By Roy Ortega
The deadly flooding along the Guadalupe River in Central Texas got me thinking about why humans insist on living close to the water's edge despite the inherent dangers and inconveniences. For them, the appeal of living on or near the water is worth the occasional threat of disaster.
Thalassophobia
But many people have a deep fear of living anywhere close to a significant body of water. Experts have a name for it: Thalassophobia, which is a stronger phobia than aquaphobia, a simple fear of water. In my case, it is not a phobia but rather a mild anxiety. I simply don't like being close to rivers, lakes, bays and oceans. It is one of the reasons why I choose to live in the desert far away from the nearest ocean shore.
Fun on the Water
Growing up in Central and South Texas, recreation for my family almost always revolved around water activities such as boating, swimming, tubing, fishing and water skiing. I can name just about every popular vacation spot and weekend getaway from Austin to Corpus Christi and the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. I seem to be the exception when it comes to enjoying the sense of calm and serenity most people feel while near the water.
In light of the still unfolding tragedy in and around Kerrville, Texas, I became curious about why humans are drawn to bodies of water despite the obvious dangers. While looking into this question, I came across a concept that scientists use to explain why humans are so deeply connected to water; It's known as biophilia, the innate connection that humans have to water. The water has always been a source for drinking, food and mobility.
At the same time, the water has also been a place of horror, death and destruction. Hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, insects, snakes, mosquitoes and a variety of dangerous sea life have made living near water unappealing to some humans ever since prehistoric times.
In modern times, humans have learned to adapt to life along the water's edge. For the most part, many of the problems and dangers of living near the shore have been solved, but not all.
For many people, the beautiful views of the water provide a sense of peace and well-being. The gentle sound of waves and flowing water have been shown to reduce stress and improve mental health. That's why so many people are drawn to it.
But until we get a much better understanding of nature's tendency to occasionally unleash its fury and unless we learn better ways to prepare for it, we will continue to see more sadness and horrible loss of human life like we witnessed in Kerrville.
Roy Ortega may be reached at rortega54@elp.rr.com.
