Expanses of water look much shorter from the boat than they do once you're in the water; I don't sink, but I can't really swim more than a few metres either, so I almost drowned once. Fortunately, I turned myself on my back, relaxed and kept floating & swimming very slowly until someone came to pull me to safety. Just dumb.
Oh, and cycling in London as a commuter, that must count for something. Yeah I still do that - I tell my beloved other half I'd be safer on a motorbike, she doesn't believe me yet. :-Y
TBH, I hate winter too, especially snow. I refer to this time of year as the "long, slow grind to spring". I only ski because it's something to do and others do it. It's not like I'm gonna miss it much, although Fiona's taking lessons in langlauf (cross-country skiing) which looks a lot more genteel, and devoid of scary teenage lunatics. Life on crutches is a PITA though, especially when your house has four floors.
Oh yes the old guy with crutches routine. I played that part last year! We have a ranch style house and it was still a pain in the ass maneuvering about.
--------------------------------------------- Give me liberty or, I dunno, something.