If bikes were the last year’s best purchase, this year it’s swimming goggles. 25 dollars in Decathlon. A medium-price item. A commitment to finally find time to go swimming regularly. More than that, a gesture towards a desired future. They are really nice goggles too. They don’t fog and stay well in place and thanks to them I can keep my eyes open in water: see that impossible blue, air bubbles in front of my face and a long black line. All of that together is embodiment of pure bliss.

I went for adult swim hour at the pool – the only time one can actually swim there (though some try during the family hours too, unsuccessfully). Since it was my first time, I didn’t know what to expect. Will there be many people? No one? It turned out, we were just enough. Not too many, but still numerous enough to have to share swimming lanes. I found something surprising – turned out I didn’t mind sharing the pool after all. I’ve grown fond of the communities of strangers: people who may have nothing in common except for their love of some shared activity or interest. I love how we share space with each other, the recognition without doing too much. I see you, I salute you, then we proceed in peace. We respect each other’s solitude. Turns out, I like swimming in the company of strangers. Alone but together.