When Tom and I began building our island home, I had only a few "must-haves" for Clifford, our builder: the color yellow, French doors instead of sliders on the front, and an outdoor shower.
I believe he thought my insistence on those things - rather than, say, a hot tub or skylights, both of which I nixed - a bit odd. But he made me happy on all counts.
Of those three things, I am happiest with the shower, especially on these wickedly hot September days. Such a joy to come back from the beach and clean off with cold, fresh water! And then to not have to wipe down the shower!
As these things go, my outdoor shower is decidedly low-end. I have seen others with nautical-quality fixtures, Insulbrick sides, nice tile mosaics or teak benches. Mine has none of the above. It's just a plastic showerhead under the outside stairs that sprays onto a concrete pad before the water dribbles off to nourish our flowers. The only convenience we added was a small shelf to set soap and shampoo. Pitiful when you consider all those posh beachside homes in Provo, or the mansions rich folks have built here in Sandy Point.
But its "Beverly Hillbillies" quality is part of why I like it so much. When I shower here, I might encounter a frog on the pipe. Or startle my neighbor's dog who'd been napping under the house. With only trees and bush to hide me, I must check around to see if someone's cutting through my yard before I pull aside the swimsuit to wash or briefly take it off. Then I wrap a towel around me to dash up the stairs and into the house.
In short, when I dip my head under this shower, I also dip into an island culture quite different from my American ways. And that was the whole point of building this house. My shower, my island.
I believe he thought my insistence on those things - rather than, say, a hot tub or skylights, both of which I nixed - a bit odd. But he made me happy on all counts.
Of those three things, I am happiest with the shower, especially on these wickedly hot September days. Such a joy to come back from the beach and clean off with cold, fresh water! And then to not have to wipe down the shower!
As these things go, my outdoor shower is decidedly low-end. I have seen others with nautical-quality fixtures, Insulbrick sides, nice tile mosaics or teak benches. Mine has none of the above. It's just a plastic showerhead under the outside stairs that sprays onto a concrete pad before the water dribbles off to nourish our flowers. The only convenience we added was a small shelf to set soap and shampoo. Pitiful when you consider all those posh beachside homes in Provo, or the mansions rich folks have built here in Sandy Point.
But its "Beverly Hillbillies" quality is part of why I like it so much. When I shower here, I might encounter a frog on the pipe. Or startle my neighbor's dog who'd been napping under the house. With only trees and bush to hide me, I must check around to see if someone's cutting through my yard before I pull aside the swimsuit to wash or briefly take it off. Then I wrap a towel around me to dash up the stairs and into the house.
In short, when I dip my head under this shower, I also dip into an island culture quite different from my American ways. And that was the whole point of building this house. My shower, my island.