There are two reasons why she does this... reasons that are crucial to her own survival.
The essence of life strengthens her... and the breath of each one... enables her to walk upon dry land for one day.
It allows her to experience the sights, scents and sounds of Mother Earth... or what she considers the "Three S's" of her well-being.
And - of course - like all magical things... the more breath she draws in... the more she is able to experience and absorb.
She will soak up the atmosphere and pleasure from basic elements... the silence of standing in the middle of a cool dense forest... the softness of green grass... the variety of smells and colours of wildflowers... and the peaceful harmony of leaves rustling in a gentle breeze... while birds of all kinds sing from their perches in the trees above.
The more she takes in, the more pleasant her next winter sojourn will be.
When her ice cave starts to crumble, she will abandon it... leaving it to break up... disassembling into smaller pieces that float off in different directions.
Then she begins the long journey back to her winter surroundings... hitching rides along the way... on the backs of the beautiful, gentle Beluga whales.
When she reaches the northern seas and the glaciers, she will choose another potential iceberg...
and she will carve out another elaborate ice cave.
This is where she will live in semi-hibernation until the next spring... waking once daily to consume the seaweed that maintains her physical strength throughout the long winter... spent entirely under the thick Arctic ice.
For that is where she truly belongs... it is where she was born... so many years ago that she lost count long ago.
But she will have memories... all the little pleasures that were observed and absorbed from her journey are safely stored within her... to nourish and sustain her during this period.
The memories are the only thing that preserves her sanity during this period... without them, she would go mad... and what could happen next ... is completely unknown... but she has always known that such an omission would be disastrous.
Although she views her 'life' merely as an existence... and does enjoy certain aspects of it... she feels it is her duty to continue living... for she is not yet ready to let her kind be lost forever.
But... keep one thing in mind... at any point of her journey... should anyone try to stop her... she is quite capable of taking care of herself.
The mermaid lives beneath the sea
Where it's too cold for you and me;
But you must never let her in,
For that's when troubles will begin.
Forget the stories you have read,
Don't let her get inside your head;
Don't listen to her lovely voice -
For that would be a fatal choice.
