Hi,
 
I feel shy asking this - I should be able to handle this, but I need some  
opinions of others. In a way, this problem seems trivial, but please try to  
patient. It's deeper than it appears.
 
I used to go to the beach all the time and none of the lifeguards hassled  
me.  The most they ever said was 'hey, enjoy the day' or such. I even  used to 
go out in the water and sometimes be knocked on my butt by a wave.   No big 
deal -   I was treated as just another beach bum out for a day  of sun.
 
 However, recently two lifeguards have made a huge issue about me  being on 
the beach alone.  They both did it very publically - one kept  going up to 
other beach goers asking if I was with them and the other came  running after me, 
screaming at me to stop walking.   After I stopped,  he was insulting and 
rude.  Both the guards told me I couldn't be on the  beach by myself.  Neither 
time was I in the water - once I was fully  dressed just sitting on the sand.
 
 I talked to the Chief after the first time and he was no help though  he did 
promise a local disability org. that he would provide better disability  
training. (Yea, right). This time, he's been even less help and says I  need to go 
up to every guard and explain myself.  I'm all for getting to  know people, 
but these are public employees at the beach.  Shouldn't they  know how to deal 
with things?  If they do have a question, can't they be  polite and 
respectful?  It's not my job to teach them how to act with  simple politeness. That's 
what my tax dollars are supposed to do in  part - to pay for training so that 
they know how to react DECENTLY (not  perfectly, but decently) to everyone.  I'm 
shy - I don't like approaching  strangers in general.
 
 I have a lot of problems and stress in my life and the beach is the  ONE 
place that makes me forget it all.  I really, really need to be able to  go 
there, relax and not worry about going up to all the lifeguards (there are  
multiple guards on each beach and they change up all the time so it would be an  
ongoing effort).  I need to go there and not have to keep looking over my  
shoulder or feel like I have to walk just right. I feel really frustrated I  can't 
even go there and be carefree as I used to be because the beach is  literally 
the only truly happy thing in my life.  It really is or should I  say it WAS the 
only thing that made me want to keep going.
 
There's no one else to appeal to - I have no faith anyone higher up would  
listen either. So, I would welcome any suggestions. 
 
Thanks for reading!
 
 



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