Page 28 - The Bulletin Fall 2020

Reflections (continued)
Dipping my hand into the lush seagrass, I pull up a sea urchin. Its vibrant purple spines slowly undulate back and forth in search of the closest empty shell it can use as a hat to camouflage.
Making my way back to shore, I am joined by a “gulp” of cor- morants with brilliant blue eyes and their ferociously-curved beaks. They snake their way under my kayak with ease, searching for pinfish that get rustled up from my paddling.
If there is a “happy place,” this is it for me.
I spent most of my life growing up wishing I lived anywhere else. Call it wanderlust, being ungrateful, or being a teenager, but I couldn’t wait to get out of Tampa. Now, it’s a very different story. I have found the pastimes I enjoy, showing me the idyllic side of Tampa Bay. I am lucky enough that I get to work and play in Tam- pa Bay every day and there is no chance that I will tire of spending my time in its pleasant, serene waters.
Samantha is an Environmental Educator at Tampa Bay Watch. Tampa Bay Watch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Tampa Bay estuary through scientific and educational programs.
Photo courtesy of Jordan Findley, Tampa Bay Watch.
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HCMA BULLETIN, Vol 66, No. 2 – Fall 2020