Working in paradise

Many years ago I travelled from Ohio to attend a winter meeting in San Diego. I still remember sitting in a conference room that overlooked the ocean, trying to learn about electroporation. For those of you that have not been so fortunate to be tutored on electroporation it is usually used in molecular biology as a way of introducing some substance into a cell, such as loading it with a molecular probe, a drug that can change the cell's function, or a piece of coding DNA. ^{( as you can tell I consulted my friend Wikipedia to give you the correct info).}

The session was extremely painful to me as I had come from cold, grey rain or snow and was looking at warm weather, blue skies, beautiful crashing surf and I was stuck in a room listening to someone who knew more about this boring subject than you would ever care to hear. I had a conversation with my sister (who has almost always lived in the San Diego area) around the idea that I could not live in such a wonderful climate because I would never want to work. She claimed that you could work because you knew that the beautiful day would be repeated again and a. gain and you would enjoy it on your free day. Still I returned to Ohio and worked my little heart out.

So today as I made beds, swept floors and cleaned bathrooms I heard on the 2 way radio info from the dive boat or the glass bottom boat that there were whales, turtles, dolphins and mantas all around them. I went on with my work knowing that it would be there for me when I was free. Sure enough at lunch I watched whales breach just beyond the shore break and donned my snorkel gear as soon as work was over to see 2 green turtles, lots of interesting fish and more whales. I think Tina was right.

The work is exhausting and I hope this old body is up for it. It is great that most guests are quite happy with their experience and the kids are rapt with their sightings and encounters. I spoke to a family at lunch where a 8 yr old girl told me she had touched a turtle while snorkelling. Her mother added, "where we come from you can't touch anything". I ask her where that was and she said California. I told her, this is Australia you can touch everything but be careful, some of it will kill you. Another family returned to their room and they had asked via a card for a bed to be made up. They left a $2 coin and I told them (after hearing the American accent), this is Australia you do not need to tip for anything.

Another day in paradise and no complaints from me.
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