I recently returned from a lake vacation. There was no cell phone coverage, no internet access, no Netflix, and no work to be done. There was only the peacefulness of the lake and the company of friends to be savored.
A favorite passtime during getaways at the lake is "going for a float". It is the simple joy of suspending yourself in the water by some preferred means, drink in hand if you so choose (or weather requires), and talking about nothing. Or everything. Or not talking at all (recommended during Dusk Float). While The Float can be a social activity (or rather inactivity), it is also a very personal pursuit, and each participant respects the individual needs of his fellow floaters. If you happen to be a Lone Floater, you need only to make sure your mental meanderings don't put you physically adrift, i.e. into shallow muck or boat traffic. And for the love of god tie yourself to the dock if you have a drinking problem.
There are only three Rules of Float Etiquette that currently come to mind:
1) if you leave the water and reenter, it is considered discourtious to cannonball back into the mix
2) be careful not to spill, drink dry, or contaminate your Fellow Floaters' beverage. In the event one of these emergencies should occur, it is your responsibility to get out and replace it (see Rule #1).
3) ALWAYS paddle away when you feel the need to relieve yourself. Warm currents should not be suspect.
The actual methods of achieving Ultimate Bouyancy are varied. Some people are just 'noodle people'. They can't get enough of the styrofoam wraparound and demonstrate their playful inventiveness by entertwining noodles and bodyparts. (Male tip: using the noodle as a light saber in an imaginary swordfight on the dock will not make you more attractive to women.) Some people prefer the 'lifejacket diaper', that is, putting a lifejacket on upside down, legs through the armholes, and sitting on it. (Sub-Rule #3.1 - try not to relieve yourself directly on a borrowed lifejacket). Some people use their own god-given girth, flip onto their backs, and stare at the sky. There are the beloved Water Wings, which, unless you are Kelly Ripa, present unfortunate weight limit and armhole size constraints (I've tested this). Finally, there is the 'ski belt', circa 1970, which looks like an actual spare tire. This is the recommended method if you have enough foresight and self-awareness to know you will be getting in and out of the water frequently to reload the beer koozie. Speaking of which, it may in fact be possible to string together your entire koozie collection and make a custom version of the 1970s ski belt. (Liability note: Please do not test this theory if you are unable to swim.)
Today I was reflecting on the vacation and realized that, out of six days of floating, I only used a floatation device once. When it was time to go into the water, I mostly chose to kick around. If you have ever tried it, you know that it is exhausting to hover in the water for an extended period, trying to stay in place and hold a conversation. Hence the obvious preference to find some object to do the work for you so that you can relax and enjoy. Maybe I just thought I would take the opportunity to get some exercise in the midst of the lazy vacation. Maybe I wanted to make it all more challenging. Maybe I wasn't feeling particularly social and needed to be on the move? I honestly don't know the reason.
Purposeful refusal of a floatation device seems in hindsight like classic stupidity. There are plenty of times in life when no floatation is available, so why, when the options are plentiful, would one say No?
In fact, I may have gotten the whole question wrong.
Instead of asking myself "do I want a life preserver or not?", I should have been asking myself "what exactly preserves my life?". In other words, what is it in life that keeps me afloat, keeps me relaxed, engaged in conversation or my own thoughts, and feeling refreshed instead of tired? In this context, I think it is still accurate to say that every person is different in what they choose for bouyancy. Everyone has something in life that they cling to which keeps their head above water. Something that so naturally jives with their specific makeup, it allows them to just be and enjoy without unnecessarily expending so much energy.
The fact that I was out there kicking around, worn out, getting the occasional noseful of lakewater, thinking it will be good for me, is, well, telling.
I am going to spend some time this month thinking about my Ultimate Bouyancy, what I would draw into my core to allow me to be joyously suspended in life, so that I can more effortlessly commune with my surroundings.
