THC Organic Market, Long Beach WA

     After you make a huge change in your lifestyle, it can be a little challenging when you go to plan a vacation, whether it be camping, travel over seas, road tripping, or just a mini-break spent at your father and step-mother-in-laws on the Long Beach Peninsula. Do you change what you eat, or use or do normally to make it easier? (Is that even an options?) Or do you soldier on, sticking with your convictions?

     Rick and I went away for a few days recently. Over the last few years, as we have been students and changed careers many times, have not had a ton of money to spend on travel. Also, until recently, Rick couldn’t do much traveling anyway, his health complicated simple trips of more than a few minutes. At the moment at least, he’s doing well and we can plan to act like a “normal” couple, taking little trips here and there. We are just learning how to do the green, organic, gluten free “hippy” way of traveling. It’s scary, exciting and very fun so far!

     Before we left, we did searches looking for gluten free options (as this is the most important part of our life) anywhere near Ocean Park, where we were staying on the peninsula. I wanted to find anything. And we found THC Organic Market in Long Beach, the town. I was so excited! I was going to take pictures, shop and generally be a total hippy nerd.

     Not long after we left, I realized that I had forgotten our shampoo. Shoot! What was I going to do? I was agonizing over it while we drove. Because though I don’t wash my hair daily, there was going to be one “hair wash day” in the middle of the mini-break (UK version of mini vacation – I have friends from there and think “mini-break” sounds better). I don’t like using my plain castile soap on my hair, I had tried that once with very little luck. Although, to be fair, my hair was really long then, not short as it is now.

     The first full day that we were on the peninsula, Rick and I went on a mission. Rather, I was on a mission and Rick was along for the ride. We searched and searched, following google maps directions on his phone, to find THC Organic Market. Nothing, it wasn’t where it should have been – according to the map. I’ve discovered since living in Bellingham, that Google Maps don’t always do everything perfectly. Just as we were going to give up, we drove further into town, and stumbled upon the market! There it was, at the end of a long building, just across the street from the Neptune – the local movie theatre. I just about lost my self control I was so excited!

     There was a little “A” frame sign with the days soup special(if I remember correctly) out front. Inside we found a smallish store, packed seven or eight feet high, with all the stuff I could find at the Bellingham Community Co-op! I was in heaven! There were organic products everywhere! (I know the name has “organic” in the name, but you never know.)
After a few minutes of being completely ridiculous, I settled down and looked for stuff I might need. Tea. I had woken up with a sore throat that morning and didn’t have any of my soothing tea with me. I found a whole section of Yogi teas. Review on the tea itself will be coming soon!

     As I was browsing, resisting Rick’s urges to get going, I ran across my shampoo brand. Actually, found my exact shampoo, that doesn’t burn me or make me itch. (Also, should do a review on that as well.) My day was complete. I could wash my hair the following day without worry. Yes, I am a teeny, tiny bit neurotic and prefer my hair washed once it’s passed the three day mark. So far in my hair experiments that is as far as I have gotten. Anyway, getting side-tracked.

     We ended up getting some of our “normal” groceries at THC Organic Market. We were able to enjoy organic butter on our gluten free rolls(from our co-op), cups and cups of Throat Comfort Yogi Tea, and a good shampooing the next morning (okay, almost afternoon). It was so awesome we went back the next day to show Rick’s dad and step-mom, George and Judy – and get gluten free donut holes and buffalo jerkey.

     So if you ever find yourself on the Long Beach Peninsula in need of tea, shampoo, pet food, organic anything. Check out the THC Organic Market. Get their address, get the Neptune Twin Theatre’s address for reference. Or if you don’t mind talking on the phone(like I do), give them a call for good directions. Just don’t rely on Google Maps, (sorry Google,you are cool but the maps needs work). Mapquest?

     To read their story, check out their site closer, or for updates, click on the following links:
Website: THC Organic Market
Facebook page(updates): THC Organic Market Facebook Page

Indoor view - THC Organic Market, Long Beach, WA