Tides

The other day I mentioned that I'd worked for the better part of a tidal change with a footnote that tides change every six hours.  When you live on a dock the tides become part of your daily existence.  I guess you could compare it to being aware of the way the trees in your yard shadow your windows throughout the day.  When the tide is out the ramp up to the restroom/laundry/shower/parking lot is very steep

And then the tide comes back in and it's like a nice little bridge

If you're a boat, you've got your own issues with tides

But wait six hours and things work themselves out

It would be nice if six hours could solve all the world's problems, no?

So even though tides change every six hours, it's not like the arc of a pendulum.  

This is the tide table for our location.  Right now it's a few minutes before 9pm. So we're over there on the far left side of the chart.  We'll have another low tide around midnight.  I'll sleep through that. And then we'll have another high tide about the time Simon and I go for our walk around 6 am.  That'll be nice.

And then around noon we'll have a lowwwwww tide.  It'll be ten feet lower than it is right now. Alot like climbing a steep staircase without the steps.

Not a good time to be moving freight up or down the ramp. 

Ask Dave.

(Refer to May 13 & Frankenhand posts).

My favorite analogy for the tidal change compared it to a large bowl of water.  When you move it, the water sloshes from one side to the other.  That's kind of what's going on with the tides.  Okay, you have that whole lunar influence and such.  But I really like the sloshing in the bowl idea.

I also like that the changes aren't symmetrical.  I like it because it teaches me that symmetry and balance aren't the same thing.  The tides are certainly an example of balance, yet they vary all the time.  Meanwhile we've all known somebody along the way that HAD to have symmetry in everything, and I think we can all agree those folks aren't any where close to being in balance.

So tonight I wish you all balance and comfort as your tides come and go.