The Sexy Unknown

I hate the ocean.

Well, technically, I am in awe of it and humbled every time I am near it, but I don’t like being in it. The logic is simple: I can’t breathe underwater, and everything else in there seems to be a better swimmer than me.

I find the ocean funny because we’ve discovered more of outer space than we have our own seas. I think that speaks to a deep human desire to run from our own depths and head toward the sexy unknown.

Staying in the physical terror of the sea for a moment: we don't know what’s at the bottom, but from what we do know, we don't trust it. The ocean is undefeated. It owns the majority of the real estate on this planet.

It would make sense to study it, to understand the ground we actually stand on, but have you seen a Lantern Fish? One look at those teeth and the bioluminescent lure tells you everything you need to know. We aren't exploring the depths because the depths are occupied by things that look like they were designed in a fever dream.

Inversely, an alien should be terrifying. But since we haven't ever actually seen one (except for every sitting U.S. President), we are allowed to hold onto a fun imagination. Space has more colors, more light, and most importantly, more potential.

If I am being honest, I am a ground-based human with height proclivities. Neither extreme is particularly appealing. The deep scares me because it’s limited and I’m ill-suited for the escape; space is so large it can be overwhelming.

I think the bigger fear isn't the destination—it’s the commitment to the study. It's easier to stare at a distant star and wonder "what if" than it is to dive into the dark and find out "what is."

Besides, no matter what, I’ll need sunscreen.

Word Count: ~335 words

Approximate Read Time: 1 minute, 40 seconds