The distance between the marine mammals and where we were allowed  to observe had one compromise; if the otter or seal wanted to check us out they could come as close as they wanted to. 

Patti and I were talking when just 4 feet in front of us appeared this face – in the kelp studying our looks and listening to our voices, then plop back into the deep.  Later another otter appeared at the same distance.  And then at one point I heard a splash and was told a seal had appeared behind our kayak and looked and disappeared. 

For each of them, in their full playfulness, this quality existed: they were curious.  I wondered if we stop being curious about our world and each other if we stop playing too?