Cold Water

It’s starting to get cold outside. It’s starting to get cold in here! Winter is in the air, and the water. Literally. I’m cold. And it’s not because I’m cold blooded either. I’m cold, because my H20 is only 74 degrees. 78-82 would be more like it! Someone kick the heat on up in here! My pond will not generally become this detrimental to my health and so there is no real reason for concern. This inclemental element is merely a temporary hurdle for my human. She will install a new heater as soon as it arrives. She takes good care of me. Its raining again. I know this because I never go outside when it’s raining. It rains a lot here. It stays cold when it rains. Must be a sign of winter. Herein lies my wonder. If it IS winter, why am I not hibernating? Late at night I can hear the waves crashing on the shores and the sea lions crying out. I wonder if they are real cold like me - out there in the ocean. If they do not hibernate, maybe, neither do I? So, I did some research… okay, my human did the research, but only because I cannot read yet, I’m still a baby, remember. Besides, my instincts are transversal. I can hibernate in the wild, or not - where I’m from, it’s not likely necessary but for a few weeks anyway, if at all. In captivity, I am not going to hibernate because my human does not want me to. And that is that. I don’t really need the hibernation ritual unless it’s really cold (outside). The heater should be here next week sometime and I’ll be a happy turtle when the water warms up. In the meantime, I’ll just bask upon my rock to keep warm - we all know how much fun that is for me.