i'm trying to come up with as many reasons as i can as to why i never went in the water this summer even though i swore that i would fully submerge. technically, summer has been over for awhile now. but since california's summers continue through the end of september (the heat continues through october), i was allowing myself the whole of september. now it's the final day and i didn't achieve what i said i would. other than that 1 day with my class when i got my feet wet, i never even went to the beach. at least i did touch the water. it's going to be too cold now to try going in the water. i will have to wait and try again next year. this area's water is just too damn cold though. it's freeeeezing. i am not looking forward to it. i'm too spoiled by the subtropical ocean water of okinawa. after i left in 1990, i have yet to go for a swim in ocean water. the idea of kelp coming up and grabbing your legs is not appealing either. i hated that as a kid.