Palm Trees, Surf, Sand And A Good Bar

Lately, as my workload increases, the thought has crossed my mind of what I would rather be doing instead of putting in a 10 hour day on the job.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that I would rather be doing anything other than going to work and dealing with all of the problems and challenges!

But, mainly, I always tend to wish that I was at a seaside bar that serves great seafood and has a casual fun atmosphere.

One such place that I recall from my first trip to Florida was located in Daytona Beach. Correct me if I am wrong here. It's been 20 years since my last trip to Daytona.

It was my first trip to Florida..... Spring break. My friends and I ran across a beachside bar and restaurant called the Ocean Deck just up from our hotel. I have no idea if it is still there or not. But, they had great seafood, cold beer, a casual atmosphere where you could come in off of the beach and grab a table and a pitcher of beer. Man o man!! I was in heaven!!

One thing I remember most about The Ocean Deck was that it opened up on the front and sides so that you basically had an open air restaurant. It was so cool to sit there and feel the breeze, hear the ocean waves coming on shore, hear the palm trees rustling above my head, feel the warmth of the sun and not have a care in the world. I thought I had reached Jimmy Buffett's version of Nirvana!

It was such a great experience, that I even bought one of their Ocean Deck t-shirts. I wore that shirt for years before it finally began to fall apart. It was one of my connections to a great experience in my life. My first feeling of euphoria at being on vacation and getting away from it all.

That feeling of joy and euphoria has never left me even to this day. As I look back on life, maybe I can blame the Ocean Deck for my love of escaping the mudane world of work, of traveling to new and exotic places, of kicking back and relaxing beachside with a cold pitcher of beer or a margarita.

Who knows? I probably would be this way whether I had visited there or not. But, definitely, experiencing a beachside bar and grill called The Ocean Deck in Daytona Beach, Florida gave me my first taste of what it is like to be completely carefree.

Here's to The Ocean Deck and places like her. Little do they know the effect that they have on the average young joe from the Midwest. Creating that bit of inspiration inside of us to continue to search for that ultimate place of peaceful tranquility by the beach.