Shellin' is Addicting

"To find a seashell is to discover a world of wonder." - Unknown

If you found this via our YouTube channel, you probably just saw our discoveries while in Gulf Shores, Alabama. If you haven't seen it, pop over there and come on back to this later.

The beaches were so peaceful. Having never really been a fan of the beach, our first year in Gulf Shores, we didn't go to the beach but a few times out of the 3 months there. This year was a different story. Having discovered the addicting hobby of hunting shells meant being on the beach for hours on in and day after day. Total time spent probably added up to a month. Each day, learning new ways to find these treasures from the sea and always finding something unique.

FUN FACT: Did you know that no two seashells are exactly alike? Just like human fingerprints, each shell has a unique pattern, making your little beach find a one-of-a-kind natural artifact!

Having met a lot of other hunters during our adventures, we learned that it is most definitely addicting.  Finding that rare species or unbroken specimen can be priceless. These specimens can last hundreds or even thousands of years. What makes shelling so addicting? Perhaps it is the unknown. Perhaps it is the idea of finding that one impossible shell? Perhaps it is the idea of just collecting "things"? Perhaps it is a source of revenue? No matter what the "perhaps" might be, the feeling you get when you pick up that first shell ignites some sort of inner fire to find another one. Before you know it, you have bags or buckets of these specimens from the sea. Each and every one of them give you a sense of pride and joy when you look at them. The memories made finding them ignite stories to be told to others. Surprisingly, when sharing stories of our finds among our fellow RV park friends, we ignited the curiosity in others and within a day or so, we would find new addicts among us on the beach.

As humans, we tend to 'collect' things. Often times it motivates us to take adventures we would have never taken if it weren't for the drive to collect. We can honestly say that our desire to be on the beach is not for a suntan but for the shells. Don't think we don't appreciate a good sunrise or sunset on the beach...because that too is an adventure we will share at another time.

Until next time...next time you are on the beach, remember, picking up that first shell could lean to many, many, many more. Happy Shellin'!!