Beaches and shorelines are some of humanity’s most treasured places. However, sea level rise as a consequence of climate change threatens to erase these communities from the map entirely. And, even in the face of destruction, the choice to leave one’s generational home is a difficult one. I argue that instead of simply running from rising waters, the more proactive solution is to design intentionally in-place, preserving the history of our treasured beach towns. As we grapple with the reality of encroaching tides, this thesis explores the human relationship with coastal inhabitation in the context of the Jersey Shore, and reimagines living near water as living with water.