The horizon seemed to stretch on for miles and the shore was already a spec in the distance leaving me, with the constant motion of waves, as my only companion. At times like these I begin to ponder the endless possibilities of the water, that every ocean no matter how deep encloses its own secret; that every coral reef at the bottom of the floor encloses its own secret; that every heart and mind in the thousands of fish that live there have their own secrets that are kept from humans. Then, the winter comes like death that freezes the ports and the ocean becomes inaccessible. I can no longer leave the real world and venture into the vast unknown. I can no longer recreate my own surroundings to please my thoughts and dreams as treasure pleases the greediest pirate. It was agreed that the days of sailing were to end just as quickly as they began by the forces of Mother Nature.  It was agreed that the ocean was to be left with mysteries unsolved and parts left unexplored. With every winter I am left to face the troubles back on land that I had tried so hard to avoid. A part of my soul is dead, a part of my mind is dead, and a part of my heart is dead. Theses secrets and troubles that everyone has kept from each other for so long begin to appear as the cold drags out the nasty in us all until the first flower of spring sprouts and I am allowed to escape once more to my heavenly ocean.