The sea isn’t only for mermaids and pirates.
There is something about the concept of living close to the sea that has attracted many people to the shoreline, in the belief that living by the sea is a relaxed, beautiful, and intimate way of life.
The charm of the coast is eternal.
Transcending culture and time, it is the place where people go to find comfort, creativity, or a home.
We’ll dive into (pun intended!) through various social, economical and psychological perspectives, to examine how the beauty of living at the coast and by the sea is not only breathtaking but also beneficial.
Coastal Living: It’s Natural Splendor and Appeal
When it comes to combining the best of both worlds, you get it through coastal living where land and sea are integrated and the surroundings are diverse.
The Ocean's Majesty
The sea is indeed at the center of the coastal ambiance; presenting a magnificent sight with its grandeur and temperamental personalities. By day it may come to our shores in a calm breeze, at other times it comes as a terrifying force to be reckoned with. If this is something you find appealing, it may be time to consider coastal living.
The sound of waves breaking onto the shore is natural music, which people call the music of the sea or the sea singing (no, it’s not Ariel from Little Mermaid this time). Nature can be seen at its best where the sun rises or sets on the water scenes and creates a mirror-like reflection.
Diverse Ecosystems
Coastal regions are also known to be among the most productive and diverse ones on the planet, with organisms inhabiting both within and around the water.
Ecosystems such as mangroves, coral reefs, and estuaries exist in coastal areas and foster a vast number of species that include vibrant fish, sea turtles, birds, and various plants, forming a rich environment of biological diversity.
The Changing Tides
Tides are also another interesting phenomenon that people living near coastlines get to experience, with their cyclic movement. The waters, being located at the feet of the moon and being controlled by its strength, are characterized by a constant ebb and flow.
This constant flux creates a rhythm and feels in tune with the natural environment if one is able to remain open to it.
Of course, all the aesthetics and beauty are a benefit of coastal living, but beyond that, there are lifestyle benefits to be had.
Benefits of Coastal Living: Lifestyle
There are several aspects associated with living near the coast that provide a superior quality of life besides increased health.
Health and Wellness
Residing near the coast line has many health benefits.
This kind of sea air containing negative ions has been known to enhance blood circulation and breathing, not to mention the ever refreshing mood. Listening to the sound of the waves and the smell of the sea water in your seaside garden can have a positive effect on stress levels and make a person more relaxed, which is beneficial for the overall health of the mind and body.
Strolling, swimming, surfing and other sorts of aquatic and beach exercises are not only fun but also have tremendous benefits on the cardiovascular system and physical endurance.
Community and Culture
Coastal folks tend to adopt a free spirited and relaxed lifestyle which mostly revolves around recreation and leisure, physical activities, and social interactions.
Beaches are open spaces where the general public engages in several activities making it a strong bonding area. Festivals, markets, and events meant for the celebration of the coastal culture also contribute towards adding cultural value addition to these zones.
The slow movement and paradisiacal outlook towards nature ensure a natural and healthy environment for the sustenance of both physical and spiritual well-being.
Culinary Delights
Coastal living also implies availability of fresh, sourced locally seafood. Resources abounded in the ocean, and the ocean gave people delicious and healthy food, their diet includes fishes, shell fishes, and sea vegetables. Coastal areas always have diverse food systems whereby the primary product is prepared in various dishes. Even in the countries where delicacies are served by slick waiters in posh restaurants, sumptuous food can be enjoyed at shacks on the beach.
Benefits of Coastal living: Psychological Advantages
Psychologically, coastal living brings in a sense of new beginnings and relieves one of the pressures of the contemporary world with new life at the edge of the sea.
Connection to Nature
The view of the ocean, the sound of the waves, the touch of the sand and the smell of the sea are all aspects of dealing with the feelings that help people to take their spiritual balance. To what extent this bonding with nature can help in increasing awareness, in calming anxiety and in providing positive psychology? Here are your answers:
Inspiration and Creativity
Artists, writers, as well as thinkers have alway been fascinated by the beauty as well as size of the seas. They constantly change and inspire to learn more and think outside the box and improve one’s understanding of the Universe.
It is one of a kind place where many people discover that it is easy to be inspired due to the tranquility of the place and thus can turn into a creative hub for those who feel bored with the normal grind.
Stress Relief and Mental Clarity
The sound of waves are regularly integrated into music for relaxation therapy. It helps in providing less anxiety to the individuals.
This type of remedy aids in lowering the tension levels within a person. Open space and the boundlessness of the sea horizon can also give people a sense of calmness from the barrage us day by day.
Benefits of Coastal Living: Recreation
There are numerous ways in which one can engage yourself with recreational activities and even destination weddings depending on your preferences.
