Day 18 – Escape to the Coast

Transcript of Day 18 – Escape to the Coast

Day 18 – Escape to the Coast

Amelia's career as an executive in the busy city had her burning the candle at both ends(1). Constantly under the pump(2) and overwhelmed by the relentless demands of city life, she finally decided she needed a change. After deciding on a sea change(3), Amelia packed her things and hit the road(4). She sought solace in a small coastal town, hoping to escape the chaos and embrace a more laid-back(5) and chilled out(6) lifestyle.

Upon arriving, the serene beach and the sound of waves instantly made her feel incredibly relaxed and without a care in the world(7). She took a deep breath and decided to put her best foot forward(8) in this new chapter of her life(9). As she settled in, Amelia noticed how the townsfolk seemed to be thick as thieves(10) and always socialising and carrying on like pork chops(11). She admired their happiness and sense of community and wondered why she had been bent out of shape(12) for so long over trivial work issues.

Her neighbour, Tom, a retired fisherman, invited her to blow the froth off a couple of beers(13) at the local pub. At the pub, Tom shared stories of the sea, and Amelia couldn't help but feel like a stunned mullet(14) listening to all of his adventurous tales. He had definitely been around the block(15) and lived his life on the edge(16). She realised how all the time she had spent trying to find meaning in her unfulfilling corporate job had been like beating a dead horse(17).

Intrigued by Tom's colourful past, Amelia asked him how he ended up living in the town. Tom smiled and said, “Well, as you’ve no doubt(18) worked out, I’ve always been a bit of a wild child(19). When I first stumbled upon this town a few decades back, it felt like a great fit as the locals were like-minded and shared my eccentric nature.”

He leaned back in his chair, a sly grin spreading across his face. “You should look into the history of the town, mate” he said with a chuckle. “There’s definitely a few skeletons in the closet(20) that might knock your socks off(21).”

That evening, after Amelia got home, she couldn’t shake off Tom’s words. As she was unpacking, she found an old, mysterious journal in her rented cottage. The journal hinted at a long-buried secret(22) involving the town. Amelia hesitated briefly, thinking to herself, “Sometimes it’s just better to let sleeping dogs lie(23), because curiosity killed the cat(24).”

She knew that when you go poking your nose where it doesn’t belong(25), you can get yourself into all kinds of trouble(26).

But Amelia, being Amelia, threw caution to the wind(27) and kept digging. To her surprise, she discovered that the town had been an old hippie commune in the 1960s. She went down a rabbit hole(28) searching for every skerrick of information(29) she could find online about the town’s sordid history. It turned out that the commune, which believed in free love, communal living, and the benefits of consuming certain illicit substances, had gone underground(30) many years back. This was in an attempt to avoid the prying eyes(31) of the authorities as well as negative societal judgment. But the townspeople had kept it alive and kicking(32) for decades up until today.

Amelia initially thought, “Ah, it’s not going to be a problem. What people do in the privacy of their own homes is none of my business(33) anyway. Out of sight out of mind(34).” Surely the locals would keep it under wraps(35) seeing as she was a newcomer, she assumed.

So, she decided to mind her own beeswax(36), thinking the commune’s secrets wouldn’t affect her. Afterall, she had really grown to love the tranquillity and kindness of the residents and felt like she had found a hidden paradise.

As the weeks and months passed, the residents started trying to subtly convince her to partake in the commune and its activities. One day, her neighbour Lily invited her over for tea, but when she went to take a sip, she noticed a few suspicious looking mushrooms floating in the drink. Lily nudged her and whispered, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do(37).” giving her a cheeky wink. Amelia stayed for the conversation but decided she’d give the tea a miss(38).

Another time, at the local farmer’s market, a resident named Jake casually mentioned a community yoga session that ended with a “special” relaxation technique. Amelia couldn’t help but chuckle, realising he was almost certainly referring to a roll in the hay(39) post-yoga class. She tagged along to the yoga but made a quick exit(40) before the class ended.

Feeling confused and unsure of how to handle the situation, Amelia went to chat with Tom and ask for advice. Tom listened patiently and then told her, “If you want my 2 cents(41), the townspeople are who they are and they’re not going to change for all the tea in China(42). You just have to put your foot down(43) and tell them where you stand(44).”

Despite Tom’s reassurance, Amelia found it very awkward and was unsure of whether she wanted to remain there. She grappled with whether or not she might just be better off(45) going back to the city, but each time that thought crossed her mind(46), she remembered how much she hated city life. The thought of moving back made her stomach turn(47). She was in a bind(48). She loved the town’s charm and the warmth of its people but was uncomfortable with some of their practices and didn’t know what to do about them constantly barking up the wrong tree(49).

Slowly but surely, Amelia found the courage to put her foot down and say “Thanks, but no thanks” when asked to partake in the activities. One evening, at a bonfire gathering, she stood up and addressed the group, “Look, I appreciate the love and acceptance you’ve shown me, but I need to draw the line(50) here. I respect your choices, but I won’t partake in these activities. I hope we’re now on the same page(51) and can move forward.” The townsfolk nodded in understanding, with Tom clapping her on the back, saying, “You’ve got to stand your ground(52). We love you just the way you are.”

Her decision to stick to her guns(53) had paid off, and she no longer felt like an outsider. The warmth and acceptance of the town enveloped her, and she realised that she had finally found a place where she could be herself. She was no longer on edge(54) and fretting about the locals’ favourite pastimes. Her stress had faded away. Amelia knew she had made the right decision to stay.