(24/31) Procrastination

24 of 31 - SOLSC 2022

Packing at the end of the trip is easier than at the beginning because you've already made all the tough decisions. Now it is simply about putting everything that is yours into a bag. The hard part is that it signifies the end of the trip. In this case I am able to postpone the inevitable a few minutes while I Slice.

I have read and commented on several posts. I am composing at the moment. I will then comment on the three people who posted links just prior to mine. (Am I the only one who does this? I figure if we all comment on the three people immediately proceeding our link everyone will always have at least three comments.) I can then collapse into sleep, putting off the actually packing part until the morning.

(23/31) I Could Be Wrong

23 of 31 - SOLSC 2022

It is truly vacation when you aren't sure what day of the week it is, let alone the date. I haven't looked at my work email account, so I don't even know how many messages are waiting for me. Though I am reading books, I am not thinking about planning lessons or PD.

Enough about what I'm not doing. What am I doing? I spend hours watching the water, or the stars  - or the fish. I only wear a watch to know what time meals are. 

I think I'll be ready to dive back in to school when we return, but since I'm not exactly sure how many days away that is, I could be wrong.

(22/31) To Each Their Own

22 of 31 - SOLSC 2022

Walking down the jetty on our way in from the boat we talk about our morning.

"That wasn't very fun." says the tween.

"Tell me more." I say, trying to not think about the expensive outing we took that she is grumbling about.

"I would rather have been diving. I didn't like getting water in my snorkel or having people pushing me or having to work so hard. A regulator makes it easier and there is more space when you can be under the water."

Well, that makes it clear. She has fully become a diver. (At this very moment she is out on her Open Water certification dives.)

Contrast this with my experience a couple of days ago when her Dive Master wanted to take me snorkeling with dive gear to prove that I would want to dive. I knew that there was no chance that I would rather dive than snorkel, but I was willing to give his experiment a go. 

He was surprised at how comfortable I was in the water. I wasn't surprised. The surface was just above my head, even when he submerged me it was only enough to have my tank under the surface and I knew I could still stand up at any moment. The opportunity to pop my head above the surface at any moment I choose is what keeps snorkeling accessible to me, even when plopped in the middle of an ocean. The claustrophobic opportunity does not exist when the openness of the sky is accessible anytime you want it.

To each their own!

(21/31) Safari, By Any Name

21 of 31 - SOLSC 2022

Step by step guide to a safari...

• Wake up earlier than you would prefer, especially for a vacation day.
• Ensure you have all the gear you need including layers and sun protection.
• Quickly eat something.
• Arrive at the rendezvous point on time.
• Load into the vehicle.
• Notice the anticipation in the air with everyone hoping to see whatever is highest on the list of animals for that outing.
• Wonder how long it will take until you might have your first viewing opportunity.
• Bump along on the journey.
• The vehicle slows and the excitement rises.
• Guides/drivers/spotters exchange hand signals.
• The group attempts to interpret hand signals being exchanged.
• Heads swivel right and left.
• Pointing happens while guests attempt to keep their tones hushed.
• Cameras poise.
• Jump in the water.
• Wait.
• Watch in wonder as the majestic manta ray swims past.
• Repeat the last two steps with a grin at your successful observation of the targeted animal in the wild.

(20/31) Tropical...

20 of 31 - SOLSC 2022

I'll take most things tropical:

Tropical breeze

Tropical fish

Tropical island

Tropical flowers

Tropical birds

Tropical fruit

All of the above are lovely parts of this vacation.
 
I sure hope we mange to go without tropical disease.

(19/31) Moonlight

19 of 31 - SOLSC 2022

My family was sleeping, and I should have been too, but the moon - and the water…

I went out on the deck to enjoy the quiet of the night and realized that the temperature on day bed was lovely, so I laid down to soak up the night. The slight breeze washing over me and the lapping waves against the break wall must have lulled me to sleep. The next thing I knew I was waking up because of a bright light in my eyes. Realizing I had never made it back inside to actually go to bed I opened my eyes.

The moon was so bright that it had woken me up once it was directly overhead. (Technically it was sun light, reflected off the moon.)

I padded inside and crawled beneath the covers, smiling from my night adventure.

(18/31) I Know It's There; Privilege

18 of 31 - SOLSC 2022

"She will need medical clearance." the Dive Master informed us as G finished filling out her paperwork for the Discovery Diving course she wants to take while we are on vacation.

"No problem. It's currently 3:30 in the morning there, but when they open I will call to have him write the clearance."

As the words were coming out of my mouth my awareness of so much privilege were there as well. They include, but are not limited to, the following...

• the ability to go on vacation
• the ability to have vacation time from work
• a family unit that vacations together
• scuba diving in and of itself
• medical insurance
• a doctor who has known my child since a few hours after she was born
• access to said doctor, even from across the planet
• a diagnosis and successful treatment for her epilepsy
• internet access, let alone Skype
• and did I mention - vacation
  

As I got to bed, trusting that my voice message will not only be heard, but responded to by the time I wake up, I am very aware of my privilege.