Things I wanna do...

I really want to learn to play the ukulele! I think it would be neat. I’d like to learn Spanish too. I’d like to actually be fluent, not just master sophomore level vocab. I also want to live on a houseboat, or would that be IN a houseboat. Would you live on it or in it? Anyways, not something long term or anything, but for maybe a year. Something different, something new, something not everyone does.

So, one of the things that have been on my “things I wanna do” list for a long time is learn to surf. Ever since middle school I have wanted to be a ‘surfer’ but I had never even touched a surfboard. A couple years ago I went to Hawaii to visit a friend who moved there. Besides the fact that it was the most FANTASTIC vacation I had ever been on, I got my very first chance to try out surfing. More on Hawaii later… fast-forward a couple years, now I live in Florida. I’ve driven to the coast a couple of times and had the opportunity to rent a board to try out my skills.

Like anything, the more you do it the better you get. Using my logic meant that I needed to own a surfboard so I could go more often. I happened upon a surfboard without even looking for it. I found it in Costco of all places. An 8-foot foam board. Foam boards are a better beginner board for a couple of reasons: reason one and most important to me, they are cheaper! They are also softer when you land on them, you know if you happen to fall trying to learn to surf, that probably happens... Less upkeep as well, no waxing, no worrying about cracked fiberglass.

I looked at it a couple times before I actually bought it. I actually ran into a surfer in the store and told him about my background and how I wanted to learn. He told me “you need this board” and proceeded to put in into my shopping cart. Convinced by the “pro” surfer I clearly met at Costco, I took it to the beach the next day. I’ve got a long way to go, but I am on the right track now. At least I have actually touched and even SURFED on a board (I caught a couple of decent waves when I was in Hawaii). This will be ongoing and wish I were closer to the coast so I could go more often. Luckily summer is coming and the board fits into the back of my car with ease. Now, I just need Costco to sell a houseboat and I will be all set!