NE Beaches

[longfisher]

My son wants to go to MIT to study after high school. Maybe he'll get in, maybe not. It's pretty exclusive, even though he has great grades.

Anyway, he asked me how the beaches were in the NE as he's sort of a water baby. I told him I was not all that familiar with the beaches in Mass. even though I'd visited Harvard and MIT during short sabaticals but that if it was anything like the beaches in NY and NJ he'd be dissappointed.

Why? Because, and correct me if I'm wrong, the beaches are "owned" by the homeowner with the property on which his home sits and the homeowner can restrict access to that beach by erecting various barriers. So, in most places he'd not be allowed access to the beach for fishing, camping or other recreation.

His was really surprised and said that this might enfluence his decision on which school to go to. I don't blame him.

Although there's parks reserved for those who'd like to use the beaches, I hated the freakin' parks to which the average Joe is forced to go. Those parks had parking lots as large as those surrounding a sports stadium.

Every time I went there (was on Long Island and in Teterboro for some years) I had to park at the outermost ring of parking as it was such a crush and had to carry all my beach gear to the beach over that scorching parking lot. Then when I got to the beach it was a crowded as a small island in the southern ocean covered up with elephant seals in breeding season. And, the crowds were every bit as rowdy as elephant seals in rut too.

Miserable experience for someone accustomed to Texas beaches.

You see, here we have what's called the "Open Beaches Act/Law" which guarantees the general public access to the beach for every form of recreation, even camping, from the high water line to the sea. And, if beach erosion begins to nibble away at the beach and if the high tide line then encroaches on a home and it's lot the property will be condemned by the Attorney General's office the the home will either be destroyed or carted off somewhere else.

Furthermore, breakwaters which would surround the home and ward off the encroaching sea are forbidden, although it seems this part of the law is poorly enforced, especially when a Repubican is the Attorney General (Cornyn, now a Senator comes to mind as an AG who did absolutely nothing to enforce this law and who was successfully sued by sportsmen).

When a Democrat is in the Attorney General's office the laws are enforced, no problem. But Republicans are, apparently, afraid to offend rich beach property owners who are, like themselves, mostly Republican. Cheap politicos.

Anyway, our more than 600 miles of beaches, excepting some security zones surrounding some near beach industrial complexes (Homeland Security) and some restrictions on vehicles near the largest towns, are open to all. You can camp, have campfires, transit the beach at will, fish, drive on the beach, launch small boats and other watercraft, even actually live on the beach for as long as 7 days without anyone bothering you, though some towns ask you to purchase a beach permit the revenue of which pays for beach upkeep, cleanup and porta-potties.

How do you guys stand it the way beaches are restricted to only the wealthiest of the wealthy in the NE? Or, am I wrong?

LongFisher

[teddyp]

My son wants to go to MIT to study after high school. Maybe he'll get in, maybe not. It's pretty exclusive, even though he has great grades.

Anyway, he asked me how the beaches were in the NE as he's sort of a water baby. I told him I was not all that familiar with the beaches in Mass. even though I'd visited Harvard and MIT during short sabaticals but that if it was anything like the beaches in NY and NJ he'd be dissappointed.

Why? Because, and correct me if I'm wrong, the beaches are "owned" by the homeowner with the property on which his home sits and the homeowner can restrict access to that beach by erecting various barriers. So, in most places he'd not be allowed access to the beach for fishing, camping or other recreation.

His was really surprised and said that this might enfluence his decision on which school to go to. I don't blame him.

Although there's parks reserved for those who'd like to use the beaches, I hated the freakin' parks to which the average Joe is forced to go. Those parks had parking lots as large as those surrounding a sports stadium.

Every time I went there (was on Long Island and in Teterboro for some years) I had to park at the outermost ring of parking as it was such a crush and had to carry all my beach gear to the beach over that scorching parking lot. Then when I got to the beach it was a crowded as a small island in the southern ocean covered up with elephant seals in breeding season. And, the crowds were every bit as rowdy as elephant seals in rut too.

