For a while there, the narrow strip of beach between Tijuana and San Diego was a pretty great place. Families from both sides of the border could meet up across the thin barrier from each other and have lunch, chat and relax in one of the few relatively neutral zones on the U.S.-Mexico border. But because the U.S. government hates fun (and OK, maybe has some legit concerns about drug smuggling and terrorism) they’ve decided to break up the party. In its place they plan to build a metal heap of sadness, aka:

A 90-foot-wide no-man’s land of patrol roads and security lights that extends to the sea.

Now where will we get our cheap peyote from?!? And more seriously, what will happen to the families and couples that relied on this zone for some contact? According to one source, people had gotten so used to the access that they’d set up regular picnics and even scheduled yoga sessions with one another.

Federal officials said a gate in the new fence will allow visitors to reach the 1851 border monument that marks the point where the United States and Mexico agreed on a common border after the Mexican-American War. When the gate is closed, visitors will still be able to see into Mexico, but any socializing will be limited to waving from a distance.

Waving from a distance, huh? Well, it’s sort of like that free voice chat software, skype, in that you can see the person if you hold real still and squint, and you can hear them if you shout. Except with skype if you move closer to the computer screen you don’t get shot at by border patrol.

So enjoy the trans-barrier hugs and high-fives while you can, guys! And let’s hope the U.S. government doesn’t decide to freak out about illegal immigrants any harder than they already are, or next thing you know it’ll be sharks with laser beams on their heads patrolling the border waters…

Border fence project to limit family get-togethers at Tijuana-San Diego beach [LA Times]
Border visits no longer will be day at beach [Union Tribune]