TC talks fondly of his time spent in another seaside town— a little place called Atlantic City. The boardwalk beckons. The beach? Not so much.
Read on! —the editor
TC and Peg where having a chat the other day…
Peg
So a grain of sand doesn’t make a pearl?
TC
Correct, Peg. That’s a myth. I’ll give you the link.
Peg
But that sand… it beckons!
TC
Romanticized like that myth of pearl generation.
For us, it’s a hard no.
Peg
But, you spent years living near the beach, right?
The draw wasn’t sand and the sea?
TC
Sand is over-rated, my friend.
Peg
Awwww!!
TC
Let’s turn that “Awwww!!” into an “awesome”
(one of my editor’s favorite words).
What was essential during my time by-the-sea took place in 3-floor walk-up.
Peg
You? A walk-up? As in stairs?
TC
Way back. And yes.
Peg
This I have to hear!
After filling in Peg about my youth, my family, and the Jersey Shore, she remarked that she couldn’t believe I would be happy down the shore in either summer or winter.
Honestly, she is on to something. While Stone Harbor is a chapter of my family’s life, it isn’t the only chapter. A good portion of my adult life took place 40 miles north in a very different shore town, one based on history and notoriety, not just the surf and sand.
That is that city of Atlantic, or in short, Atlantic City (AKA AC).
My hometown from 1989 to 2007, AC was the location of my first apartment that wasn’t arranged by a member of family. It was a 3-bedroom flat on a 3-floor walkup literally 3 doors down from the World Famous Atlantic City Boardwalk. I lived off that wooden ramp on Raleigh avenue.
It was opposite a large apartment building my eldest sister lived in for a short time in the early 80’s. This was the home to my chosen family.
This chosen family was started by friends I met in the Atlantic City Gay community of the 80’s. This time the casinos ruled the town, and they were the draw of the northeast, at a time when gaming casinos were restricted to Nevada and us.
At that time in life, we had buses bring players and visitors from cities and communities around to gamble for 6 hours, gave them coin to gamble and coupons to eat. The 12 casinos drove the economy year-round. It sustained us during the off season, namely Fall and Winter.
For the amount of time I lived in the city, I never lived on the beach in the summer. Between the fair skin, body image issues, and a horrible “Sun In” experiment during the summer of 1987, (another story, but if you know, you know), I tended to enjoy the boardwalk on my street in the evening, much cooler, with sea breeze at hand, or sitting on my little lanai sun porch surrounded by my window boxes of geraniums, people watching at night.
Lifelong friends I met at that apartment are Tommy, Billy, Jerry D, Mortimer, and before he got married, brother and current roommate James. Family and friends visited or stopped by. David, Michael, Jerry’s family, Patti, and a plethora of fellow employees and performers. This place was a full house at times and yet could be isolating all at once.
It amazes me that I tolerated a 3 floor walk-up for an 18 year period of time. In my current shape, I would not be able to manage the stairs. Grocery trips were a bitch even back then.
Have things changed since I left town?
Yes! The casinos consolidated, with several closing.
Off season is quiet during the week, and weekends have some peaks of excitement. The casinos started to become closer to the states that travelled here to gamble. Thinking about it, people paid to go to Las Vegas, people had to get paid to come to Atlantic City. That is how I felt in 2007 when I made the big move to Las Vegas after my job ended that August.
It occurred to me that in 2025, I have been in Las Vegas as long as I lived in Atlantic City. Time flies when you are or not having fun.
Do I regret the big move? No! I needed to evolve. I needed to move on.
My Atlantic City years were something close to my heart and how I became ME.
Listening intently, Peg pipes up.
Peg
Gotcha. But…
TC
I know you are obsessing on the sand thing.
Peg
Yes, and…
TC
I’ll let you in on something that isn’t a myth.
Peg
Oh?
TC
The Boardwalk was invented in 1870 to help people lose
the sand in their shoes and feet so they would not track
it into their house, home, and many fancy hotels.
There’s a link I’ll give you to read up.
Peg
Huh… That was smart thinking!
That’s a Wrap!!
Come to think of it, the boardwalk is a brilliant invention. If I didn’t have a “sand thing,” she could experience the joys of the shore without ever stepping on the sand.
The more you know. Or. CBS Cares. (inside joke) Thanks for reading!
And there’s more!
Afterwards, Peg came to me with some printouts.
Peg
Hey, Buddy! Did you know that Atlantic City and Stone Harbor
have made the beach accessible for mobility challenged people?
TC
Wheelchair access?
Peg
Yes!
TC
Noted. But… WE shan’t be going for obvious reasons.
Peg
But others can!
TC
Yes they can. And we… we can go in our imagination.
Peg
I’m good with that.
[END]
Here are some good links to check out if you want to know more about Shore access for the mobility challenged.
…The boardwalk itself is wheelchair accessible and is a short distance from many popular hotels. The boardwalk is wide and relatively flat, with wooden planks along the distance. Shops and restaurants along the boardwalk are generally wheelchair accessible as well…
Seven Mile Guide (Stone Harbor resource)
More pictures here.
—30—
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