topsider
02-11-2014, 04:23 PM
Hi, topsider here. Not so much a name as it is a description of where you'll find air breathers like me.
Short Version:
I was introduced to the mer fantasy genre when I watched Splash and the Little Mermaid back in the 80's (though I hadn't given it much thought since then). I spent my twenties in the Navy, and as every good sailors know, mermaids and other sea creatures/monsters are out there, beautiful and dangerous. I've always loved the water and over the years have gained a love of swimming (especially with monofins). I've felt the ocean calling ever since I left the Navy and moved inland.
I found out about mernetwork through a Google search for Lunocet monofins.
Long version:
When I went to college (Go Wolfpack), I struggled with shin splits from running, so I took up recreational swimming to stay in shape. Swimming not only kept me fit, but I also found that it brought peace to my otherwise stressed and anxious mind. The Navy was one of the best, and yet most stressful times of my life. I could rarely make it to a pool, but when I did, swimming helped melt the stress and anxiety.
I purchased my first monofin around my junior year in college 2002/2003, a Finis Rapid. I figured it'd be a good way to get a better core and leg workout when swimming; and while it did, I couldn't find a rhythm in the 25 yard lap lanes that I had available, so it was relegated to use as a lake/ocean toy. A decade later the years of occasional use cracked the fin to the point that it was nearly useless. I looked for others and ended up buying a yellow Rapid that didn't seem as stiff, and then tried another black one that had its own issues.
Owning three monofins, my girlfriend at the time (fiance now) would joke about me being a mermaid. I don't mind being thought of as a mer-type person; I can't swim with a monofin and not occasionally let my mind drift to being a dolphin or merman. I do however get offended when people assume or imply it is some sort of cross-dressing fantasy. My offense probably made the joke funnier to her. Anyway, I never could seem to enjoy the new Rapid monofins; they didn't seem to work as well as the first one I'd bought.
Last fall I sold the three fins to one guy in Cary, NC. I was quite surprised to find out that he was going to cut them up for use as mermaid tails. I had no idea that such people existed at the time and was given an "I told you they were mermaid tails" from my girlfriend when I relayed the story to her. Anyway, not willing to give up on the monofin thing quite yet, I kept an eye out for one of Ted Ciamillo's Lunocet's to go on sale/craigslsit/ebay, etc.
Finally just after Thanksgiving he dropped the price of the new model and it happened to coincide with a bonus I'd just received. I ordered one right away. Then waited, and waited, and waited until mid January to receive it. I was promised it would ship three different times. In frustration, I searched Google for reviews hoping to see that at least something was actually being produced and sold and it wasn't just a scam. In all that searching, I ran across mernetwork. I was again quite surprised that there was such a large community of people who make wearing a fish tail one of their hobbies, and while I likely won't be putting on a tail anytime soon, I'll say that I am at least intrigued.
Short Version:
I was introduced to the mer fantasy genre when I watched Splash and the Little Mermaid back in the 80's (though I hadn't given it much thought since then). I spent my twenties in the Navy, and as every good sailors know, mermaids and other sea creatures/monsters are out there, beautiful and dangerous. I've always loved the water and over the years have gained a love of swimming (especially with monofins). I've felt the ocean calling ever since I left the Navy and moved inland.
I found out about mernetwork through a Google search for Lunocet monofins.
Long version:
When I went to college (Go Wolfpack), I struggled with shin splits from running, so I took up recreational swimming to stay in shape. Swimming not only kept me fit, but I also found that it brought peace to my otherwise stressed and anxious mind. The Navy was one of the best, and yet most stressful times of my life. I could rarely make it to a pool, but when I did, swimming helped melt the stress and anxiety.
I purchased my first monofin around my junior year in college 2002/2003, a Finis Rapid. I figured it'd be a good way to get a better core and leg workout when swimming; and while it did, I couldn't find a rhythm in the 25 yard lap lanes that I had available, so it was relegated to use as a lake/ocean toy. A decade later the years of occasional use cracked the fin to the point that it was nearly useless. I looked for others and ended up buying a yellow Rapid that didn't seem as stiff, and then tried another black one that had its own issues.
Owning three monofins, my girlfriend at the time (fiance now) would joke about me being a mermaid. I don't mind being thought of as a mer-type person; I can't swim with a monofin and not occasionally let my mind drift to being a dolphin or merman. I do however get offended when people assume or imply it is some sort of cross-dressing fantasy. My offense probably made the joke funnier to her. Anyway, I never could seem to enjoy the new Rapid monofins; they didn't seem to work as well as the first one I'd bought.
Last fall I sold the three fins to one guy in Cary, NC. I was quite surprised to find out that he was going to cut them up for use as mermaid tails. I had no idea that such people existed at the time and was given an "I told you they were mermaid tails" from my girlfriend when I relayed the story to her. Anyway, not willing to give up on the monofin thing quite yet, I kept an eye out for one of Ted Ciamillo's Lunocet's to go on sale/craigslsit/ebay, etc.
Finally just after Thanksgiving he dropped the price of the new model and it happened to coincide with a bonus I'd just received. I ordered one right away. Then waited, and waited, and waited until mid January to receive it. I was promised it would ship three different times. In frustration, I searched Google for reviews hoping to see that at least something was actually being produced and sold and it wasn't just a scam. In all that searching, I ran across mernetwork. I was again quite surprised that there was such a large community of people who make wearing a fish tail one of their hobbies, and while I likely won't be putting on a tail anytime soon, I'll say that I am at least intrigued.