Bought my first board to be left in a garage of a couple i became really friends with. It is just a soft board but means alot to me. Waves are far too big for me at that time of the year but at least i get used to being drowned by them and start to understand to read the sea a little better. Do quite a bit of paddling to strengthen my arms and shoulders. 

And I do have time to devour young surfer boys every now and then , who camp in their Volkswagen busses by the beach.