Woman spends summer as mermaid

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PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 6 (UPI) -- An Oregon woman who has been seen swimming in public pools while dressed as a mermaid said she is living out a childhood fantasy.

Pauline Long, 56, said she wanted to be a mermaid as a child and she decided to spend this summer swimming in Portland pools while wearing her homemade fins, which were inspired by a woman she met a few years ago, KGW, Portland, reported Monday.

Long, who said she is part of a 23-strong group known as The Northwest Mermaids, said she knows she isn't a real mermaid, but her 6-year-old self would be proud.

"I obviously know the difference but it's just fun. It's freedom," she said. "If you don't do it as a child, why not do it as an adult? Who says that you can't?"