I have a wonderful job--wonderful because I'm doing something I normally do for fun and because I'm helping a cause I strongly believe in.

I'm a member of Team Ocean, the kayak educational and interpretive patrol.

Our team paddles kayaks for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary along the Monterey Coast, Elkhorn Slough and possibly Santa Cruz.

We watch for violations of sanctuary rules, caution ppeople who get too close to protected species, answer questions about the sanctuary and its flora and fauna, and help kayakers who are having problems.

We're a bit like park docents in a liquid park.

For years, I've paddled these waters, watched out for seals and otters and helped tourists who find themselves unable to get back to the dock.

Now I'm doing these things officially, caring for the sanctuary I've grown to love, and earning a bit of money in the process.

I've already discovered that most people aren't mean or destructive. If they do something wrong, it's usually from a lack of knowledge or the excitement of close encounters with exotic animals.

The people I've talked to who were too close to some animal were either trying to get a photo or were so curious, they forgot what the rental shops told them.

Many people, used to zoos, don't realize how vital rest is for creatures who are trying to survive in a harsh environment.

Pretend for a moment that you are homeless, living in a camp, facing the daily challenge of scraping up enough cash to keep body and soul together. Think how well you'd fare if every five minutes during the night someone came along and woke you up.

That's what seals, otters and sea birds face when tourists get too close.

A gentle reminder is usually enough to solve the problem.

More often, I end up answering questions about animal behavior from people who rarely get the opportunity to interact with wildlife on their own turf.

They find, as I have, that the more you observe these creatures, the more fascinating they become.

Sea lions tend to be bold and brazen and not easily frightened.

Harbor seals and extremely timid and nervous when resting on the rocks, and vulnerable.

Otters, while they seem to always be playing, are busy most of the time with survival. While they are not terribly timid, they are easly disturbed, which causes them to waste needed energy.

Perched sea birds are also conserving energy needed for basic survival.

Obviously, the best part of my day is when everyone is being courteous and respectful, and I can simply enjoy the pageant of lie around me.

I love to watch the otters break up the shellfish and pick out the meat, while gulls follow closely to grab the remnants.

In Elkhorn Slough, the pelicans dive continually, raising little explosions of white water and coming up with a beak full of fish, while clamoring gulls try to steal a meal.

Beautiful, purple-striped jellyfish the size of beach balls undulate in the shallows. Puppy-eyed seals pop to the surface to cast curious glances at passing humans.

Sea lions engage in raucous social behavior that is a caricature of high-density tenement living. Flocks of birds create digital patterns in the air, and the light on the water dances in a thousand subtle colors.

The usual mechanical sounds don't reach out on the water. They ambient sounds of bird song and wind bring a sense of serenity.

By day's end, I'm physically tired but emotionally relaxed and content.