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Hi @Former-Member and @MoonGal,

Hope you don't mind me dropping in on your conversation though I haven't followed the entire discussion. That photo that @MoonGal posted made me smile. There are a few other things I relate to in what you have just been talking about: feelings of isolation, a long interest in some of the spiritual matters you mentioned, and I just placed an online order for bathers in an attempt to overcome my age and body issues about swimming in the ocean. I too have put on a fair bit of weight since starting anti-psychotic meds some years ago.

Tne one close friend where I live has long experience as a psychic healer through tarot, astrology and various natural remedies. My partner sometimes practices self-taught crystal healing (sometimes very powerful in my own experience of it with him). I have come to a point where I consider myself agnostic after exploring paganistic ideas, Buddhism and Hindu-based spiritualities in my younger years. I am with you both in appreciating the wonders of the Earth, our home, most of all, in all we may know and never know. I love birds too. Hearing their song is a daily gift to uplift the soul.

It's great that you both have animals that you care for. My cousin has adopted a greyhound and loves her so much. Do you find that the animals suffer from trauma after being in the racing industry, @MoonGal?

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Hi @Former-Member, thanks for your reply.

Great idea with the reconnaisance mission to the beach. A good way to get your bearings and mark out some space for yourself there to become more familiar and comfortable with over time. The ocean is across the highway from where I live and I walk there very often so know it well.

The bathers are two piece with black lycra boy shorts on the bottom and a brightly coloured 'tankini' top with an abstract floral pattern I like. There's a part of me that longs to be very expressive even amidst withdrawal so I guess I'm just going 'in for a penny, in for a pound' on the garish top.

The online route was the only way I could clothe myself earlier in the year when I had gone up in clothing sizes and had hardly anything I could wear outside the flat anymore. I was going for very long stretches of time without leaving home. Shopping for clothes in a public place just wasn't happening. These days I am back in the op shops from time to time to keep up with this part of ordinary life, and just use the online shopping for things I can't get there.

My partner swims only very occasionally and I'm more often at the beach alone during his working hours. Maybe we will swim together one weekend soon, it's a great idea.

I have bad skin reactions to sunscreen so my dips in the ocean will need to be fairly short. I won't be doing it primarily for exercise, but for the salt water invigoration you describe, and for the feeling of greater connection with the ocean flows.

A couple of days ago I looked online and considered buying bathers. My old ones are about 15 years old and a little stretchy, I couldnt decide on any so I let it go.

I am pooped from being in the city and tossed around on a bus ... but I just wanted to pop onto the forum and see how you all are doing.

cheers Apple

Hey @Former-Member, all this talk of swimming is bouncing about in my head, I have wanted to get back into the pool and keep 'meaning to' but am nervous of it. I developed burstitis in both myshoulders last year through swimming & hydrotherapy, I have a pair of bathers that thankfully still 'fit' (just!). I can;t get into the sea although I live close ennough to walk - because i have difficulty walking on uneven surfaces and sand does me in. All the best with your new swimming forays - the sea really is beautiful, wild, full of positives for body and spirit/mind.

The greyhounds are lovely beings, live inside, they have beds galore and many toys and are very much a part of the family, really THEY ARE family! Some do come with some psychological issues from the racing industry, often not in very good condition physically either. Lots of love, care and working with them for whatever their issues are - most turn around into confident happy dogs. (I don;t want to disclose the colours of the furkids though if that's okay - that puts a bit too much on the 'identity' score.

Okay, off to have a Sunday evening - Dr Who on soon. Thanks for the lovely conversation today.

PS: Yes it is a Hoya (also known as a wax plant) and a native, New Holland Honey Eater, we try to have something in flower over spring and summer with necatar for them. We also have Cape honey suckle (tecomara) just coming into flower now.

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