Meet, Sebastian The “Adventure Dog”

My name is Sebastian.

But around here, I have several other names.

Tuna.
Seabass.
Seaba-Tuna!
Sebastian the Magnificent.
And, occasionally, “Hey! Get out of there!”

I answer to most of them.

I came into the Mariner and Mermaid’s life in 2019, under rather unusual circumstances. My humans were on a road trip to New Orleans when my Mermaid decided that what their adventure was really missing was a Chihuahua.

So they finished their trip, drove home, and then turned around and headed for the coast to meet me.

Our first meeting took place outside a Starbucks in Bremerton, Washington.

It was raining.

Naturally.

They picked me up, put me in the Jeep, and instead of taking me home like sensible people, they immediately took me to the ferry dock.

Apparently, I was going to learn about life on the road.

So that’s what I did.

For the next week, I went on what I like to call the Great Ferry Hop of 2019, riding ferry after ferry through the Puget Sound until we eventually found ourselves back at the Kingston Ferry.

From there, we headed toward the Cascade Range, crossed over the mountains, and finally made our way home to the dry, dusty valleys of Eastern Washington.

I was home.

But I had already figured something important out.

I liked “goin’ bye.”

And we’ve been goin’ ever since.

I’ve traveled across this country with my humans, visiting North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, and everyplace in between. 

I’ve stood on the plateaus around Sedona.

I’ve explored Joshua Tree.

I’ve visited Yosemite and Yellowstone.

I have even personally confronted a bull bison.

He was very large.

I yelled at him anyway.

I stand by my decision as excursion leader.

I don’t limit my adventures to four wheels, either.

I ride the Harley,  in the Can-Am. Scooters, mountain bikes longboard paddle boards, mountain bikes, bmx, you name it, I go!!

I’ve hiked mountains, explored rivers and streams, camped beneath the stars, and attended SCA events with my humans.

And yes, I have my own bedroom in the van.

You heard me.

My own bedroom.

I also have safety goggles for the Can-Am, a jacket and safety bag for the Harley, a float vest for the lake, and a raincoat for the Pacific Northwest.

The humans call it preparation.

I call it knowing my worth.

My favorite destination, though, is the water.

Especially the ocean.

Take me to a beach and turn me loose.

I’ll chase seagulls until my legs run out of batteries, then tear across the sand until the zoomies have been properly discharged.

I am also a connoisseur of fine establishments.

Coffee shops.

Banks.

The scales at the recycling center.

Pretty much anywhere there are people.

Because people have an important purpose in my life.

They see me.

They admire me.

They tell me how adorable I am.

And then, if they have been properly trained, they give me a cookie.

Or a bone.

Or a pup cup.

Whipped cream is also acceptable.

I have standards.

My culinary interests are equally sophisticated.

Chicken.

Carrots.

Popcorn.

Tortilla chips.

Peanut butter.

Raw hamburger.

And, yes…

raw peanuts.

In the shell.

I don’t expect everyone to understand.

That’s alright.

Not everyone is an Adventure Dog.

I have a few signature moves, too.

My Prance.

My Smolder.

And my famous Rodeo.

The Rodeo is difficult to explain.

It is best experienced in person.

After all these years, I’ve learned a few things about my humans.

The Mariner makes things.

The Mermaid makes things happen.

And I make sure they don’t take themselves too seriously.

I go wherever they go.

I sleep wherever we stop.

I ride wherever they ride.

I explore whatever looks interesting.

And occasionally, I bark at something substantially larger than myself just to keep everyone alert.

That’s my job.

I am Sebastian.

The Adventure Dog.

The official passenger.

The beach patrol.

The campsite inspector.

The ferry veteran.

The cookie acquisition specialist.

And, according to my humans, a one-of-a-kind Chihuahua.

They call me their little Tuna.

I suppose I’ll allow it.

Because wherever the Mariner and Mermaid are headed next…

I’m going with them.

And if there’s a beach involved, I’ll see you there.