I walk two minutes across a busy highway from my front door, and find the Pacific Ocean. As I cross over in my jaywalking way, I am careful of the real sharks on that road: those cars are more dangerous than the seafaring kind. Then, in stark contrast, an open expanse of water and sky, meeting at distant horizon. I drink in the shifting colours of waves: deep blue and green through to shimmering aqua. When I walk on the beach, I go barefoot, with feet in the shallows. It keeps me cool in this warm climate, is refreshing, caressing.
I love rain too, preferably without thunder and lightning. Sometimes when it rains, I go out beyond the cover of my courtyard, to feel the drops falling on me for a while. Having no car, I usually stay at home on a day drenched in rain. A steady downpour over hours makes me feel safe and wrapped up in a soothing coccoon. The soft white noise drowns out the harsh sounds of busy daytime, and I feel peaceful and protected from the hard-edged world. Sometimes I find rain brings emotional release, and I feel my heart moving in a healing way. Sometimes the rain brings me blessed tears. Sometimes it seems to cry for me.
Watery nature, the elixir of life.
