SHOWING UP vs BEING PRESENT

Showing up means being present?

Not today.

It means being ready, being there, right there, right where you planned on being.

Is that where you are? Right now? If not, why not?

An old saying goes that if you have to tie your dog up to keep it from running away, it might not be your dog.

It’s not fit for every occasion, but I like it and see where it fits without pointing it out.

If you like old sayings, here’s another one: Everyone is different.

How different is the question.

Be different if you’re different, try something different than the usual if you have adventure in your heart.

But, what if you’re a sea turtle?

You Are Not A Sea Turtle

Relying on instinct built over thousands of years, sea turtles climb out of the ocean to the beach.

Even if you identify as a sea turtle, you’re still flying in.

They’re showing up for you, you show up for them.

Take a good look. They are about as lively in real life as a picture.

You won’t be the first to want to give them a pat on the head, which is the reason for traffic cones.

Turtles on a Hawaiian beach? Check. Live turtles.

Showing Up For A Snorkel Swim

If you come from cold ocean experience, or none at all, rest easy.

You won’t turn blue from the cold in Hawaii like you would in Oregon.

Swimming with turtles is a life long dream?

Not mine.

Swimming in three feet of water the looks like a well stocked aquarium?

I’m ready.

What To Expect Under The Sea

This is the fish’s eye view when they see me.

I look like a walleye?

From the other direction I saw the most fish I’d seen since a summer sliming salmon at Hallmarks.

From tiny, to small, to football sized, in all colors of the rainbow, I first thought they were sun reflections.

My second thought was there were enough fish for a feeding frenzy.

Shark? No, no sharks, just the quiet amazement of life under the seas.

The rocks were alive with urchins and other creatures when an eel slithered out.

Eel alert? Eel alarm?

It wasn’t headed my way, but I kept an eye on it just in case it had a change of eel mind.

Which Hawaii Is Most Promising?

Big city Hawaii has six lane freeways both directions.

And they still jam.

Resort Hawaii?

Resorts have much in common no matter where they are.

Golf course? Food geared for resort people? Manicured grounds?

You can find it all in California and Arizona and skip Hawaii.

Little Grass Shack Hawaii?

I found a place across the street from Baby Beach.

My wife will say she found it, because she did, but I’m showing up ready to roll.

Together we put on the gear and stuck our heads underwater.

It was quiet, colorful, and swarming.

The closest I’d been to this was looking at the aquarium in my local McMenamins.

Instead of packing up and driving, unpacking and setting up a beach pad, then doing it all in reverse, we’re a minute walk down the street to access stairs.

Is there a problem with short term rentals?

The big picture says yes. Investors want their investment in hotels protected.

Book a room, rent a car, fly in and drive around.

Or?

Showing Up For The Turtles

It doesn’t take much to interact with a turtle.

You see it, it doesn’t see you, and you’re both good.

That any sea creature would pull up is amazing enough.

They show up to be left alone.

What are you showing up for?