Beach Noise

The beach is a very noisy place.  At least inhabited ones are.  In addition to the never ending crash of the surf, you have birds squawking and cicadas screaming out their harsh night calls.  I like these sounds.  They are God's instruments playing together in His never-ending symphony (I've been reading too much Pat Conroy).
The sounds I despise are the hundreds of air conditioners going around the clock in the August heat on a Southern island.  I also hate the cars going by on the main highway a few streets over.
With all the noises outside, you would think people would turn off all unnecessary electric and electronic disturbances.  But no, on my beach walk this morning I estimate that around ninety percent of people I passed walking or jogging were talking on their cell phones or listening to their I-pods.  You'd think people would get tired of so much noise and want to listen to nature's songs instead, but they don't.  And  I don't understand it.