This winter has me thinking about moving...

[drbill]

I still believe in my college classmate Al Gore's "inconvenient truth" despite the weather we are getting here in "sunny" southern California (where it "never" rains). It seems this winter has been all about cold, overcast, rain and poor visibility. Add to that the fact that our economy is cold as well... few visitors coming over to dive Catalina since they have to shell out everything for gas and food at home, or sadly lost their homes to foreclosure.

It has been ages since I've dived so little (9 dives so far this month). Those who know me are aware that I have nerves of steel (or, more accurately, no nerves at all) and will readily dive down to 50 degrees in my hole-y (as opposed to holy) wetsuits. However, even I began to shiver on my last two dives at Bird Rock.

Let's see. I can rent my condo out for significantly more than my mortgage and taxes. That net income plus the interest on my meager savings would probably let me live in several tropical areas with warm weather and water. Hmmmm...

 

[dashark]

Sounds like a no-brainer. I have a feeling you will miss home after a while, though. I always do. You may ned to spend some time in hot, humid weather with even more rain to remind you that so cal has the best weather in the world.
The water does get cold, though....

 

[fppf]

Man, I would love 50 right about now.
Last dive was 37.

Time to get a dry suit.

 

[drbill]

I have spent a fair bit of time (2-3 months at a time) in the tropics. I don't mind the heat and humidity... as long as I'm diving it keeps my core temperature down. Besides, I'm a kelp forest ecologist so this is somewhat tongue-in-cheek.

 

[paradicio]

While I loved the tropical dives I've done, they all left me longing for our kelp forests...

But I know what you mean. I haven't been able to get a single dive in this month (not just the weather, I've had other obligations as well), which is not me at all...

Here's to hoping for a sunnier February?

 

[Damselfish]

well, didn't I hear they've discovered kelp forests in areas of the tropical Pacific? Just gotta deal the remote landlord thing...

 

[Teamcasa]

Bill, Why not slip on the drysuit? You did say you had one - right?

 

[BabyDuck]

well, here in nc it *never* rains. we're having a drought. so come on! soon it will be 100 degrees & 100% humidity, and no afternoon storms to bring the illusion of relief...

 

[vshearer]

I was reading Oran's thread on his "Adventure" and Almity's posts and it seems they have kelp of some sort in Sydney. And it is summer there. Most importantly water temp stays between 60-77F.

 

[drbill]

Dave, yes I have a dry suit (all it needs is a little patching) but that won't overcome the horrible vis lately. Heck, I was feeling like I was back in the mid 1960's in the quarries of the Midwest.

I just heard from the Catalina Express that they may not be running any more boats today, and possibly tomorrow. I'm going down to see if the 2:00 is on its way here... if it is, I'll catch the return at 3:45. I have a very important date tomorrow that I don't want to miss!

VShearer...the thought of 6 months here and 6 months in the southern hemisphere is very appealing!