Nebraska's version of a beach
This is my idea of summer. Sand, water, sun and the time to relax and enjoy it. I’m a sun worshipper at heart. I gauge a successful summer by my tan line. Most summers I fail, but I do have some good weeks.
My heritage is Native American, I have a lot of melanin in my skin, I tan easily, rarely burn (with the exception of the first of the season) and I just feel better when I’ve had some natural vitamin D exposure. No, I do not do cloudy winters well at all. Leave that to the Scandinavian descendents.
I honestly believe (based on the New World, Old World monkey vitamin D research requirements) that certain people require more exposure to sun to stay healthy, and sane. New World Monkeys (Tamarins and marmosets) lived in the tree tops, with more exposure to the sun and need more vitamin D supplementation than the Old World Monkeys (macaques, and baboons), who live primarily on the forest floor.
I believe the same thing happens in humans. People who are from areas of the world that receive more sun exposure have adapted to physiological nutritional needs according to their environment. The color of the skin is a prime example. People who tan easily normally have Mediterranean ancestry (Italians, Greeks, Middle Eastern) or Native People ancestry such as Native American, Eskimos, aboriginal descent.
The Northern Europeans had limited exposure to sunlight and did not need melanin as skin protection. Think about it,..yeah, makes sense.
So with that I’m out to enjoy my Nebraska sun at the only beach within driving distance. Louisville Recreation area, where I can lay on the beach, listen to good music, and take a dip in the water when I get too hot. Perfect. If only it were an ocean beach, oh that’s right, I’m going there in a month!
A book, music, sun, and beverages, make a summer complete
So everyone enjoy your summer and if you enjoy the sun, and feel like you need it, then you probably do. If you’re pale and freckled, douse with sun screen and take precautions. But don’t hate on us sun worshipers, it’s in our genes.
Love the photos! I too tan easily, however I am full of that Scandinavian heritage. I just inherited the mutt part of the family tree – thankfully!
Somewhere in your “mutt” background is some sun loving heritage. So many people are from unknown nationalities our “genetic” code is lost. I think when get seasonal depression it has a lot to do with our Vit. D receptors.