Diving Back In

Speiker Pool

So I just went for a swim during my lunch hour. Outside. In the middle of the winter. Outside. This was a first for me, hailing from the East Coast where the outdoor pools are drained and closed from Labor Day to Memorial Day, and the indoor pools are still freezing because the mean winter temperatures find a way to seep through the cracks of the walls making swimming during December the absolute worst. But alas - there I was, swimming outside, in December, and I was in my element.

I swam in college and since graduating have taken a break from the pool, so this was my first time back in a while and man it felt good. I just was feeling the water and soaking up the scene. I went to Spieker Pool in Rec Sports on Bancroft Way because it was close to my office and based on the picture online, I thought it was indoors and it seemed cold out this morning. (I am ashamed to be saying this having 23 New England winters under my belt but I swear I’ve acclimated fast!) As I was looking up lap swim hours, I realized that I had FOUR pools to choose from. I settled with the 18-laner but my lane buddy gave me the lowdown of the other options. Now I am very loyal to my alma mater, but WOW it’s pretty cool to have more options than the small, shallow, old, indoor 8 lane pool I trained in. CAL gets the win on this one.   

I found myself having a real “soul moment.” (That’s what my friends and I call one of those moments that hits you every so often where you find yourself truly relaxed and happy, reflective and peaceful. Maybe it’s cheesy but try to think of a time when you’ve felt those feelings and I bet it’ll make you smile.) I was just thinking how crazy it was that I was in California, at UC Berkeley, swimming, outside, in December. A year ago I never would have thought. I must have looked like a weirdo or something because the older man I was sharing my lane with stopped and asked me if everything was alright. Maybe I gave him too enthusiastic an answer because after I started talking about how cool it is to be here, he kindly said: “Well I’m going to go now,” and he disappeared under water and pushed off the wall. I forgot shampoo and a comb so as I sit here in my cube with a giant knot in my chlorine-smelling hair, I am hoping that my cube mates don’t avoid me because I smell like pool. Flashback to high school. I think I got a little tan too. Need that tan so when I go home to the East Coast for Christmas my family won’t be able to tell me I was wrong when I bragged that I would be living it up in 80 degree weather all year round and and I chose to ignore their warning that I was wrong.

Anyway. I have the 30 day free trial staff membership to thank for this experience. It’s been pretty sweet because I am getting to try out all the perks that come with a REC membership. It is definitely worth it for me. I think I am going to do the year membership after the holidays. My next challenge is to pull together my coworkers to form a Spring Intramural Team. Going to be challenging. Stay tuned...