Water Sports
There are facilities to get water sports going when your home is very close to the ocean. Swimming, bodyboarding, surfing, rowing, sailing, paddleboarding, snorkeling and all sorts of water sports are some of the activities that can be explored by anyone residing near a coastal region.
Beach Activities
Beach activities are top tier, especially when it’s summer. There are beach activities for both adults and kids:
- Swimming
- Sunbathing
- Seashell collecting
- Beach volleyball
- Having a picnic on the beach
These are some of the activities that can be done on the beach. You can even do something as simple as taking a walk on a beach or on a sand cliff to pick seashells or simply make castles with sand, which is an affordable pastime if you have a budget for a family.
For those willing to do a bit more, fishing and boating are among the most common activities that people get to engage in near the shoreline. Some can opt to start by fishing by the shore, fishing in deep waters, or even boating.
Benefits of Coastal Living: Environmental Stewardship
Some opt to live by the ocean due to a deep-seated consciousness concerning the environment. If you’re one of these people, your attachment with the sea creates a different kind of love and connection for nature when you live near it. It makes it easier to bring protection and safeguard it.
Conservation Efforts
Coastal sectors of people are thus some of the most active in conservation given that they assume the responsibility of protecting and rehabilitating our seas and associated wildlife.
Organized efforts like beach cleanup, awareness programs on marine life forms, and conservation programs are some of the most important ones in ensuring the sustained improved beauty of the coastline.
Sustainable Living
Those who begin coastal living are usually encouraged to support the principles of sustainability. The communities living in the coastal areas place value on concerns like the reduction of the use of plastic products, recycling, and using sustainable products like hemp, consumption of the locally harvested sustainable seafood.
Environmental preservation as a way of life is deeply entrenched as depicted by the people’s handling of energy, water and even tourism. Thus, applying sustainable practices, the population of coastal areas preserves the environment for the use by future generations.
Benefits of Coastal Living: Economic Opportunities
If you’re more on the economic and practical side of living, people in coastal regions also have some peculiar economic advantages in certain sectors.
Tourism and Hospitality
Tourism and hospitality is a major source of income for coastal tourist centers as people come to visit and be treated to picturesque views, coastal activities, and other related attractions. We’ve all been to the beach and a nice 4-star hotel (if you’re one of the lucky ones, a 5-star hotel).
Members of the hospitality industry such as the hotels, restaurants, and tour operators are found in the coastal areas. Sustainable tourism makes sure that such beauty and historical places which attract the tourist are maintained for the next generations.
Fishing and Aquaculture
Fishing and aquaculture are crucial sources of income for many people and communities inhabiting the coastal zones, as well as giving a contribution to food security on the worldwide level.
Aquaculture and fishing could be done sustainably to prevent depletion of the source of fish stock and destruction of the marine ecosystem. These industries also relate to processing, transport and marketing industries hence developing a strong and competitive economic structure.
Marine Research and Innovation
Marine researchers and technological advancement initiatives are mostly centered in the coastal areas hence contributing significantly to marine science, technology and conservation.
Marine biology research organizations, universities, and other organizations carry out research work on marine life, water bodies, and climate change and offer useful findings and workable resolutions to global issues. Other related technologies like wave and tidal power in the coastal belts are also being introduced for sustainable economic production.
Examples of Coastal Living Areas
There are many more things you can consider when trying to move, like buying property, or even considering a house or condo. If you’ve been confined to coastal living, here are some places you can make your home from different parts of the world, and what lifestyle and features you can consider.
1. The Amalfi Coast, Italy
Location: The Amalfitan coast, southern Italy, and the island of Ischia in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
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Features: Chosen for high clay cliffs, soft-tinted houses and fantastically beautiful sea views. It is one of the culturally and historically enhanced areas with proper representation and blending of culinary tastes along with offering an appropriate coastline lavishness.
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Lifestyle: The coast is beautiful, containing terraced vineyards, fruit trees notably lemon trees, and some beautiful towns such as Positano and Amalfi. At present, it is one of the most well-known tropical attractions to those who desire to combine idleness with the luxury of elite living standards, water surfing, trailing, as well as exquisite culinary experiences.
2. The Gold Coast, Australia
- Location: South East Queensland mainly stretches from Coolangatta down to Southport.
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Features: Known for its crystal white sandy beaches, pulsating nightlife, and perfect waves for surfing. Gold Coast is one of the most forward-looking cities with natural interfaces and beautiful sites.
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Lifestyle: It is a true recreational area with people practicing surfing, swimming, and trekking in the interior country. It also has places such as theme parks, shopping malls, and mouthwatering cuisine to complement the coastal lifestyle.
3. Malibu, California, USA
Location: In the western part of Los Angeles County adjacent to the Pacific Coast Highway.
