I was about to comment on their recent post about sailors giving up their dreams for various reasons. Just as they are about to head out, they see a host of stories on shattered dreams and tales of how the cruising lifestyle was not all they expected. I was going to give them the "Go Team" cheer, but I decided I wasn't qualified.
Well before we left NY, and when we were vacationing here and there, I would always pop into a marina if we came across one. Walking along the rows of sailboats in the yards, I would see far away home ports on the transoms of some obviously abandoned boats and dreams. It was very depressing to think that these people gave up, for various reasons, the dreams they had of sailing away from it all. You could not help but wonder if the same thing would happen to us. Doubts about the right boat, the right gear, should we sell or rent the house, can we afford to retire, all started to creep in. If it was just me alone, and Deb was not around, I'm not sure I would have ever left. I tend to procrastinate and over think these things. Way too much analysis, and not enough action. Deb has doubts as well, but she is more determined to go for it. She does the quick analysis, makes a decision, and runs with it. She also has enough confidence in herself to know that if it all goes to hell, she can recover. Me, I would Woody Allen myself to death. I eventually come around and adjust to any situation, but not without a lot of second guessing and whining. Good thing we're a team, and one of the rare couples with common dreams.
With all that in mind, I felt I could not give them the advice they required. Sometimes you just have to stick your neck out there and see what's going on.
Good Morning!
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We're not sure how our story is going to end, but at least we'll have one to tell.
Cheers!
PJB
Maybe some of the sailboats with far away hailing ports belong to commuters who are just bidding their time, building their cruising kitty and skills until they can cast off the dock lines for good. We were like that for 3 years. I bet people often walked by s/v Honey Ryder and thought we had abandoned her too during those long 3 yrs. At least that is what I like to believe as I now walk the docks and wonder about the various boats with missing owners.
ReplyDeleteYour glass must be half full :)
DeleteActually, at the time I had no idea people left their boats in a yard for years. There were also plenty of cruising equipped boats for sale as well.
I like to think of our glass more than half full....of beer! :)
DeleteIt all comes down to expectations. I believe that most of the abandoned boats are from people who had the wrong expectation of "living in paradise", you know the little drinks with umbrellas, endless white, sandy beaches, and models in string bikinis doing all your boat work for you. We've now lived on the boat 1/2 of the last 2 years and on Nomad before that and I have no illusions about the challenging nature of cruising and living aboard. On the other hand we, like you, share a common dream and that makes it possible for us to succeed. A good many of the rest of those abandoned boats are there because one person in the relationship wanted to go and the other one thought they could talk themselves into enjoying it but found they couldn't. As you said, succeed or fail, we'll have tried and will have a story.
ReplyDeleteI think that you are way qualified to comment, by the way.
Deb
S/V Kintala
www.theretirementproject.blogspot.com
I agree. I never expected models in string bikinis doing all my boat work. I DREAM of models in string bikinis doing all my boat work. In reality, the only one in a string bikini doing boat work is the guy in the powerboat next to me. SHUDDER
DeleteReality. So far, it's nothing like the pictures in Cruising World magazine, but it's still better than anything we have done in the past.
OK, I'll continue to comment, but light on the advice. Some of the seasoned cruisers prob think I'm a Newb and should shut it. You guys are doing great, and it will be fun to follow along. We are stuck here until Nov., then we're on the move again. We still have a wedding and a Grand Baby ahead of us. Come Jan/Feb we'll be joining the flock. Hope to see you floating around somewhere.
"Woody Allen my self to death" Paul you do have a way with observations and words, I think you are missing something within yourself. A new career in writing and observation is your sweet spot, jus sayin as an outside observer.
ReplyDeleteDoes it pay? I'm running out of beer money.
DeleteYeah, what Ed said.
ReplyDeleteKeep writing & we'll keep reading. You're ahead of us on the road in Boat Land (that means you're trailblazing, so, we're watching), and we're using a different map (not liveaboards, and long-term cruising is a few years out still), but a world afloat is always interesting to us. Start typing.
:)
Delete