The ocean as workplace and playground

I really appreciate that, as marine ecologist, the ocean is both my workplace and my playground. As a collaborator once said, “my wetsuit is my business suit.” I was recently interviewed for a little blurb in an all-female issue of White Horses surf magazine by the very talented surfer and writer Alicia Trout of Tumble and Hoot and photographed by Leonie Blignaut, an amazing fellow surfing mama. When asked what the ocean means to me, there were so many things that came to mind…everything from passion to fear to adventure to comfort. I work there. I play there. I teach my children there. And then it occurred to me: nearly every aspect of my life is somehow intertwined with the ocean. For this I am extremely grateful.