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Features: Popular with the movie stars, stunning sandy beaches, and sophisticated mindset. Where Malibu is quite special is that one can find both stunning nature and lavish facilities.
- Lifestyle: Some of the activities are, firstly, and arguably most importantly, beachcombing in the town of Malibu; secondly, there exist opportunities for mountain climbing in the Santa Monica Mountains; finally, there are frantic opportunities to eat at gourmet restaurants.
It has been connected to the social expectations of privacy and luxury, simple living but obtaining the very best, thus developing into a well-loved property among the affluent within the society.
4. Santorini, Greece
- Location: A place in the Southeast of the Aegean Sea and of the Cyclades cluster.
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Features: Renowned for its white-washed houses, blue roofs, orthodox churches, and phenomenal sunsets over the volcanic crater. Santorini can thus refer to a beautiful picturesque and cultural coastal residential region.
- Lifestyle: Everything in Santorini is oriented to these two main values that are nature and history. People can do sightseeing and travel to archaeological sites, sunbathing on black sand volcanic beaches, tasting locally produced wine and food.
5. Cape Town, South Africa
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Location: Region of the Cape of Good Hope at the southwestern extremity of South Africa where the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans converge.
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Features: This natural beauty has a diverse view including the famous Table Mountain, the pleasant and friendly beaches, and an active performing city. Cape Town provides for a vibrant experience of living by the sea.
- Lifestyle: Surfing became an activity for the residents as they also loved getting a phenomenal view of culture, restaurants etc. in the cities. This environment is naturalistic and the cosmopolitan aura is deemed as advantageous.
Examples of Coastal Living Areas in Asia
Asia coastal living is also where great culture, environment, and occupations blend because of the many countries that are around the sea. Here are notable examples of coastal living areas in Asia:
1. Phuket, Thailand
Location: The southern part of Thailand in the Andaman Sea region.
Features: Phuket is unique and enriched with all the natural endowments and this together with the right share of tourism-oriented infrastructures and facilities, not to mention the multicultural heritage.
Lifestyle: The wonderful markets, scrumptious street food and the festivals that are celebrated in the island. Phuket also has a good combination of the quiet and the party places and therefore attracts both tourists and inhabitants.
2. Bali, Indonesia
Location: An island that is a part of the Indonesian chain of islands stretched in the south eastern part of Asia and situated in the western part of the Lesser Sunda Islands group of islands.
Features: Well known for the stunning shoreline, lively artistic atmosphere and principal Hindu population. Bali contains something that is spiritual and hospitality with recreation along the coastline.
Lifestyle: Traveling to Bali involves activities such as surfing over international beaches, practicing yoga in beautiful areas, enjoying beautiful views of rice fields and visiting famous temples. The dancing, music, and artisanal products associated with the island enhance people’s existence on the island.
3. Palawan, Philippines
Location: One of the largest provinces of the Philippines that are grouped into the western part of the country and border on the South China and Sulu seas.
Features: Famous for clear water, tropical beaches and sea life. Palawan is described as the ‘more or less’ last frontier of the Philippines in terms of ecotourism destination due to its physical environment.
Lifestyle: Palawan offers a number of lagoons and scuba diving opportunities to see some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world.
4. Da Nang, Vietnam
Location: Da Nang is found in central Vietnam and especially in the regions around the South China Sea.
Features: Prominent for its beautiful shores, developed equipment, and amazing food culture.
Lifestyle: The coastal life in Da Nang includes vast sandy natural beaches like My Khe Beach, and the nearby Marble Mountains. The geographical position in which natural resources are located, cultural monuments, and modern infrastructure create a great environment for living and traveling. Da Nang’s development and friendly people make it a promising and enjoyable place to live in a coastal area.
Whether it is the modern deco of the beaches of Phuket, the spirituality of Bali’s landscapes, the untouched nature of Palawan, the aesthetically historical town of Hoi An, or the progressive city of Da Nang, the coast of Asia still enchants and motivates people to adopt this style of living.
Conclusion
The charm of a coastal lifestyle is clear. You get the aesthetic of the sea, psychological gains, and cultural rewards that are associated with the coast.
More than this, you create social communities, a connection with the natural environment, recreation and even potentially find economic and practical businesses near the shore. There are many reasons and many places to choose from when wanting to live in a coastal area, so take your pick on where, and live like pirates and mermaids.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aleksandra Djurdjevic
Senior Content Creator
Aleksandra Djurdjevic is a senior writer and editor, covering jewelry, accessories, and trends. She’s also works with services, home décor. She has previously worked as ESL teacher for English Tochka. Aleksandra graduated from the Comparative Literature department at the Faculty of Philosophy in Serbia. Aleksandra’s love for the environment, crafts and natural products over the years helps her continue to be a top expert at Wooden Earth.
