One of the funniest things about moving to the coast isn't where I live.
It's what I now consider completely normal.
A closet full of Helly Hansen jackets?
Perfectly reasonable.
Deck boots by the back door?
Obviously.
SPF shirts in nearly every color?
How else am I supposed to spend the day outside?
If you'd shown me this version of my closet five years ago...
I would've assumed it belonged to someone else.
Apparently...
Living somewhere changes what makes sense.
The coast has a funny way of changing your priorities without asking permission.
The Boots I Didn't Know I Needed
For most of my life, my footwear choices were pretty predictable.
Heels.
Loafers.
Then I moved to the coast and somehow found myself enthusiastically recommending deck boots.
Specifically, the Huk Rogue Wave boots.
They're completely different from anything I owned before.
They keep my feet warm once the weather starts cooling off.
They keep them dry on docks, boat ramps, and damp mornings.
And they're comfortable enough that I never think twice about pulling them on before heading out.
It's funny.
I still love my Burberry boots.
I still wear my Sam Edelman heels.
But the pair sitting closest to my back door now?
Deck boots.
I never would've predicted that.
The Totes That Took Over My Closet
I didn't mean to start collecting Sea Bags.
It just...
happened.
One became my boat bag.
Another became the farmers market bag.
One somehow ended up permanently riding around in the golf cart.
Another gets packed anytime I'm traveling.
They're made in Maine from recycled sails, so every bag has its own personality, and they're durable enough that I never worry about setting them down on a dock, tossing them into the boat, or loading them up for an afternoon around town.
Some collections happen because you're trying to complete a set.
This one happened because every bag found a job.
And once something becomes useful enough, somehow there's always room for one more.
The Clothes I Never Thought I'd Wear
If you had asked “corporate me” five years ago whether she'd ever wear clothing with the word "Pimp" across the front...
The answer would've been an immediate no.
Now I'm the person explaining why everyone needs one.
Pimp Shrimp is a North Carolina brand that has become one of my favorite discoveries since moving here.
The name gets everyone's attention.
The fabric is what keeps me buying it.
A lot of their hoodies and sweatshirts have the softest liner I've found anywhere.
It's somehow cool and warm at the same time.
I know that sounds contradictory until you wear one.
The fabric feels incredibly smooth against your skin, doesn't get bulky, and stays comfortable even when the temperature changes throughout the day.
So yes.
Apparently I now own—and happily recommend—clothing with the word Pimp on it.
Life takes some unexpected turns.
The Jackets That Became a Collection
Finding Helly Hansen Mid-Layer Crew jackets on Poshmark has become the kind of hobby I probably shouldn't admit publicly.
It started with one.
Then I found another color.
Then another.
Then another.
At some point, my friends stopped asking whether I owned a Helly jacket.
They started asking which color they should borrow.
Depending on the day, I have hooded versions.
Non-hooded versions.
At this point, there's a pretty good chance I have exactly the jacket I'm looking for.
The funny part is that every single one gets worn.
Around town.
On the golf cart.
Walking the waterfront.
Cool evenings outside.
They've quietly become one of the hardest-working parts of my closet.
And if I happen to stumble across another great deal on Poshmark...
Well...
Let's not talk about that.
The Shirts I Keep Buying
I used to think these Magcomsen SPF shirts were something people packed for vacation.
Now I wear them to check the mail.
I own them in almost every color.
They're lightweight.
Comfortable.
And because I purposely buy versions without giant logos, they work just as well around town as they do on the boat.
Some days they're for boating.
Some days they're for golf cart rides.
Some days they're simply because I'm going to be outside longer than I planned.
Somewhere along the way, they stopped being "vacation clothes."
They just became everyday clothes.
Apparently, This Is My Life Now
It's funny how quietly this happened.
Nobody announces the day they've officially become a coastal person.
One day you just realize there are deck boots by the back door.
A Helly jacket hanging by the garage.
Sea Bags waiting for whatever the day holds.
SPF shirts folded in nearly every color.
And somehow...
Clothing with the word Pimp hanging in your closet.
I didn't set out to build this collection.
I just kept buying the things that made coastal life a little easier.
Looking back, I don't think moving to the coast changed my style nearly as much as it changed what I considered practical.
And apparently...
Practical looks a little different when you live by the water. -LME
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