I am walking along the side of a really long boat, shaped kind of like a giant canoe. I look down into the clear blue water and there is a girl swimming under the water, a bit faster than the boat and next to it like a dolphin. The rest of the dream is not necessary.

seems like paradise to me, or a very peaceful journey ahead. Possibly she is to lead you someplace.

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to interpreting dreams, and those who say otherwise know little, or nothing of psychology, and have been indoctrinated into "new age" dream interpretation, and are more likely to also be into crystals, energy transference, Astrology, etc. It's up to the dreamer, to know the meaning of their dream, and the significance of the symbology contained in them. A dream is often a gestalt, and should be always considered as a whole, rather than just isolated bits, so all I can tell you is that everything in a dream is a product of your subconscious mind, and that, therefore, you are the girl. Try the technique of dream re-entry: question the girl: why was she swimming faster than the boat? Could this represent you moving ahead of other parts of your life, such as family, or relationships? What does the boat represent? (Freud would have said that, because it is long, and canoe shaped, it is likely to be representative of a penis), and sometimes this is so, but I am more towards the Fritz Perls school of thought. The fact that she is swimming under the water may mean that a person doesn't feel in total control, and is forced to go underwater, to make progress. I'll include a previous post, and suggest you view section 3, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris on dream interpretation, and read some books on the subject, from the psychology section of your library, and/or through www.amazon.com including at least one by Perls. - Fear: My standard post follows, but learn to identify, and confront your fears: a fear confronted is a fear reduced. If you don't know what they are, write down 3 times, before going to sleep: "Tonight, in my dreams, I want to remember seeing what my fear is, when I get up", and put it under your pillow. Then say it aloud 3 times, after lights out. It is important to summon as much desire as you are capable of, to more effectively communicate this to your subconscious mind. If this works, it should produce a response within 2 weeks; if not, you may not be remembering, so set an alarm to go off after, first, 3 hrs; next night 4; next night 5: have a pen & paper handy, and WRITE DOWN THOSE DREAMS!!! or, chances are, you will forget. Remember, the response may be metaphorical (figurative), rather than literal.

There is a section on dream interpretation, here in Y!A, and view section 3 on dream interpretation, at ezy build (feel free to email me by clicking on my profile, but I am a lot better with interpreting dreams of males, than females) if you have any difficulty, but the idea is to, immediately after waking & writing down, question the characters inhabiting that dream, and note any thoughts, images, impressions, or emotions which result. Then use the confrontation method, in section 3, on recurring nightmares, at ezy-build. Take up a course in Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, or Tang Soo Do, etc., as much for the mental techniques you will learn, as the ability to face physical fear, which may well have a carry over effect in the dream state, at night, influencing your subconscious mind, and enabling you to tackle them head on (Some people can defeat them: it can help to call on friends, or others: "dream allies" to come to your assistance. In dreams, heroes, superheroes, characters/beings from fiction, or people who are alive, or long dead, are available to be selected to help you. I am still unable to summon them, as yet, but I realise that all those figures are part of me: one thing you can do is just keep fighting: persevere, and resist). I also suggest that you try the technique of dream re-entry, and, just after lights out, visualise yourself, as vividly as possible, confronting your attacker: demanding to know why you are being attacked, and demonstrating that you are prepared to defend yourself, if they don't go away and stop bothering you. It is important to want this with as much desire as you can muster, to better convey the message to your subconscious mind. Include this on the piece of paper you put under your pillow. ~~~ The fact that you omitted the rest of the dream may be because you didn't want to publish it in a public forum, possibly due to content of a sexual nature. Feel free to email me, through my profile, with the rest of the details, either now, or after dream re-entry, and I'll do my best on its interpretation. Remember, you are anonymous here: I don't even know what country you are in. (I'm in Australia) so your privacy is assured.

Clear water is a symbol of good fortune and murky water of bad. I would say in general that is a good dream. ;-)