Maybe not if you work for ICE...

I'm generally up with the sun so I go ahead and set up our two EZ-Ups along with several chairs for our tribe. I pretty much have it down to a science at this point after many years of practice. Plus I'm usually rewarded with spectacular views of the sunrise. Then I usually have time for a morning nap before everybody else is up and about. When we collectively decide it's time to strike camp, everybody chips in so I'm ahead of the curve there. Couple of unique aspects for me. My wife, who is typically much more sociable -- and frankly more pleasant -- than I am in general cannot stand to have anyone near us when we're on the beach. We also make a point to stay as far away from public access points as possible. So the early morning setup is as much about staking out territory as anything else. This is a major changeup from our usual routine and outlook. I'm the one who generally hates crowds (for example Mrs. Fiji absolutely loves Times Square whereas it gives me a serious case of the heebie jeebies). But I don't mind company on the beach as long as folks aren't stacked on top of one another. I'm intrigued by the Shabumi but the expense and my need for dependable shade/sun screening (I have some issues with melanoma) have kept me in the EZ-Up tribe. Mrs. Fiji also doesn't like the flapping noise associated with them -- although I've observed that their footprint and need for occasional repositioning would aid in her imperial quest for more territory.

far as possible from them. We usually setup around 9/10am so aren't the early birds but can have some flappers come in behind us. They constantly sound like flags flapping in the wind. We have a Sport Brella that works just great for two people but we do have to adjust chair positions for shade throughout the day. But it's totally silent while we read. We did learn early on from some more experienced folks near us that had metal pole anchor. Theirs never moved while our cheap plastic anchor from the souvenir store was worthless. Got metal one from Amazon and shove a piece of rubber bike tire down in with the narrow Sport Brella pole and we are good now.

with our guest, staking territory NEAR a public access was important. When lots of family come there is always good help with both ingress and egress which is nice. When they were little it was all me. I don’t mind it really and we enjoy guests. ** Edited by DonHo-kieHi at 7/20/2025, 2:12:18 PM

I visited my BIL at his RV campsite yesterday. He spends hours getting it ready, making the drive, unloading and setting up, cooking, drinking!, then does everything again in reverse order. I told him he is not only committed but needs to be committed.

1:55 and they want to go in. I think there’s a GI issue going on of which I have no “need to know”. Same result. Put it up… take it down. I’m going to hang around and work on my tan.