I was 31 when I got seriously interested in shelling.
 
I've lived on or near the ocean all my life. As a kid, in New England, I'd
be fascinated with the horseshoe crabs, curious debris on the beach which I
learned were egg cases from various animals,  watching the periwinkles crawl
around on the dock pilings. Having a boat (as a kid on the water we'd always
have some sort of conatraption) I'd bemoan the barnacle buildup on the hull
but be fascinated with how they are made and grow. A snorkel was heaven and
I'd spend hours till my fingers were pruney and my parents were calling in
increasingly ominous voices to come in from the water for gosh sakes!
 
As I got older, I would always scan the sand or shore for something
interesting, shells, beans, grasses, and got interested in the beach as a
system whole.
 
When I was 30, I lived aboard a 37 foot sailboat for 2 years, and sailed
from New England to the Bahamas and back, along the eastern seaboard of the
US. You can't help but get interested in these fascinating creatures when
living so close to them! I focused on shells, specifically, and loved to
watch the animals crawl or burrow around. I bought a field guide and started
collecting from there.
 
Every winter now, we go away from the harsh winter in Maine and usually end
up on a beach somewhere. Last year was Naples Florida, where my shelling
came to fruition and I started labeling, learning Latin, reading
extensively, and joining Conch-L!
 
Elizabeth
Maine
USA