by Suzanne Bandick

The Lighter Side of..............

I live in a tropical paradise. It comes complete with swaying palm trees and gorgeous sand and this turquoise blue ocean. I can’t just look at the ocean I need to be in it right? I need to sunbathe so that I don’t look too pale right? I also need to get cooled off in my neighbors pool right? Right. You see you agree. Now, here is the dilemma. What to wear?.......

I think I am the only woman in Playa with only one swimsuit or less. Most women here appear to have more swimsuits than underwear. I have trouble finding even one! Let it be known this is not a problem for me only in Mexico. They cannot be blamed. I have been known to traverse several countries to find the perfect swimsuit – you know the one that makes my body look at least o.k. Just ask my ever patient husband who finally suggested helpfully that I should just sunbathe nude. The problem is living here at least one swimsuit is a necessities pretty well 12 months a year. Remember that when you tell me I am so lucky to live here. I go through a lot!

So anyway being dangerously close to the none category of swimsuits I went shopping last weekend. I was feeling pretty good about myself before I hit the first store. I mean I look pretty good with clothes on. How bad could it be? Bad. Knowing my track record I hit the fitting room with my first 12 swimsuits. Too small…too loud a pattern …oh, oh , I look like a slug ….who puts horizontal stripes on a swimsuit?.....cutouts in the wrong places….too old….too young….definitely too small….where did all that extra flesh come from? 20 minutes later I emerge - some suits were only on me a millisecond as even I did not want to look. I desperately needed to find some more as my self esteem was not yet pummeled fully. That nude sunbathing is sounding like a better and better idea all the time.

This is my question, what is it with swimsuit sizing? What size does small actually fit? Barbie? I consider myself of medium build and I am trying on large – the store only had maybe 3 extra large. I know I tried them too. Maybe they are all made for very petite women in a country I have not heard of. That must be it. I can’t be that jumbo. I also have a suggestion for swimsuit stores. Put soft lighting in your fitting room, low lighting even, gosh, cover the mirror with a veil! That would be more flattering and I am sure sales would go up.

Anyway, I did finally emerge with a swimsuit. It is an o.k. swimsuit. At least I can go to the beach and my neighbors pool and have something to wear. I may always show up in the same suit but hey at least I have one. I don’t need to be traumatized more than once a season. Anyone make custom swimsuits? I remember one I really liked when I was 29.

After all that I need an ice cream and make it a double! Live each day to the fullest!

Suzanne Bandick is a published author and owns and operates SunFun Vacation Rentals. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

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