Leslie W. is the writer behind The Hammock Society. By day, she manages conferences and events; by instinct, she’s already halfway to the beach.

Hi There, I'm Leslie! I am a child of the Caribbean Sea, though you wouldn't have known it growing up. My mother was a typical West Indian mother of the time. Consumed with housework and childcare, she saw the beach not as recreation, but as a place where children drowned. As a result, we only went to the beach when our church had an outing, and church outings were few.

My first memory of the beach is being terrified because I couldn’t swim. The sand moved under my feet, the waves crashed into me, and my friends teased me. But eventually I went a little farther in and found myself submerged. Instead of panicking, I felt completely at peace as I floated weightlessly back to the surface.

It’s still the thing I love most about the sea today: the absence of weight.

My beach trips are much more frequent now, and like my childhood church outings, full of anticipation and planning. I love curating the details - finding the right outfits, discovering a great hotel, unlocking a smart deal, and bringing that getaway feeling into focus long before my feet touch the sand.

I founded The Hammock Society to curate and connect with like-minded people. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it, and I look forward to chasing the sun together.