Swim Buddy

Well today was a little different. I actually swam with someone else. I like to swim alone. I know the open water community frowns upon that and I get it. I totally get it. However, first my personal schedule just does not easily accommodate me meeting a group at predetermined times. Second, I am very much an introvert and my time in the ocean is a chance to recharge and replenish and I find that is most easily done alone. That all said, I don’t hate people and it’s nice to mix things up and do something different and if that also means having the opportunity to introduce someone to the water, all the better!

So I was conversing with this person, Barbara Jane if we are naming names and she said that I could, a week ago online who was just asking me some general questions about swimming in the ocean here. The conversation ended with her saying she was inspired to do it. I thought that’s great but was not incredibly sure there would be actual follow through. The surf was particularly large that day and I wondered if I should tell her not to try it that day but I just figured she would surely not go in the water that day, if ever, and I let it go.

Several days later I get a message that she went. Wow. First, she actually got in the water without a wetsuit in January. I do that all year round but I think I’m one of two people I ever see here that do that. Also, she got in the water despite the heavy surf. Most would have just looked at that and said “nope.” So I thought it would be cool to invite her along especially since she was local.

So today is a beautiful morning and more importantly the water is calm - very calm. You look due west from the top of the stairs and it is a picture perfect morning. I mean you could also look due north or south or from the beach or from the top of Selva Road and it would still be picture perfect. It’s been chilly these past few mornings but today is a touch warmer but absolutely and most certainly not warm. I meet my swim buddy as I am looking at the above mentioned picture perfect view.

We walk down the stairs and the beautiful thing is that I am not ruminating over how cold it might be and it is likely because I am talking to someone else instead. No chance to ruminate now. I am also finding that I am very concentrated on being a good “host” so I can’t be worrying about my own comfort. Besides, I know I will be comfortable enough like I always am in the water. Lets just skip the ruminating thoughts and stick to what I know to be true.

So I am yapping yapping yapping about and still yapping as we are heading into the water and Barbara kindly suggests we start to swim and I am sure she is thinking, “lets stop the yapping dude and get on with this because it is cold.” Ok. Let’s do it! I did mention how beautiful it was right?! Because just to be clear, that has not changed since we got in the water. We swim south toward the headlands. The water visibility is pretty good. My swim buddy Barbara is doing well. I’m actually surprised at how well. She is a trooper. There is no way in hell someone would have gotten me to take my first ocean swim in January. I started in May just as the water was warming and had comfy conditions until November. By that time I was addicted and willing to brave the cold.

We get closer to the headlands and here comes local Stand Up Paddle boarder Rob. He is the same guy I saw on the 29th of last month who recognized me from Facebook. Super nice guy and we say hello. We are surrounded in beauty. The sun sits just over the top of the headlands and the cliffs cast a shadow over the rocks below and we wade here in the middle of a magnificent kelp forest. Do I get a picture of said forest? Of course not. I think I was distracted with trying not to kill my companion who was getting colder. I’ve been doing this long enough now that I am sure I have developed some brown fat stores to keep me warm. Barbara has no benefits of acclimatization. Anyways, the forest is still there and I will get a shot next time.

So we soon reach our destination and turn around to head back north. I’d usually be meditating on the horizon or god only knows what stream of consciousness image enters my head. Today it’s all business. Keep an eye on my buddy and make sure we all get home. I kind of like this. It’s different. I have swam countless times in these exact same pristine conditions. I like having some variety of experience.

We get close to where it was that we started and it’s time to head back to shore. We have been in the water about 50 minutes and I am sure we have put in over a mile. To me the swim to the beach feels like it takes forever and I have to wonder how long Barbara thinks it will be before we hit the sand.

As we get out of the water and continue back up the stairs, I look at Barbara and feel like I am watching my 2020 self. That’s the year I started. She find’s it difficult to stand (my exact experience on my first swim here) and gets colder after being out of the water for a while (I’ll spare the story about my uncontrollable shivering on my first swim after that November storm). Even if it doesn’t completely look like it now, I’m pretty sure she is benefiting from this experience. We make it to the top and I watch her drive away not without some level of terror (my terror). I don’t want to be the guy that finally brings someone down to the water and does more harm than good. I’ve totally been in her state though many many times and I am still here. I am also very happy to report that Barbara texted me later that she made it home safely.