Miserable experience for someone accustomed to Texas beaches.

You see, here we have what's called the "Open Beaches Act/Law" which guarantees the general public access to the beach for every form of recreation, even camping, from the high water line to the sea. And, if beach erosion begins to nibble away at the beach and if the high tide line then encroaches on a home and it's lot the property will be condemned by the Attorney General's office the the home will either be destroyed or carted off somewhere else.

Furthermore, breakwaters which would surround the home and ward off the encroaching sea are forbidden, although it seems this part of the law is poorly enforced, especially when a Repubican is the Attorney General (Cornyn, now a Senator comes to mind as an AG who did absolutely nothing to enforce this law and who was successfully sued by sportsmen).

When a Democrat is in the Attorney General's office the laws are enforced, no problem. But Republicans are, apparently, afraid to offend rich beach property owners who are, like themselves, mostly Republican. Cheap politicos.

Anyway, our more than 600 miles of beaches, excepting some security zones surrounding some near beach industrial complexes (Homeland Security) and some restrictions on vehicles near the largest towns, are open to all. You can camp, have campfires, transit the beach at will, fish, drive on the beach, launch small boats and other watercraft, even actually live on the beach for as long as 7 days without anyone bothering you, though some towns ask you to purchase a beach permit the revenue of which pays for beach upkeep, cleanup and porta-potties.

How do you guys stand it the way beaches are restricted to only the wealthiest of the wealthy in the NE? Or, am I wrong?

LongFisher

I'm pretty sure you can walk in the water and up to 10 feet from the waters edge without problem. I have walked the shore in CT and NY without problem for ten years. I've even tresspassed on private country club property and only had one run in with the cops. He shouldn't have any trouble.

[scattered_grass]

a privilege not a right. Go somewhere like "The Circle" at Atlantic Beach and you'll see more denim shorts, cigarettes, tatoos, mullets, and cellulite to last you a lifetime. I would never want to own property there.

[lowtide]

Yes some beaches are restricted - but very few. For the most part, they are all open to the public. The only place that i know of that has some resrictions would be Long Beach Island.

I live on an island in Dirty Jersey - and beaches are all open to the public. The water is always murky, but hey ! its Jersey !

[lowtide]

a privilege not a right. Go somewhere like "The Circle" at Atlantic Beach and you'll see more denim shorts, cigarettes, tatoos, mullets, and cellulite to last you a lifetime. I would never want to own property there.

give me the address ! sounds like I may be able to score their.

[Big Fish Billy]

At Harvard and MIT, about 4,500 applicants who got every question right on their SATs get turned down annually. What's the tickler to get accepted...beyond me. So I guess, don't feel bad if it happens to him. Have a look at the Mass Maritime Academy, if he goes there he'll be set for life, my son graduated with 8 job offers and after 2 years is making $125,000 and driving a $85,000 Audi (like LowTide's I think). As for beaches, there is a multitude of nice beaches, restricted only by the amount of money it takes to park for the day...Salisbury, Plum Island, Cranes Beach, Good Harbor, Marshfield, and of course the Cape, the Vineyard, and Nantucket are all popular spots. My guess is once he gets here and makes some friends, there'll be plenty of options...

Hope he makes it,

Bill

[wauwinet]

In Massachusetts, the property owner owns all the way down to the MLW line. This creates an unfortunate situation where many of the best beaches are off limits to the public.

However, the general public has certain rights in the privately owned area between MHW and MLW. Essentially, you can "Fish, fowl and navigate" on private property between MHW and MLW. You cannot, however, cross private property to access the area below MHW.

It's an unfortunate situation, but most of the people I know who own waterfront don't really care if someone uses their beach for fishing or swimming.

[perfectscore]

My son wants to go to MIT to study after high school. Maybe he'll get in, maybe not. It's pretty exclusive, even though he has great grades.

