As a family, our tight quarters of 300 square feet seems to get smaller by the day. With the small space, comes frustration and petty arguments that don’t take us anywhere but a walk.

The day before Thanksgiving, Daniel and I got into an argument because Luca was destroying the place and we felt like everything was cluttered. Of course, it was the other persons fault.

Now, in Florida Keys, lobstering is different from throwing out a net. It takes some skill. I got my fishing license, a dive flag, a tickle stick, a net on a stick, measure stick, and my snorkel gear. Loaded with all my necessities, I headed to the waterfront of our campground where there is a swimming area adjacent to a sign that says Crocodiles are common here.

Great… Donning my gear, I sit on the handy side ladder to access the water. Just then I see a nurse shark (formally called nerf shark in my book, but my husband corrected me) swim towards some snorkelers…

Coming from the land of cornfields, obviously water creatures are not in my book of knowledge. I freeze.

Think. Think. Think.

Is it dangerous?

Warning the others, I state “I’m not sure it’s dangerous BUT hey, there is a shark heading towards you…”

Lord help us all.

I guess it wasn’t dangerous because we all got in anyways. Onlookers said it wasn’t dangerous so it makes it true, right?

Just kidding, I just wasn’t going to load all my stuff up to head back without at least a little snorkeling.

I hop in apprehensively. Warm up after a bit. I start searching the walls of rock for lobster.

I find several. Quicker than I ever imagined.

The objective is to use your “tickle stick” to scrape under the rock and pull them out, then turn them around to get them to back up into your net.

There is so much gear to manage, meanwhile, I’m not the most proficient snorkeler… It took some getting used to.

Along I go, scraping and poking when I see this grey smooth texture.

Hmmm… must be a stingray, I think.

ALERT. ALERT. ALERT. THAT’S A SHARK.

I almost just tickled a shark with my tickle stick! He’s just sitting beneath the ledge of this wall, sleeping.

I back up slowly and start heading the opposite direction, meanwhile chanting in my head.. “it’s not dangerous.”

Slowing my heart rate, I get back to work, scrape. poke. scrape.

AHHHHHH Shark #2.

Lord help me. Opposite direction I go.

At least I didn’t almost tickle that one…

After at least 4 hours, I caught one. Standing tall in the waist high water, grinning from ear to ear.

I’m pretty pleased with myself. I mean, I risked sharks for this!

Measuring my prize I realize he isn’t long enough to keep (3″ from between the eyes to the start of the tail, if you care to know).

UGH.

I hop out for some lunch and start again in a new spot. Technically looking off limits and actual dangerous shark ocean, but I’ll take it.

I see lots of rocks…I catch 5 lobsters within minutes. I rack my total up to 25 within an hour.

Sadly only a measly 2 were of adequate keep size.

That couldn’t begin to get me down. Holding my prized lobsters, I hike my way back to camp like an award winner.

I must say, it might have upped my confidence level… just a little.

While dinner tasted like the best gourmet meal of my life, I did forget one thing. Sunscreen. On that one spot on my back where I can’t reach, but stubbornly refused to ask my husband for help because I was mad… yeah I was about as red as that lobster.

Despite looking like my prize, I’m proud to say I’ve learned a new skill. Just call me Florida Keys lobster lady.