I see participation on this list more along the lines
of a beach analogy.
There's those that for the most part stand on the shore
cautiously dipping in a toe from time to time to test the
waters. Then there's the waders, with the water up to their
knees. These could go either way, further in if conditions
are right or quickly back to shore if the surf gets too rough
or if the temperature is too cold.
Further in are the "bobbers". They've been there for a while
and they're used to the waters. They go up and down with each
coming wave, sometimes diving to meet it, other times just
floating on it or letting it go by.
Then at the breakline there's the more experienced, choosing
their waves and riding them in to the end. Some only go for
certain waves, others seem to like all of them. Even these
will often take a spill but their theoretical surfboards
can pull them up from any serious damage.
Every now and then someone will come running out from nobody
knows where and plunge right in, very often disappearing
from sight just as quickly. Often you will see them again
some time later, a few hundred meters down the beach. Oh, they're
still there! Good. The disappearance wasn't permanent.
Sometimes the waters are so calm there's not much to do but
float along. And other times they're so churned up only the
more experienced or the more reckless will brave them. Usually,
though, there's a good mix of conditions which provide a variety
of possibilities ... to each according to their needs.
--Just "loafing" on the shore, dipping a toe in. --Rosa
PS Of course we could always blend both metaphors and come
up with something about the loaves and fishes!