I guess I should stop lurking...

**cryptomancy** · 07-27-2013, 09:02 PM

Well, I've been lurking over here for a few days, reading all the awesome threads and seeing everyone's beautiful pictures, so I suppose it's only polite to actually introduce myself...

I have been obsessed with mermaids pretty much my entire life, I literally can't remember a time when I wasn't completely enthralled by them! I saw the performing mermaids at the aquarium a few years ago and wished I had a tail but I never even considered that people who didn't work for the aquarium could buy them.

Anyway, after finding this awesome community, I've decided to add swimming to my workout regimen and I'm going to start slow, just buy a monofin and learn how to swim in it before I spend all the money on a tail. I'm curious, those of you who don't have pools in your backyard or somesuch, where do you practice mermaiding? Just at the local pool? I live in Colorado so there isn't a whole lot of natural water around here, but at the pool I think I would be sort of simultaneously intimidated and inspired by the attention it would get, so I'm not sure how I feel about that!

Anyway, nice to meet you all! So excited to learn more about the wonderful World Aquatic!

**Echinacea** · 07-27-2013, 10:07 PM

Welcome! I'm a new lurker, too! Just joined a few days ago, and have been reading and reading and reading! And admiring pictures, and thinking about tails, and all that sort of thing!

**Mermaid Allie** · 07-27-2013, 10:11 PM

Welcome! And yes public pools are an excellent option and monofins aren't too unusual at all! I have gotten a LOT of stares (but mostly good ones) in my tail, but none in my monofin. Check out the monofins thread to find one in your budget and your experience level. Happy swimming!

**Echidna** · 07-28-2013, 01:11 AM

^^What Allie said!

I'd love to have swimmable natural water nearby, alas, there's only the pool, and it's quite a drive too.
Sometimes it's really full though, so it's quite difficult to swim underwater without being thrashed soundly by people frog-kicking and the like above you :/
but still better than not to swim at all.
And monofins usually don't draw much attention. If someone starts asking stupid questions, just say you're a freediver

**Miyu** · 07-28-2013, 03:47 PM

There you are! Hi, Cryptomancy! *waves* glad to see you jumped in

There's quite a few mers in CO, actually, I think a lot of them go to pools. Try checking out pools in hotels, I've heard some talk about managers letting you come swim there, sometimes for a fee? But it's a lot less crowded than a public pool.

I didn't even realize people used mermaid tails outside of movies -_-; then I saw a bit on TV about the Mertailor, and it still took a while for me to realize that a lot of other people wear tails, and not just his :P

YAAAY I'm so happy you're on Mernetwork now, I feel like I know someone LOL!

**cryptomancy** · 07-28-2013, 04:35 PM

1. OMG thank you all so much for being so nice and welcoming!!!
2. Hellooooooo Moonlight <3
3. Yeah I am not super worried about swimming in a monofin I was just curious about where to go in a full tail but honestly I think once I get to the point where I'm ready to get a full tail I will probably not be so uncomfortable with the attention anyway ^^ Thank you all so much for your words of wisdom!!!

**Mermaid Veruliya** · 07-28-2013, 04:50 PM

I agree about the strange stares I will get! I will be hopefully swimming in a college gyms pool, so I'm worried of people thinking I'm weird or something. But as an artist I will put blood and tears into my work and I will be damn proud either way!

**Mermaid Varshana** · 07-28-2013, 04:52 PM

Weird is good. Fly that freak flag high. Plus, you're pretty, so they won't think you're too weird.

**Mermaid Veruliya** · 07-28-2013, 04:55 PM

Freak flag sky high captain! And thank you omg you're so nice, but pretty washes away after a few minutes ;P which makes me want to start some new research on mermaid appropriate makeup! Bazinggggg

**Mermaid Varshana** · 07-28-2013, 04:57 PM

Covergirl water resistant eyeliner works well for me!

**Mermaid Veruliya** · 07-28-2013, 04:58 PM

Fabulous! 👌

**cryptomancy** · 07-28-2013, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by MermaidKeri

I agree about the strange stares I will get! I will be hopefully swimming in a college gyms pool, so I'm worried of people thinking I'm weird or something. But as an artist I will put blood and tears into my work and I will be damn proud either way!

I'm going to be swimming in my college gym's pool as well ^^ And ditto what Varshana said, you are pretty so you'll get more positive attention than negative I think

I personally need to get to the point where I have the confidence level that I don't get uncomfortable from like, any attention at all but that is definitely half the battle. That is why I'm thinking I want to get started with the monofin first until I get my dolphin kick down, then make myself the tail of my dreams!!! But also I know that while your work makes you proud of your artwork it can also make it that much more scary to get out and show people what you've made...I'm sure you will totally blow people away and anyway I think art students are supposed to be weird so you're totally fine there

**Mermaid Veruliya** · 07-28-2013, 05:15 PM

Haha wow! You're too kind, I hope my tail will live up to expectation!

yes I agree, we artsy folk are some of the weirdest but it makes us mysterious

I haven't dolphin swam since my old tail fell apart about four years ago, so it should be interesting to see... Also I have a hard time about snorting water up my nose, so I will be embarrassing myself I feel like! I want a nose plug, but I wish there were invisible ones

**Sea Pearl** · 07-28-2013, 10:23 PM

Welcome to Mernetwork! I just moved away from Colorado and I wish there had been more natural water spots there. I swim at a swimming pool that allows monofins and tails.