When I went to Tampa last week, I didn’t take a bathing suit. (When she found out, my friend’s mom said I must be one of the only people in the world who will go on vacation to Florida and not bring a swimsuit.)
The reason I didn’t take a swimsuit is because I don’t own one.
Since I’ve worn a swimsuit so infrequently in the past 7-or-so years, I can tell you the times I actually remember putting one on. I know that I went to Myrtle Beach with a group of friends back in the summer of 2001, a few weeks before I had surgery on my back. I know I put on a swimsuit then.
A few years ago when I was living in California, my aunt and uncle had a pool in their backyard. One day when both of them were gone, I put my swimsuit on and got in (yes, during the 12 months I lived in California, I got in that pool exactly one time). I stayed in the water for a few minutes, and then got out.
When I did a closet-purge before moving back to Virginia in 2006, I got rid of the swimsuit. By that time it was well over five years old and my body shape had changed – so it no longer fit properly anyway.
There are two factors involved: 1) My skin is pale and I don’t lay out in the sun to tan, so there’s no reason for me to go parading around with minimal clothes on; and 2) I don’t enjoy being in the water. In fact, I’ve never been able to swim all that well. (Since I haven’t even tried to swim in years, there’s a good possibility I wouldn’t remember anything I used to know. I could probably save myself from drowning by floating on my back, but I can’t make any promises.)
When I was a kid, I was able to propel myself from one end of a swimming pool to the other (complete with massive splashing, since I never learned proper technique), but I never went into the deep end and I never learned how to tread water.
At age (almost-)28, is it time I learned how to swim? It’s certainly not a pressing issue in my life right now since it’s easy for me to avoid getting in the water, but I think it’s something I’d like to be able to say I can do. Or at least it would be nice not to have to say in the future, “No, I can’t do such-and-such because I don’t know how to swim.”
22 Comments
I’m with you. I also have the old adage that “black folks don’t like to swim because we hate water”. I personally love the water but me in it; is an entirely different story!
I think one of my goals for this summer is to attempt to swim OR maybe I’ll put it on my 101 things to do in 1001 days list.
I say at least learn the basics. I was talking to someone earlier today how I have this insane fear of the ocean. Any place where I can’t put my feet down and touch a concrete surface unnerves me!
Swimming is a great skill to have, though I might be a little biased since I would live in the water if I could! I bet you could pick up the basic skills pretty quickly if you have a Y or some other pool facility that offers individual lessons (or have a friend who can teach you the basics of the freestyle).
I can teach you how to swim…I’ve taught people of all ages young and old! Just let me know
I know DC offers free classes (I took one!)…not sure about Alexandria but it might be worth checking out?
I am a horrible swimmer…look like I’m drowning half the time. But don’t worry, I won’t actually drown!
It’s kind of like being able to drive a manual, isn’t it? That, in case of an emergency thing. So, yes, I think you should learn. Then again, I can’t drive a stick shift.
Nicole: Exactly! It would be nice to know how to swim, “just in case.” And maybe I’ll discover it’s actually fun, too?
I already know how to drive a stick-shift, at least!
I used to love swimming, but now I’m pretty much uninterested in being wet. I do adore laying on the beach, though. I will only wear swimsuits around friends & strangers though–no family, coworkers, etc. It feels weird to me to be that uncovered!
Well, regardless of the swimming issue, I am in complete support of your avoiding the sun. Smart girl.
Contrary to government reports and advertizing sunlight is good for you! Small doses and morning sun, of course. We all need the Vitamin D. Avoiding the sun altogether is not good for you! When you do need sunscreen buy a natural product without all the harmful chemicals. Don’t put on your body that which you would not eat!
Also, do not be afraid of bathing suits. I feel self-conscious, too, until I see all the other bodies at the beach…
I like swimming for the skill. But a part of me is afraid of really deep water- when I was younger and took swimming lessons in an indoor pool I’d be afraid in the deep end because I thought there was sharks. So my goal right now is to go swimming with sharks or something to get over that fear.
I say, go buy a bathing suit and give swimming a try! It could be really great.
