Scary, scary, Cash.

My folks grew up in the water, of course, being in Hawaii. And we had a large pond when I was a kid, so I was always in some kind of water or other. I didn't turn out to be an actually good swimmer, although I love it.

I dunno if I could handle the neighbors right on top of you thing anymore. New Mexico kinda cured me of that, although I moved there from downtown Wichita. Not large, I know, but I loved being able to walk to hear bands. But anymore, I have only one neighbor that's closer than two streets away. And I like it that way.

This neighborhood's lots are about a quarter acre each, so it will fill in at some point I assume. But other than my contractor neighbor who seems determined to build the entire region up one house at a time, there is zero construction activity here. So it may be some time. I still hope to buy some of the surrounding lots at some point and give myself a larger buffer zone. But it's lovely at the moment.

I need to take neighborhood pics for y'all.

I started swimming lessons when I was 2 or 3. When I learned the water was over my head, I freaked and they couldn't get me in a full sized pool for another couple years. I don't know what to do with the ocean, and lakes are awfully full of...things. I can deal with wading in clear flowing rivers, but...I like my water clear and calm for swimming.

Farmer's market is gonna do me in. I have too many tiny sweet tomatoes, white peaches and plums and cukes. I gotta eat a lot of produce now.

Off to the salvage store. I need a strike plate. And to investigate.

Jesus, Cash, that's the stuff of nightmares. Thank goodness they're okay.

I'm not sure I've ever been in a pond. But lakes, rivers, ocean, I'm good with all that. Although like Jesse, I never got the hang of *swimming* in the ocean. I tend to splash in the shallows and keep my feet on the ground, too, because I've been caught in the undertow once or twice, and have had waves knock me over.

I love the ocean's smell and sounds, like Barb, but for actual let's-get-some-exercise swimming I prefer a pool.

Is it the shark thing?

The shark thing isn't me. I like the ocean, after all. I just think they're gross. Mud and ick. Even with rivers I tend to like them where the bottoms is sand not dirt. I'm a big prima donna when it comes to that stuff.

I was a water baby -- couldn't keep me out of it so I had swimming lessons for ever. And not really afraid even when over my head . Situations like owen and liv -- are why all of us had lessons forever. I'll swim in whatever water is available. There are usually too many people in pools . Sadly , I don't have a lot of opportunities around here -- i've forgotten how to do a flip turn

ita's aquatic wildlife concern, iirc, is lake whales.

Another water baby here. From early childhood I'd stay in the ocean all day if they let me. I'd work my way through my parents, grandparents, my Father's seven siblings, their spouses, and various cousins until lunch. Then I'd repeat until dinner. The times I couldn't find someone to go in with me were tooooooooooorment . Sand castles were for jellyfish days. Shell hunting was what you did when the guards weren't on duty.

They tried to tell me I'd outgrow it but, either out of orneryness or my actual nature, I never did. Now I get to stay in the water if there's a break in the string of relatives to play with.

What else would I do down the shore? I don't tan. I can read on the train home. We can talk just fine in the water while we go over waves, under waves, ride waves, get flipped over and driven head-first into the sand by waves... its all good.

Creeks, ponds, lakes, and pools are all good too. I was on swimteam and later guarded lakes and pools and taught swimming. I probably should have become a mermaid or an underwater demolitions expert.

ita's aquatic wildlife concern, iirc, is lake whales.

No, not really. I was freaked out to hear that whales in the St Laurent river needed to be discarded as toxic waste, but that's more a pollution thing than a whale thing.

I am not a strong swimmer, but I do love the water. I dislike many things found in the water including, seaweed, slime, leeches, jellyfish, eels. I have never swum in anything resembling a river, I think the currents would freak me out. The ocean is great, but I am always aware of the undertow. I tend to more play in the waves and swim towards shore. Also, the ocean is f-ing cold around here, so one can't stay in for too long.

They tried to tell me I'd outgrow it but, either out of orneryness or my actual nature, I never did.

All three of our kids are like this. Last time we went to the beach (Lake Ontario), Sara got out of the water maybe twice, for a minute or two. And we were there for a good three hours.

If it's not too cold I may be swimming in this lake next week. [link]