Fits like a glove?

"Wetsuit tops and/or spring suits are worth packing if you are attending the camp anytime from November to April." So says the Surf Adventure Camp Survival Guide from my surfing camp director. Sounds easy. I'll just drive over to my local surf/sport shop and buy one. I call Sun & Ski and the clerk who answers the phone says they have them. Shortly after 5 p.m. I head that direction. I enter the store and ask where I might find the wetsuits. The young man points to a corner of the store. I find myself in front of one rounder full of various types of wetsuits. Full body, short suits, suspender suits and a few shirts. I find a shirt. The tag says "Large." I look at it and think that it looks awfully small. I take the X-Large wetsuit top and some light blue board shorts into the dressing room. The shirt goes on easy enough. It doesn't look bad, but maybe I should ask if it fits correctly. I walk to the counter where four guys and one gal are standing. I'm the only customer at the moment, but they seem "busy." I ask if the shirt I have on fits. One of the guys speaks up and says "No, that shirt is way too big. You want it to fit tight 'cause when it gets wet it will stretch out." What??? The shirt is not way too big. At least, I don't think so. I walk back over and find a medium. After a few moments of struggling, I walk out of the dressing room like Frankenstein. I hobble over to the counter, which has now only the young woman standing behind it. How does this fit? She says, "I think it's better." I CANNOT MOVE MY ARMS. I buy it anyway. Eventually, the other clerks return and agree that it is supposed to fit that tight. I'm counting on it to "stretch out" in the water. It reminds me of the Levis 501 jeans I used to wear in high school -- size 28/38. Washed and dried, they were tight! I would lay on the bed to button them. But, once I moved around, they always felt much better. I'm sure that's how the wetsuit top will be. Fits like a glove? That's what we are always looking to find, right? Not just in clothing, but also in friendships, spouses, etc. They fit snugly at first, but allow for growth and exploration. hmmmm...

My guide also suggested some conditioning exercises, including one I hadn't thought to do. Pushups! It suggests 5 to 10 pushups a day for at least a month. I just did 10. I definitely need more practice.