A weeks ago notices went up along the docks. “Please do not harass the sea lions. Thank you.”

Now, granted, my apartment butts up against water that was, at one time, sloshing around in the Pacific. But this is the Marina. This is the very people-fied area where CEOs with more money than J.K. Rowling park their sailboats and mini-yachts. And accordingly – despite the sudden deluge of jellyfish this winter – the animal life pretty much confines itself to sea gulls, ducks and the occasional school of minnows. So I’m thinking, sea lions. Sure. And I’ll keep my eyes peeled for bears, too.

Then it happened. Through the open windows came the unmistakable bark. “Arf. Arf. ARF-ARF-ARF-ARF!” Is that? Could it be?

Yes. It is. Sea lion comedians.

Here’s their shtick. First, you climb up on the dock and bark really, really loud a few times. Then – and this is the funny part – just when the humans are throwing on their flip-flops to come see if you’re really there, you hide. This is so funny, that you’ll probably have to press your sea lion fin to your little sea lion mouth to keep from guffawing and giving away your position. Then, just when the humans have given up and gone back inside, you do it AGAIN! This could go on for hours. And it just keeps getting funnier every time!