Unencumbered

I left at about 6:30 this morning and it is overcast and drizzly out. The roads are wet. This actually comes as somewhat of a relief because earlier this morning I notice that our Bernese Mountain Dog puppy is wet and I just assume there is a bodily fluid issue at play. So I go to all this trouble to clean the wet rug and then notice that our back patio (her bathroom) is more wet than usual which makes me wonder when we will ever overcome this potty training hump and then I see the wet roads and I realize it is just drizzle here. Whew I guess.

So I arrive at the beach parking lot and I’m getting my stuff in order and notice that my goggles are not on the seat. I look around and don’t see them and realize they are probably sitting on my dining room table where I left them. No! Well good thing I live closer now. I speed on back to my apartment and sure enough, there are my goggles where I left them. I grab them and drive back to the beach.

Boy it is dark here. Thick clouds, early light and there is texture on the water from the south east wind. No white caps today though. So I expect the swim will be bumpy but not quite as bumpy as yesterday. This turns out to be true.

I walk down the stairs to the beach and notice just how much sand there is here. There is so much sand that the Jupiter rock that can stand 5 feet high in Winter is almost completely covered in sand. I get closer to the water and notice that the wet sand feels warmer than the dryer sand. I just love this warm water. It won’t last forever but I sure intend to enjoy it while it lasts.

I get in the water. The surf is even smaller today than yesterday. Not much of any waves in the water today except those blown by the wind. Soon I dive under a small wave and it is not long at all before I feel like I am snuggled beneath a blanket. It is honestly warmer here in the water than it is standing outside. This really does feel like Hawaii. Obviously I need to go to Hawaii to be reminded just how warm the water is there because I’m afraid I’m beginning to forget.

I swim to the south end of the beach and the water just feels so good. I catch myself not wanting October to come even though October can still be pretty nice. However you just never know. The fact is, it’s going to get cold eventually. We won’t know exactly how cold or when until it actually happens. I used to think I knew just when it would get cold but the more years I do this the less I realize I know. Every year is different and some years are very different. BUT, every year it gets cold eventually and when it does, I will keep swimming and I will be glad to be here and it will be a completely different and wonderful experience than the one I am having now and the one I am having now is so so wonderful.

The sky looks absolutely amazing this morning. I love a sunny sky but these clouds are so full and colorful and rich and beautiful. They interact with the water and the cliffs both far and near to create this amazing space that for some reason I seem to inhabit all by myself. I imagine that to the uninitiated, this water must look so uninviting. I want to yell out to those walking on the beach that the water is so great. I somehow doubt they would suddenly start shedding their sweats and join me.

I feel more free and light today. I actually did the thing I was writing about yesterday but I don’t think I will be any more specific than that because it is embarrassing but I’m glad that I did it and now I am just that much more unencumbered. It is good to be unencumbered.