I hit up the gym for an early morning swim today, and it was actually quite enjoyable and relaxing. The water was warm, and the pool was quiet and un-crowded. I also made an interesting discovery. The gym is full of black women first thing in the morning. I normally only see a handful of other African Americans at any given time. The demographic is typically majority white and Asian. However, I've noticed that the early morning crowd is about 80% black (well, at least in the women's locker room). I don't know what to attribute the difference to, but its actually pretty nice. These ladies are far more personable, and have sort of a community feeling about themselves. There is gentle chatting while folks are getting ready for work and a chorus of "Have a good day" when you head out. Me likey!