The author joined a group workout class because she loves swimming.
Courtesy of Rochelle Nataloni
I've always felt most at home in or around the water. Sometimes that meant swimming laps in a gym pool with waterproof headphones on and music in my ears. Other times, it looked like floating on a raft in my suburban New Jersey backyard pool on a summer afternoon, or splashing around in the ocean while the waves roll in.For several years, I swam almost every day at a local gym. I'd slide on my headphones, slip into the pool, and swim laps for an hour with nothing but music and the rhythm of my breathing.Then the gym abruptly closed. It genuinely broke my heart.I tried to replace it. I joined other gyms. But within a month or two, I'd always find some imperfection — crowded lanes, a cumbersome drive, an insect in the locker room, or an annoying overall vibe — and before long, I'd go less often, then not at all.But then I found a pool that helped me build community and accept aging.I found a pool that checked all my boxesA few months ago, in the dead of winter, I felt like my heart and soul were dehydrated. I knew I had to try again. This time, I made myself a promise: I would stop scrutinizing every detail. I'd find a pool and let it be "good enough."I Googled "gym pools near me." Almost as an afterthought, I added "water aerobics classes." I'd always avoided group classes before. I loved swimming because it felt like solitude and freedom. No schedules. No small talk. No group dynamics. And if I'm honest, I had stereotypes about the people who frequented these classes. I pictured conversations about whether chlorine would ruin someone's salon blowout, chitchat about where they bought their designer swimsuits, and self-deprecating remarks about not feeling "swimsuit ready."
