At the Border of Pretty Darn Cold

Here we are again in another “I can’t believe its winter” weekend of mid 70’s temperatures and it’s the first day of February - the heart of Winter. I was on the Ferris wheel at the Balboa Fun Zone with my 5 year old son last night and we didn’t even need a jacket. Skies are clear this morning and there is absolutely no question as to whether or not to swim today. There are no other options and why should there be? Of course I am getting in that water that gives and gives and gives life upon life.

I slept in until almost 7:00 so I’m out the door at about 10:00. It’s already 66-68 degrees out. The beach parking lot is more full than normal but I find an acceptable spot. The sun feels blissful as I walk down the stairs. When I get to the water, it feels colder than one might think it should. I think the warm air makes it feel colder.

I walk into the water and the waves seem pretty small. I get out past the breaking waves but then I see a couple coming that are obviously going to break further out than the ones I have been seeing so far. One breaks in front of me and I dive beneath it and watch the sandy floor below stir and come alive as the force of the water pulls the sand towards the surface. Well I am now officially wet, which seems like a significant milestone.

I swim north today. My destination is the Monarch Bay Beach Club. Then I’ll swim back. The swim is unremarkable in that it was utterly remarkable just like the hundreds of other swims along this same route. Has it been hundreds? I only started swimming north into Salt Creek a few years after I started doing this. I also don’t usually swim north after the water dips below 60, which hasn’t really happened yet this year. Still, It probably has been at least over a hundred times but maybe not into the plural of hundreds. However I do love the hyperbolic, especially when it comes to ocean swimming, so let’s just say millions for fun.

The water feels like it sits just at the border of cold and pretty darn cold but not quite pretty darn cold. There are times that I think I am starting to feel pretty darn cold but I’m able to easily talk myself out of it. I focus on how my skin reacts to these sensations. What I love about this is that there are indeed sensations. Please God give me sensations. I want to feel. I want to feel the energy of life pulsing through my body. If you ever find yourself in a place where it is difficult to feel and you fear you are lost in a numbness where you can’t quite find your north from your south, my advice would be to stop whatever it is you are doing and, assuming you are somewhat local, start moving west until you reach water. Then just keep walking a little further until your sense of feeling returns. I assure you it will return.