I’ve been here on the North Shore for almost two weeks, and there’s definitely a different attitude in the air, and no doubt in time—the water. I can only compare it to where I’ve been—Waimea, San Francisco and Honolulu, so here goes:
- It’s deeply sensual here, meaning nearly most everyone is aware of their bodies because they use it all the time. To live here you have to love being outside and moving around. It’s not a place for long periods of sitting indoors, in front of a computer, living virtually. And I like that.
- There is a tight community that’s hard to break into. You can tell by the way the locals walk and talk: they’re guarded about their lives, lifestyle and life quality—all of which seem to be pretty damn good. They’re cordial but not overly friendly and look out for one another, and likely judge outsiders by the quality of their character (at least the good ones).
- There is a slight sense of poverty and desperation, simply because there is no way to make a good living out here. You’re either a contractor-type or small-business entrepreneur or a professional surfer. There are clearly people here not making money and stuck here, and they’ve turned to petty thievery…and drugs.
- It’s dead right now because it’s summer. In the winter this whole town and coast is going to light up and reveal the true character of the North Shore, and it’s going to be wild.
- In Waimea, people judge you for your money. Certainly not the case here because people aren’t all loaded and sending their kids to private school and bragging about it.
- In San Francisco, people judge you on what you’re doing, what you’ve accomplished. Definitely not the case here unless you’re in the higher echelons of surfing. People are really “doing much” here in terms of career accomplishments, but rather it’s the way they’re living that counts.
- In Honolulu, everyone seems to want to be at the top of the highest money pile, or at least look like they are. It’s weird to witness the hoards of consumers in the shopping center seek attention and validation through what they’re spending their money on.