Beach holidays.
 

How do you entertain yourself on a beach on holiday? Last time I was forced onto a melanoma-inducing beach, I saw lots of people just laying there on towels. That looked incredibly boring and I don't know how they coped with the intense UV and IR radiation. I ended up hiding underneath an umbrella with an anatomy book, but I ended up nearly getting heatstroke and I hated the texture of the sand.

Also, why do women wear bikinis?

Books and parasol, like you. I might even read something beachy. L'Etranger has a memorable scene on a beach. Probably listen to The Cure. Or I hole up in the place we are staying.

And women wear bikinis because they want to.

Some people just like to feel the sun on their bodies but holidays to me mean lots of books, nice food and drink and seeing new places. I'm not so good with the heat nowadays but I used to enjoy laying in the sun. also when you are in the heat you must remember to drink lots BEFORE you feel thirsty. That will stop you getting dehydrated. Don't wait till you feel thirsty.

Ok I see.

My mum wanted me in a bikini once. It didn't happen thankfully.

For me a good holiday is in my bedroom in solitude.

I do understand we are all different, but I am trying to understand people in a methodical manner.

For me a beach holiday is a time to relax and as I love reading I spend a lot of time engaged in a good book.

If I had a better figure I'd wear a bikini but I hate my stomach!!

I don't really like the idea of beach holidays. Too much laying about in the heat.

I dont mind going to the beach for an hour or so, but then I get bored and want to do something else!

I think the reasons people enjoy wearing bikinis and lying on the beach would include enjoying the warmth and the sunshine because we don't get it at home, they want to get a tan because they like the way it looks, so they lie in the sun to achieve this. I think the main reason behind bikinis is to get a sun tan on the most amount of skin. Maybe some people are proud of their bodies and feel they look good in a bikini.
Also when I go on holiday usually I have been working very hard and am feeling tired, therefore lying around not doing much feels like a relief.
People often like to stay out late eating and getting drunk on holiday, so maybe they're tired from being out late, or maybe they're hungover which is why they feel like lying down.
These are just some suggestions.

I see.

I am supposing that a lot of people like the heat? Why do people like sweating?

I have no interest in laying about in the sun. I go out and see the sights. I would be bored and burned just laying on the beach in the sun.

I like the heat, but I don't sweat much. I suffer terribly in the cold, I am more relaxed in the heat when I'm not shivering. I can't speak for normal people who don't have to wear 5 layers indoors.

I don't think people do like sweating, but people sometimes like feeling warm. I realise that you don't like these things, but it must be apparent to you that people enjoy different things. I don't particularly like being too hot or sweaty, but I do like being warm, and I also like to get a tan when I am on holiday because I like how it looks. So I put up with a bit of excess heat, and then go for a swim to cool off, which I do enjoy.

When i go to the beach i am usually playing with, watching, chasing or otherwise occupied with my kids. If we have someone to watch them for a few minutes, i'll go in the sea for as long as i can. Preferably with my wife, we have a whale of a time together in the sea...

I am not generally one to be found sitting in a towel reading, i prefer doing things like paddling, climbing over rocks, taking photographs etc. Even looking for shells is more interesting than reading on the beach.

Love the seaside. I'd move there in a heartbeat. People say i'd get bored with it but i'd rather be bored at the seaside than bored in a town.

How do you entertain yourself reading a book?

I read in front of a mirror.

People have different tolerance to sensory things. Something that has a horrible texture to you (sand) might be a nice texture to someone else, and vice versa. The same with heat. I have quite a low tolerance to heat, so I, like you, would not be able to cope being on a beach for hours on end. I also have never and will never wear a bikini. It's all about preference. Sitting alone in your room reading a book is your idea of a perfect holiday, but others will feel about it the same way as you feel towards a beach holiday.

People aren't methodical, surely you know that. I'm also pretty sure that you have asked this question before and got the same sort of answers.

Essentially, the answer to this and most other questions of this sort, is that people like different things.

Yes I am fully aware that people like different things. I just like reasons and explanations. You don't need to write in bold, I am not stupid. I like it when people give reasons, not "just because that's the way it is".

Me and my mum are going on a beach holiday in just over a week.

I can't wait, because we've had a really tough year all in all and it will be nice to just relax somewhere warm, without having to think about too much, or have any meetings booked in.

When I was younger I never understood why people liked beach holidays, I always used to prefer activities or cities, but now I'm busier in my normal life I think it's great to just take some time to relax, whack on the suncream and get some colour in my skin. Although, I will probably have to take some dissertation reading!

I'd never wear a bikini, because I don't feel comfortable in myself to do that, and I'm not a massive fan of sweating, unless I'm at the gym and working hard, but I am a fan of nicer weather and longer hours of sunshine, because it makes me feel happier.

I do completely take Claire's point though, Oly. Sometimes there are no real reasons for something, people can't always explain why they like or don't like things, it's just innate within them. For example, I will never like videogames. I can't explain why, because on the face of it, I'd really enjoy them, but I just don't "get" the point of them. I do, however love pictures of animals wearing hats. Usually stuff like that gets on my nerves, but these pictures make me laugh and I've got no idea why. I hope that makes sense.

With people though sometimes things are just because they are. There is no real reason, it just is. The way you ask the questions are also incredibly judgemental, and it comes across not as questioning the reasons behind it, but more trying to simply say what you like and the reasons why you disagree with them. Your first post is full of it.

I guess for example it's difficult to explain why you don't like the texture of sand (it's gritty?) whereas it might be difficult for me to explain why I do like it (it just feels nice!).

Reasons for liking the beach: people like the sun and feeling warm, feel relaxed, it's really different to the weather in the UK mostly, bikinis - cos it's hot I guess (I don't wear one personally). The people laying there on towels are probably knackered or just like laying there and relaxing (maybe like someone else might like laying on their bed listening to music). I guess they just enjoy it.

I love wearing my bikini and showing off my body, innit.