Resilience,resourceful,….ingenious, capable, full of initiative, able to act effectively or imaginatively, especially in difficult situations, having inner resources…from mr Google , Thesaurus, Webster dictionary, Collins dictionary
Sitting at the table after tea one night I was chatting with my husband about his young days when he went skin diving (snorkelling)and spear fishing. As I can’t snorkel, not even in shallow water it was a scary thought for me as an adult imagining him starting as a thirteen year old going out into those waves, that unknown. The age in between our two eldest grandsons.
Now, I would be having heart attacks thinking of our two going off and doing the same….I think in a way his mother felt the same, but boys need to let off steam.
Probably, or I’d say because they lived by the beach in Adelaide, their activities focused on and were based around water. Over the years their diving activities stretched from Outer Harbour through Largs, Semaphore and lots of spots in between which at time was undeveloped,rough and scrubby beaches and headlands.
Later when hubby was older and cars were part of the picture they went further along the coast line of South Australia.They were days or weekends of healthy extending yourself adventurous fun. Activities which required only a fit and healthy body, a swimming buddy for safety, some spare time. A sleeping bag for overnight, a jar of honey providing extra energy for constant swimming and snorkelling and a tin of baked beans and a loaf of bread.
Initially, they were days before neoprene wet suits so they had to improvise. There was no money for those extra curricular activities. They made their own activities. They improvised and kept themselves out of trouble.
During the younger years there were sand forts to be built and tunnels in the sand (scary), clubs to be started and cockles to be collected and sold. Fishing lures to be found around the jetties underwater having being snagged and lost by fishermen and then sold back to fishermen :). Swimming out in the big shipping channel (crazy) and swimming in the warm water which came out from the power station (again crazy)
…and what did they wear when it was cold when they couldn’t afford wetsuits. Wetsuits were for the professionals. Well they copied what all the others were doing. Find a woollen jumper or two from the Op Shop and wear that for insulation. The jumpers started off huge and over time in the sea water they shrunk and shrunk some more till they were way too short in body and arms. Think midriff and short sleeves…so off to find some more.
Actually when you think of the resistance of swimming with jumpers on they must have been very good swimmers!
It was another world under water. You had to be ever so vigilant and aware of many things, yet it was serene.
Then came the years like when Rodney Fox was mauled by a white pointer shark. In colder, deeper waters near Port Lincoln.
During these later years of skin diving, my husband and others also wore old woollen jumpers under the wetsuits for extra insulation. Their suits were not form-fitting like now….the tighter the fit the more insulated…or that is how I understand it.
So what were these young men?
Resourceful
Ingenious
Practical
Thrifty
When needs must we rise to occasion,
When needs must we rise to life challenges
I Googled the above phrases and got such a vast array of topics all dealing with the many aspects of life, some sad and some very lofty, yet what my husband and many other youth in that era did was so very simple.
Yet as the years roll on, fifty some, we still find ways to make the most of what is available and enjoy them in the process. Not fearless fun like the youthful years yet enjoyable and refreshing all the same.
New mind sets
New happenings
New adventures
New Pensioners:)
More to come on new pensioner happenings and impressions.
Do you have any simple memories and wonder how you ever managed…it was sink or swim for my dear hubby’s first swimming lesson in the Port River!
Do you look back in awe, even with a sigh at what was?
Life does not stand still. Ever.
Joining in with Essentially Jess today this beautiful blue sky Tuesday
Also with Serving Joyfully for Thankful Thursday
You can also find me and Like Me -
on Facebook…. Alexa a Simple Life
The adventurous spirit is a wonderful thing. My heart races at the thought of diving in the deep ocean, but for many it’s simple fun. I love the photos. I would also love to be fearless.
I’d love to be fearless in the ocean too like my hubby was and is to a degree. Wiser in his wise years:)
You take on more risks when you’re younger and you don’t think of the consequences. I found this post so interesting Alexa. Your writing is so poetic.
Thanks for visiting Bec and your recent comments….yes when we were young we felt invincible. It was something hubby and I were chatting about recently as we looked at old photos…we looked like kids:)
I have a lot of respect for those that have paved the way, they really did do the hard yards! Great photos!
I agree , I don’t have an adventurous spirit – I am safe, always wanting to be safe. I cannot imagine how the early explorers trusted their intuition and navigational skills to traverse the vast oceans.
My kids need to learn more water confidence because in Port Lincoln, all we want o do is be around the water. I think it will scare me a little, but not if they have the right skills. Boatman gee up that way and he’s ok.