Struggling from symptoms of post-lockdown stress disorder (PLSD), Stillman and his wife load paddling, snorkeling, and wing foiling gear into a van and race south to the Florida Keys in search of refuge and what the future might hold in a world they barely recognize. Exploring mangroves, barrier islands, and coral reefs, they look to the deep blue sea for the answers they desperately hope to find.

In Stillman's fourth collection of nature essays, Mother Ocean teaches us about life, death, freedom, and insecurity, leading us down paths of self-discovery and the ultimate quest to find meaning in unpredictable times. Above and below the surface, we learn how to connect with the Earth's natural pulses and rhythms. Cultivating a deep relationship with the ebb and flow of the tides, we discover new ways to navigate our rapidly changing world.