I would say it’s worth it to take a basic enough swimming class where you feel comfortable in the water. I think you could then at least enjoy maybe things like boating if that made you uncomfortable because of the water. Personal choice though. I adore the water and even though it requires me to wear a bathing suit (blech) and I’m not one of girls who looks like phoebe cates coming out of the pool, I won’t ever stop swimming. Oh, and I have terrible technique too, but I just tread water and I’m happy.
I can’t imagine not knowing how to swim, but then, I never learned how to ride a bike, so who am I to talk? You should see people bemoan my lost childhood when they hear that for the first time. I’d like to know, but I have no motivation to learn (and most likely hurt myself). I’d prefer to booted up with the information, like in “The Matrix.”
Oh, and I can’t drive a stick-shift, either.
I think you should learn how to swim for things like snorkeling. I enjoyed that so much when I visited Jamaica. I would have had to watch from the boat otherwise
Of course I love the pool! If you ever changed your mind about your bathing suit, swimming laps is a good way to get excerise. I hope to have one in my backyard one day…that will be safe place for you to enjoy the pool!
Zan,
I personally don’t wear “swimming trunks” here in Hawai’i. When I’m in the water, it’s for one of two reasons. Surfing or snorkeling. In both occassions, I wear board shorts and a rash guard. The rash gaurd is mainly meant for surfing, but I (and many other people) will also wear it snorkeling to keep from getting sun burned. However, you’re mother is right about the sun. Which is why I almost always surf and swim in the morning hours. Board shorts and rash gaurds come in women’s sizes and styles. You would not look out of place wearing them here. You can buy expensive ones at the surf and sea shops. Or you can buy inexpensive ones at Costco.
If you want to surf or see sea turtles up close and personal, I recommend you learn to swim first. Especially for surfing.
The waves are down all over the island today… After this discussion, I think I will be going snorkeling after work. Thanks for the idea!
Matthew
How about this…I’ll learn how to swim if you promise to learn how to swim as well.
im a terrible swimmer & not a huge fan of the water but swimming in the pool at my gym (ya know, attempting to swim correctly) is the most relaxing workout after a long sweaty workout. its just you & the water. you dont have to talk to anyone. its just you & your thoughts. for me, its the perfect end to a workout.
I’m of the firm belief it’s an important skill to learn. I say put it on your list of things to do this year and try it out.
YES you should learn how to swim. It is very good for you. And they make really good sunscreen nowadays.
I’m a decade-ish older than you and I still don’t know how to swim. I do know how to float and if the ship sank I could grab onto a piece of boat and kick my way back to the shore.
The upside to not wearing a bathing suit and worshipping the sun is that when you get to my age, you will have way less wrinkles and age spots. I too didn’t have a bathing suit in my 20’s and this is one reason why I look much younger than my counterparts. I stayed out of the sun.
I say put iy on your list of things you want to do before you die, but don’t worry about it now. Maybe someday when you move to Hawaii or something.:-) I grew up in Southern California about 30 minutes from Malibu and I’m still a pretty horrible swimmer. Like you, it’s just not a priority in my life and I feel vulnerable and naked in a swimsuit. Weird, I know.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown ambivelant toward water. I was a varsity swimmer in high school but after that I just never really enjoyed being in water. I bought a cute little bikini for our honeymoon, but never wore it because we honeymooned in MAINE where the water is freakin’ cold!! So we never went in.
Since then…my body has been changing so much in the last 7 years between having a baby & then trying to lose the weight and tone up… the suit I bought 2 years ago looks like crap on me. The only “water” I go in here in the desert is my mom’s hot tub. I bought a 1-piece from LL Bean, it’s functional, not sexy one bit! That’s ok, like you I’m very pale, so I don’t like to be out w/o coverage anyway.
I am 28 as well, and I never learned to swim either. This is mostly due to limited open water/pool exposure growing up. As a kid, when such opportunities arose, I passed them up for doing something else.
I do find it limiting sometimes. There are things I would like to try like snorkeling and possibly even diving. But I need to learn to swim first.
But you would be surprised how many activities you can do and get by with just a life jacket. I have been whitewater rafting through cat 5 rapids and it worked out great. It gets your adrenaline flowing even more!