place where I want to lay around with my book, it's in grass or by a lake, definitely not on a pile of sand that's going to get everywhere.

I really like mountain lakes, except that the wind tends to shift a lot, which makes it hard to relax when you're sailing.

[wenchsenior]

First thing that came to mind when I saw the thread title was an (imaginary) epic showdown between the Mariner from Waterworld and Mad Max. Which could be all kinds of awesome.

...and my heart, of course, went immediately with the Mad Max team! Loved those movies.

I was tickled last night to find myself watching a movie set in...a desert! Woohoo! ("The Host")

The Sonoran Desert has my heart, though I like the Chihuahuan and Mojave as well. I was listening to an audio of a kids' book last night (The True Meaning of Smekday), and was delighted and surprised that the big conclusion took place in the Tucson area, in such places as the airport and Old Tucson Studios. I remember Tucson's flaws, but man did I love the period of time I lived there. SO MUCH OUTDOOR STUFF TO DO. SO MUCH AWESOME WILDLIFE.

In all seriousness, I love the ocean. But I've never actually cried with relief at being back to visit it.  However, last time I got to hike alone in the Sonoran, I became so 'high' with delight that I had a brief crying jag of joy, combined with misery over no longer having regular access to it.

[Mississippi Mudstache]

I have never been a "beach" person, but I was absolutely thrilled at having the opportunity to move to the Florida coast last fall. Been here a year, and I've loved it...But it's definitely not a place that I'd like to spend the rest of my life. I've always preferred mountains to beach. I love the desert, too, but not in the same way. I'm a forester - gotta have my trees. Maine was one of my favorite places, because mountains + ocean = awesome. I like mountains + lake just as much, though. I do love the water. And I much prefer a rocky shoreline to a sandy beach.

Like others, I can find beauty in all kinds of environments. Ocean is not at the very top of my list, though.

[Mrs. PoP]

I grew up where a "river" was a dry bed 360+ days per year.  I thought I hated water because I found lakes disgusting and the Pacific darned near gave me hypothermia.  Turned out I just hadn't been near the right water and shortly after moving to Florida, found I love it.  So while our nearer term plans involve water and boats in FIRE, longer term we'll probably spend some time back in the desert too.  Both environments are beautiful in their own ways. 

[JLee]

I love the desert. So much. I've lived in AZ for almost four years and it's my most favorite place ever. Sure, summers are hot...but go north and it's cooler. Winters are amazing. It's dry, hardly ever rains...so good.

[smilla]

The way many people seem to feel about ocean, I feel about sky.  I need sky, preferably 365 degrees around me and at least 180 degrees arcing over me in every direction, and wide open spaces.  I can't breathe after more than a few days in the mountains or in forests or valleys, as beautiful as they might be.  And a day or two in a place like NYC - hello, claustrophobia!  My chest tightens just thinking about it.

To answer your question, I very much prefer desert and prairie and treeless hilltops to ocean.  The ocean doesn't repel me exactly, it has a particular beauty and it comes with a large slice of sky, but it's ... overwhelming, it doesn't soothe, it stimulates and generally that's not something I need. 

The sound and movement of the wind, and the changing light of the wide open sky on prairie grass or desert scrub as far as the eye can see speaks to me, fills my lungs and my heart, clears my head. 

Must be nature though, cause nurture is all Vancouver landscape - ocean, mountains, city. 

[scrubbyfish]

The way many people seem to feel about ocean, I feel about sky.  I need sky, preferably 365 degrees around me and at least 180 degrees arcing over me in every direction, and wide open spaces.  I can't breathe after more than a few days in the mountains or in forests or valleys, as beautiful as they might be.  And a day or two in a place like NYC - hello, claustrophobia!  My chest tightens just thinking about it.

To answer your question, I very much prefer desert and prairie and treeless hilltops to ocean.  The ocean doesn't repel me exactly, it has a particular beauty and it comes with a large slice of sky, but it's ... overwhelming, it doesn't soothe, it stimulates and generally that's not something I need. 

The sound and movement of the wind, and the changing light of the wide open sky on prairie grass or desert scrub as far as the eye can see speaks to me, fills my lungs and my heart, clears my head. 

Oh!! Yet another preference (sky)! How delightful to hear about this one!

I also adore the prairies. I've never gotten to live on one yet, but have visited. I have lived in grasslands, though, and yes to those filling me up!

Amazing to finally hear one other person describe the ocean as overwhelming, non-soothing, and undesirably stimulating. Whew.

[Glenstache]

I spent a lot of time at the ocean growing up, and also tromping through the grassy savanna-like oak hills of northern California (which is currently an inferno, sadly). When I got my first taste of granite slabs and craggy peaks it was like discovering a part of me that I didn't know existed. I've made some pretty big decisions in life in order to stay close to them.
Ocean and savanna= "meh."
Mountains= "yes. more please."

[Jon_Snow]

I've heard it before that to some the ocean is INTIMIDATING. I just find it exhilarating...lakes are fun for a change, but their relative lifelessness really starts to affect me after a while. On a recent trip to the B.C. interior lake region, sitting lakeside for a few days, I experienced more Sea-doo action (and noise) than I saw wildlife. I'll take my teeming-with-life sea scape any day.

As anyone knows who may have stumbled upon my Journal, wildlife is important to me. :)