Saved by a wetsuit

Jet skiers often aren't easy to coexist with, though a couple of them did move responsibly away from the beach when my daughter and I took a swim in Cape Cod Bay on Sunday (waves in the bay, giddy-up!). This guy is lucky to be alive, and he seems to realize it.

The most innocuous day at sea or even its shallow edge can put your life at risk. An off-shore breeze in August can push your raft rapidly away from the beach. Last week, I swam out to two kids whose raft had come unmoored. They weren't really in immediate danger except that they were trying to rescue themselves.

The Coast Guard is tax money well spent.