Let’s say, for argument’s sake, you are taking a winter walk with your significant other on an above average January Sunday afternoon along the sidewalks of Galilee’s Salty Brine State Beach. The normally crowded beach area has just a few couples and families scattered throughout the beach area, which stretches down to a jetty at Wheeler State Beach. In your nearly 45 minutes of walking the beach and gazing out into the ocean, just one lobster boat was observed. Later, you saw it pass through the canal that parts the small beach towns of Galilee and Jerusalem. A few cars have parked and stayed in the lot adjacent to George’s of Galilee restaurant, with many staying in their cars to just observe the beautiful scenery in the comfort of their car seats. To sum up, Salty Brine Beach and the surrounding areas were pretty quiet on an above average January Sunday afternoon. Quiet enough that you and your significant other could potentially carry out a rather daunting task…

Now let’s continue to say, for argument’s sake, you and your significant other find a small amount of shelter from the wind coming off the water in a covered structure which overlooks the rocks and water and canal where the lobster boat passed through. As the lobster boat’s engines cut power in the canal, a series of waves ripple towards the rocks below. There in the water, you and your significant other observe a shiny object that is caught up in the seaweed seemingly glued to the rocks. You hadn’t noticed it nor would you have noticed it if not for the wake of the lobster boat. The waves lifted up the seaweed to the surface of the water to expose what appears to be a shiny ring. With each wave hitting the rocks, the seaweed folds and unfolds from the rock to expose the ring. You both see it and then the discussion begins. How far would you go for a shiny ring?

Here are a few factors to consider in the spirit of this discussion. The water temperature at Narragansett Beach yesterday was recorded at 43°, which is incredibly cold and dangerous to be swimming around and exploring in. The air temperature where the ring was lodged into the seaweed was about 50° or so with a moderate wind chill dropping the feel like temps to closer to the water temperature. You and your significant other have no sticks, no fishing rods, and no pinchy grabby things that are handy in the house to simply just fish into the water to get the ring. The seaweed covering the rocks in front of the rock with the ring is very slippery and dangerous. I know from experience that these rocks, even on a dry and warm sunny day, can cause a lot of ankle soreness if you slip on them. And another point about the rocks, you don’t really know how deep the water is. It only appears to be shallow from your vantage point in the elevated landing you are staring down from. If you were to walk down on the dry rocks, then slip on the seaweed covered rocks getting to the seaweed rock with the shiny ring, you could fall into a very dangerous 43° body of water that could be hundreds of feet deep on a chilly day in Galilee. Just saying for argument’s sake.

And for argument’s sake, what if the seaweed with the shiny ring folds back onto the rock well below the surface. The wake of the lobster boat was generous in helping it unfold up to the surface of the water so you and your significant other could observe it. No more boats around now and none on the horizon or looking like they are leaving the harbor anytime soon. So, if you do make it down the dry rocks and navigate over to a solid footing amongst the slippery seaweed covered rocks below, would you remove your warm jacket or sweatshirt, roll up your sleeve and reach down into the cold water and hope for the best? Would you try and grab at the seaweed to pull it out of the water and with it, the shiny ring? What if the seaweed were to break off in your hands and the shiny ring was dislodged and floated into the unknown depths of the canal? Would you take that chance, just to get a shiny ring?

How Far Would You Go For A Shiny Ring?