While enjoying a lovely weekend at New Smyrna Beach, it occured to me that Beterwas needed a new category: Live & Let Live.

I was at the Flager Tavern, talking to the bartender/owner about the “good old days.” My family has been coming out to New Smyrna for over twenty years, and we reminisced about being able to park on the beach overnight, have bonfires, drink beer, bring your dog, shoot of fireworks, etc.

Slowly, each of those things were taken away, and at the behest of beachside condo owners.

“That’s my beach!” they say through clenched teeth, shaking their fist at the woman walking her silky terrier. “Your dog is shitting all over my beach!”

How about we all just settle down a bit. First of all, if you own a condominium, you just own that condominium - not the beach, not the water, not the view - just the condominium.

Now if a wild party is keeping you awake at night, you have every reason to complain about that party.

But you don’t get to ban parties altogether. Or dogs. Or beer. Or my very presence on “your beach.”

If people in your community are trying to “own the beach,” don’t let them! Call your councilman, call the mayor, make some noise. Let us all together tell them to live and let live.