Living in Virginia Beach, it’s easy to take for granted the coastal lifestyle.  Everyday I get to see the water, whether it’s the fertile Chesapeake Bay, the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean, or the fingerlings that reach out as if to pull Tidewater back into the sea.  There isn’t a parking lot you can’t go to where you don’t see seagulls feasting on scraps and refuse.  Often, I get to go to the beach and stick my feet in the sand, close my eyes and listen to the crashing waves.  Afterwards, we may even stop at a local seafood market and pick up some blue crabs, new potatoes and corn and have a crab pickin’ on a beautiful Saturday evening.

For most, what I just described sounds like a vacation; but for me and my family it’s a way of life.  It’s a way of life that started when I was about 6 years old.  We moved from southern Indiana to New Smyrna Beach, FL; and I quickly embraced this new coastal lifestyle.  This is where I experienced many firsts, playing on the beach, skateboarding, surfing, and Flojos (all the rage in the late 80’s!).  A few years later, you would find me snorkeling for scallops in the Gulf of Mexico or lobstering in the Florida Keys!  There’s almost no childhood memory that doesn’t include me in the water!

It was out of this upbringing that influenced the Tommwants label.  We realize every kid can’t live on the coast and smell the salt air, or sense what it feels like to play on the beach on a warm summer night, or hear the hypnotic sound of waves lapping up against the side of a boat; but they can have a little taste of the coastal life by wearing Tommywants apparel.

Is your kid a “coastie?”  We would love to hear from you.  Send us pics of you and your kids along with a brief story of them living the coastal life (mayday@tommywants.com).  Who knows, you may be featured on our site!*  Til’ then, keep…

Swimming against the tide,
Capt. Tommy

*Send us photos of you and your kids living the coastal lifestyle and you could find yourself on our site! Here’s how it works: Email your photo(s) in JPEG format to mayday@tommywants.com.

Be sure to include the following:
Who’s in the photo(s)
Where they were taken?
What was going on?
A general statement that you give full permission to share your story and photos on Tommywants.com

If your photo(s) were taken by a professional photographer, you’ll need to get permission from them (copyright stuff…I used to be a lawyer).