The answer to the ultimate question

No, not that question.

This is the answer to the question, "Which one of those 8 zillion identical sand-covered sets of steps did I take to get down to the beach?!"

Yes, the bulkhead along the oceanfront here has street numbers carved in it. So if you're wandering along the beach and forget just where you are (those hotels all look alike), just look for a cross street marker on the bulkhead. And 42nd Street just happens to be the closest "oceanfront access" (as the road signs so quaintly put it) to my workplace.

And for those even more forgetful -- say, you can't quite remember what city you're in -- there are also frequent signs like this. Very considerate of the city, no?

Actually there are much more interesting carvings along the way, like dolphins and schools of fish. I'll get to them one of these days.