It’s a typical work day on tybee. We got home at 2:07 am. Sean just finished his last set at the Sandbar after hosting open mic as he belted out Guardian Angel to the packed bar.

I log in 6 hours of sleep and wake up to my preprogrammed pot of hot coffee. As I scan my calendar in my phone, today I see that I am scheduled to photograph the Tybee YMCA surf camp. Later tonight I have a sunset family portrait. Since these are the only things with a precise meeting times, there’s plenty of stuff to do in between the two. The fun part is I can be as creative as I want in how work gets done around here. I usually keep a list of what has to get done, with a sub list of what should get done. I mark my day by the “have tos” , and see how the day unfolds for the rest.

After we eat our scrambled eggs and Eureka whole grain toast,  Sean teaches Ava how to tie down a surfboard to the top of our second hand KIA minivan.

We head to north beach, which is two miles north of our apartment. Ava unstraps the board that is twice her size and hoists it overhead like a pro. She points it over the north beach crossover towards the ocean. It’s quite a hike to where the class is,  just beyond the jetties. Kayce and Turner, the surf camp counselors greet us both and Ava jumps in with the other surfers.

Once the kids are done with their  break, they’re back in the water hoping to catch some waves. I started snapping away as one by one the kids were standing on their boards. At noon, another day of  camp is finished.

Lugging the board back to the van, Ava straps it down just as Daddy showed her. I am proud that she grabs a hold of adventure and owns it, taking responsibility for every part of it. Watching her handle the board reminded me of when I was a kid going snow skiing. We had a rule in our family, if you packed it, you carried it. I was about Ava’s age, schlepping my own skis, boots, poles and a suitcase through the Reno airport headed to Lake Tahoe.

As we were driving out of the public parking lot, I received a text from Carolyn, inviting me to lunch and beach day with the girls. Dropping Ava off, I run in the house, return a few phone calls and emails from my makeshift office/dining room table and head back to North Beach Bar and Grill.

My friends Carolyn and Sarah, each perched on barstools stabbing fresh colorful seafood salads. I’m greeted by Amanda who is tending the bar, immediately asking for my business card, telling me about some potential work in the coming weeks.  Over the next two hours we chat and share stories, and just enjoy the company of our friends who are also “working”.

We make meal plans for our kid friendly camping trip coming up and another girls-only getaway next week. I try not to make getaway plans too far in advance on my schedule since I have to be available to book sessions for tourists and anxious lovers ready to privately elope at a moment’s notice.

In between salad stabbing and story telling, I return emails with new clients arriving in a few weeks. I text directions to tonight’s clients, making arrangement where to meet me for their sunset portrait session.

Carolyn is doing similar work as she approves artwork for t-shirts to be printed, and arranges details for her weekly BNI meetings.

I glance across the deck and see familiar faces Johnny and Judy at a nearby table. I stop over to chit chat and talk about how wonderful it is to be alive. They introduce me to their friends, who ask for my business card as soon as they hear that I am a photographer. They tell me about family arriving soon and want family beach portraits. I happily oblige and exchange information with them.

Patrick and “E.D.”, (Ed is friend who wants to remain anonymous) stroll up and takes their spots at the north beach corporate headquarters conference room. Joining in the latest workday chatter. Patrick announces he is playing a solo gig tonight at Tybee Social club, so my night schedule just got a little busier.

Amanda tops off the ice in our coolers and we hit the beach for the afternoon portion of our workday. Taking over the chair and umbrella rental stand, the Real Tybee Lighthouse Wives reconvene our meeting. Manda and Susan have come to enlarge our circle. After another hour of sun worship, I decide to pack up as I still need fit in my workout at the gym.

A quick change from flip flops to running shoes and I’m logging three miles on the elliptical machine at the Y. I put my phone on airplane mode, so that my music is not interrupted by texts and emails pinging in. I move on to the weight room to exert what energy I have left. When my hour is up, I have nothing left to give and head home for a shower and sixteen minute power nap.

The evening skyscape begins to form as colors are brushed across the western skies. This is my cue that my next appointment is almost ready. I grab the freshly charged batteries from the equipment shelf in my bedroom and shove them in my camera.

Five minutes later, I’m back to my north beach office for the third time today.

Walking the midwest family to my favorite spots, posing them with driftwood, jetties, waves and life guard stands. As the sun sets beyond the spectacular skies, my phone buzzes once again from friends eating dinner asking if I’m coming to join them at the Social club as Patrick plays Patsy.

I was able to catch one set after downloading images to my laptop and uploading to the Google gods.

We pay our tabs and scoot on down a couple blocks to the packed Sandbar where Jeremy has his audience spilling out into the street. Eventually Sean joined in after running cameras at the City council meetings, another one of his regular video jobs.

The night continued into the morning with Jeremy, Sean and Henny leaving everyone with a taste of “In For a Penny”

And that is how I attempt to have it all, or a least grab what I can while living on Tybee.

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