Beachfront Contemplation

Back from a brief vacation and feeling refreshed, if a bit sunburned. There will be further vacationing, I hope soon.

This morning on my kayak, plodding the gulf coast, I observed an area of coastline that had probably an eight foot sand cliff due to severe beach erosion. All the mansions along this part of the island were threatened to some small degree by the menacing cliffsides in their own backyards. Some yards were losing trees and shrubbery over the ledge and it made good shade for me on my reflective rest. Where the vegetation is soon to go over you can see all the roots hanging suspended.

The benefits of living on the beach would be tremendous. For people who like that sort of thing anyway. But why would you ever buy or build a house there? Erosion is a constant threat which requires dredging, which costs money. If you can find a private insurer to cover your beach property your rates will be astronomical at best. Many states are in the insurance game as well encouraging risk taking on the part of buyers and builders with artificially low rates. In other words, taxpayers get put on the hook in a big way for risks taken by a small handful of property owners. Socialization of risk.

Worst of all for these homes is just the sand and salt themselves which persistently corrode coastal structures. These houses are literally build on shifting sands. We've erected these structures and drawn maps of our coasts and islands. Problem is we've failed to recognize that these coastal areas are constantly shifting and impermanent. It is sheer arrogance to think we can dictate our terms to nature. It's the other way around and we'd be prudent to anticipate and mitigate. Man wins today. Nature will win in the long term and from now on "The Skeptic" will only rent his beach houses.

NOTE: Actually man and nature will both lose.

NOTE II: Jet-skis are for filthy buggards only. The lame and weak.