Our Precious Possessions

My family and I live seven blocks from the beach (I know it is tough) and I try and take a power walk every morning as the sun comes up. My attempt is to make a quick dash to the ocean and quickly go back home so that I can get back in time for work. On my way home today, as the sun was peaking over the horizon, seagulls squawked, and waves crashed, I saw this older man with ruffled, gray hair; dark-suntanned skin; and khakis worn with special care, riding his bike to the beach. His bike had a double basket attached to the back wheel and it was packed high, probably with his necessary daily possessions. Now this is not so unusual around this community because, well, there are lots of homeless people riding around on their bikes in this mild weather area. The peculiar part of the scene was what he was pulling behind his bike. He was definitely getting lots of exercise as he pulled his orange, beat-up, single-seater kayak. I'm not sure how it was attached to his bike, but there were wheels at the end of the Kayak, resting maybe on a skateboard. It just made me think about the things that are important to us and what would we keep to the very end. His was his bike, which was important to get around, and his precious kayak.