Anyway, he asked me how the beaches were in the NE as he's sort of a water baby. I told him I was not all that familiar with the beaches in Mass. even though I'd visited Harvard and MIT during short sabaticals but that if it was anything like the beaches in NY and NJ he'd be dissappointed.

Why? Because, and correct me if I'm wrong, the beaches are "owned" by the homeowner with the property on which his home sits and the homeowner can restrict access to that beach by erecting various barriers. So, in most places he'd not be allowed access to the beach for fishing, camping or other recreation.

His was really surprised and said that this might enfluence his decision on which school to go to. I don't blame him.

Although there's parks reserved for those who'd like to use the beaches, I hated the freakin' parks to which the average Joe is forced to go. Those parks had parking lots as large as those surrounding a sports stadium.

Every time I went there (was on Long Island and in Teterboro for some years) I had to park at the outermost ring of parking as it was such a crush and had to carry all my beach gear to the beach over that scorching parking lot. Then when I got to the beach it was a crowded as a small island in the southern ocean covered up with elephant seals in breeding season. And, the crowds were every bit as rowdy as elephant seals in rut too.

Miserable experience for someone accustomed to Texas beaches.

You see, here we have what's called the "Open Beaches Act/Law" which guarantees the general public access to the beach for every form of recreation, even camping, from the high water line to the sea. And, if beach erosion begins to nibble away at the beach and if the high tide line then encroaches on a home and it's lot the property will be condemned by the Attorney General's office the the home will either be destroyed or carted off somewhere else.

Furthermore, breakwaters which would surround the home and ward off the encroaching sea are forbidden, although it seems this part of the law is poorly enforced, especially when a Repubican is the Attorney General (Cornyn, now a Senator comes to mind as an AG who did absolutely nothing to enforce this law and who was successfully sued by sportsmen).

When a Democrat is in the Attorney General's office the laws are enforced, no problem. But Republicans are, apparently, afraid to offend rich beach property owners who are, like themselves, mostly Republican. Cheap politicos.

Anyway, our more than 600 miles of beaches, excepting some security zones surrounding some near beach industrial complexes (Homeland Security) and some restrictions on vehicles near the largest towns, are open to all. You can camp, have campfires, transit the beach at will, fish, drive on the beach, launch small boats and other watercraft, even actually live on the beach for as long as 7 days without anyone bothering you, though some towns ask you to purchase a beach permit the revenue of which pays for beach upkeep, cleanup and porta-potties.

How do you guys stand it the way beaches are restricted to only the wealthiest of the wealthy in the NE? Or, am I wrong?

LongFisher

dont you think if he went to MIT that he wont have any spare time for fishing or water sports, i mean wont his time be used for learning how to count cards in blackjack and then going to casinos to steal all there money??? Anyway, I think he would be able to manage a spot on the beach somewhere to wet a line

[Parsifal]

Sounds like Shortthinker thinks we need a Bolshevic revolution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolshevik


No one should be allowed to own a house larger than 1200 sq feet. If so then it must be shared with other families. Maybe we should require people who own property to have homeless families setup a homestead on their lots. Why should we allow anybody to own land when so many people in this country don't have their own homes? Boats??? Forgetaboutit.

[longfisher]

dont you think if he went to MIT that he wont have any spare time for fishing or water sports, i mean wont his time be used for learning how to count cards in blackjack and then going to casinos to steal all there money??? Anyway, I think he would be able to manage a spot on the beach somewhere to wet a line

...his intended major is "Ocean Engineering". Chip off the old block I guess.

He's really a water baby and has been all his life. He fishes, swims on neighborhood and high school teams, wind surfs, scuba dives and snorkels, pilots our small boat and does a fair job of navigating, loves camping on the beach, etc., etc., etc.

With his knack for physics and mathematics ocean engineering seems to be a remarkably good fit. Frankly, I'd never heard of the discipline until he returned from MIT interviews and told me about the curriculum.

A&M has a really good program in OE too and it's right down the street in Galveston. But I'd rather he went to the NE and experienced the culture there. There's already too many primitive Texas bohunks in his life.

LongFisher