For me, spring officially starts when I am able to swim in open water.
I am happy to report it began this year on March 23 when I spent an hour in the Chesapeake Bay off of North Point State Park.
Getting back into open water is also such a great relief as my time out there below the sky and far from shore is special spiritual solitary time spent outside the laws of gravity and in the natural world that usually only lasts between April and October.
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I turned 65 last week and it is gratifying to know I can still handle chilly water, currents, tides and waves; and I appreciate how lucky I am to have clean enough water to swim in as well.
Included is a single image my partner took from the beach as I finished my swim this past Friday afternoon.