On the edge of the ocean

Every once in a while, I catch my breath and marvel at the place where I live. It’s so remote that its beauty is particularly wild. I don’t think I will live here for all that long, maybe a few years, but while I am here, I want to pay attention to the world around me.

Last weekend, I had one of those moments, where I sat up and realized that I was in a place that people would love to visit, even once, in real life. I’ve had that feeling before, while living in DC, knowing that others dream of diving into the history of that particular city. The difference this time – one of the many differences, actually – is that I had that thought while standing in a cave.

Looking out at the ocean from a spot usually drowned in seawater.

Like so many things, “tide pooling” is not a word that was part of my lexicon before moving to the North Coast. Luckily, I have a friend here who loves just about nothing in the world more than waiting until the tide goes out and then hopping from rock to rock, looking for treasures. Now, when she asks if I want to go tide pooling after work, I not only try to make it happen, I also look forward to it all day long.

Watch where you walk!

It is an amazing thing, to explore places that are usually covered by the Pacific Ocean. The colors that live underwater, and the life, astound me. It is always, for me, recognition again of how teeny-tiny small I am, and how much I don’t understand.

So very much of this world is a secret.

I’ve written about this before, but I like that feeling. It’s a reminder to not worry so much about everything that catches my concern; the world continues without my input, humming along in a bazillion ways that could care less if I go for a run in the morning, or vacuum my house, or stay up too late, reading.

There are such tiny marvels!

And, at the same time, I feel a sense of awe that is rarely as vivid as it is when I’m standing around in some quietly spectacular corner of nature. In that, there is a sense of wanting to walk lightly through the world, enjoying it as long as I can, and making sure that others have the chance to enjoy it as well.

Sea urchins for everyone!

I know how lucky I am to live here.

Underwater field? I’m sure there’s a proper name, but I definitely don’t know it.

Living in a gorgeous spot is not everything; I miss many parts of life back east, where there is different beauty. Yet for as long as this particular splendor surrounds me, I intend to remember that it’s definitely something worth celebrating, whether I’m watching the ocean from afar or taking the time to journey into it for a few brief moments, to play.

Leaping sea star!