Warning: Too much sun can lead to body art

The day I let a complete stranger express his artistic talents as a permanent fixture on my skin was a sunny afternoon in the surfer-bum community of Pacific Beach in San Diego.

My best friend (who already had a tattoo) and I were visiting my older sister when, at age 21, I spontaneously decided I wanted to be inked up.

I had never considered a tattoo before or thought of what could possibly be so cool that I needed it on my body forever, but at some point during a day of wandering in and out of surf and tattoo shops, I determined that I would get myself some body art.

Maybe I had swallowed too much saltwater while playing in the ocean; maybe I sat in the sun too long; maybe I was in a trance because it was Spring Break and I was an Oregon girl vacationing in Southern California. But most likely it was the fact that I was young and, well, silly.

So, I thought about the tattoo for no longer than 20 minutes before my mind was made up. I didn't settle on just any small sun, moon or star, or my name translated into a Chinese symbol. I went for the whole shebang.

I now have a chain of light blue, tropical-like flowers that spans the width of my lower back.

I would estimate that I liked my new body art for about a year before it started to bother me that I had this design on my back that would never go away.

Nothing against the artist, he did an incredible job. The art just didn't have any meaning to me, and it seemed strange that it was there.

Now, five years later, I wouldn't say I regret the decision to get a tattoo, but I certainly would not do it again. It doesn't bother me too much because I rarely see my tattoo due to its location, but whenever I wear a swimsuit, there it is, staring at me as if to say, "I'm one mistake you made in your college years that you'll never erase from your memory."

I can't see myself forking over the money to get it removed, for one because I can accept that I have to live with decisions I make and also because I just don't care enough to spend that kind of cash - I'd rather spend it on new gear.

But, the next time I'm in San Diego, I'll make sure to steer clear of the tattoo shops, especially if I've been playing in the ocean.

- Nicole Formosa