Latitudes With Attitude, Chapter 4
Tuesday, June 20 New Found Harbor
Yesterday I stopped writing when dinner was ready, but didn’t finish my thoughts about the diving, especially the guys and their snorkeling technique. I was concerned once we left Wyvern at Sombrero Key. Six young men for whom I’m responsible, bobbing up and down in ocean waves, and some of them not knowing how to adjust their masks and snorkels, all raising my level of anxiety. I assisted Greg with his mask and snorkel, then Mike.
Spaz didn’t need help with his equipment, but did not get my earlier point about buddy checks, as he often moved off alone. He’s a good kid—and a smart one—but his cockiness and refusal to listen to others irritates those of us around him.
Matt exhibits great control and seems to be a person of great inner strength. Not proud or boastful, he’s the type of guy who shows quiet, calm competence. When one of the other guys swam too far from the group, Matt offered to go retrieve him. When Matt and Todd had dinner duty last night, Matt did nearly all of the cooking and most of the cleanup, all without complaint. Nothing seems to upset him much. Instead he focuses on what needs to be done and goes to work.
On the trip down, Matt told me he intends to pursue a career as a police officer or perhaps criminal justice. He would do very well in law enforcement.
Brian is the one in the group with the biggest heart. He is a good kid who has always been warm and friendly to me and the other adult leaders. He’s about 6’3” tall and probably weighs 220-230 pounds. He’s a wrestler and a big kid. It was funny yesterday, though, as we found out he doesn’t like being in water with fish! He did well, overcoming his fears and diving with the crew.
Faith and I learned a lot about Capt. Charlie last night too. Sitting in the cockpit listening to Kenny Chesney sing about Key West and key lime pie, Charlie told us he had been born in Hawaii and grew up in San Diego. He lived there and in the Riverside/San Bernardino area until he and his wife Phyllis decided to get out of such a congested, high-cost area.
They moved to Arkansas, in the Fort Smith area, and eventually spent 20-some years farming, raising poultry and cattle. Living off the land, they raised their children in Arkansas until deciding seven years ago to trade a life on land for one on a sailboat.
Charlie said his son was driving them to Florida seven years ago to go sailing. Charlie and Phyllis were in the back seat, with the son and his wife in front.
Apparently Charlie’s son fell asleep and hit a tractor-trailer loaded with gravel, resulting in a major accident. Charlie was nearly killed. Both of his lungs were punctured, his back was broken and his forehead was nearly scalped. A long scar on his back and another on his forehead, though not apparent due to his deep tan, remain as evidence of his misfortune.
After that near-fatal experience, Charlie says, every day is truly a gift to him. He recovered from the accident and now lives on Social Security and disability income, plus the occasional charter, which allows him to sail around the Caribbean with Phyllis.
They have been all over the Caribbean, from the Bahamas to Jamaica, Grenada and the islands of Venezuela. Besides chartering trips with Scouts for Bill Benson, they also do couples cruises. Like farming, they keep their lives simple, not owning a house or a car, getting away to Las Vegas for their own vacations every few years, and maintaining a post office box in a small town near Tampa where they have some friends.
The crew is starting to stir, so I should probably close this chapter, head up on deck and see what the day brings. For me, it’s very therapeutic to awaken early without having to rush to work. I can make a pot of coffee, enjoy the sunrise and early morning sights and sounds, be a bit introspective and decompress from the usual experiences of my life.
I’m uncertain whether the cruising lifestyle would be right for me, but it’s great to be out here for a week. The calm relaxation I’m feeling right now convinces me there has to be a better way to live than my current method of working 50-60 hours a week with little or no satisfaction. It’s time to start planning the next phase of my life.
A quick side note: As usual, I brought too many things with me. Although it’s only Tues., and I might reverse my thinking later in the week, as of now I think I’d change the following in terms of my pack list:
Leave behind:
• Second travel sheet — one seems good to last the week
• Boat shoes — one pair for use on shore would be sufficient. We’re going barefoot on the boat. Perhaps a pair of flip-flops or sandals would be useful.
• Smaller duffel bag — I knew my bag would be too big, but still I brought it!
• Flashlight — night lights are plentiful on the boat, as is moonlight.
• GPS — naturally Charlie has his own
• First aid kit — ditto
• Second bathing suit
Add:
• As of now, I cannot think of one material possession I need, but don’t have.
Yesterday I stopped writing when dinner was ready, but didn’t finish my thoughts about the diving, especially the guys and their snorkeling technique. I was concerned once we left Wyvern at Sombrero Key. Six young men for whom I’m responsible, bobbing up and down in ocean waves, and some of them not knowing how to adjust their masks and snorkels, all raising my level of anxiety. I assisted Greg with his mask and snorkel, then Mike.
Spaz didn’t need help with his equipment, but did not get my earlier point about buddy checks, as he often moved off alone. He’s a good kid—and a smart one—but his cockiness and refusal to listen to others irritates those of us around him.
Matt exhibits great control and seems to be a person of great inner strength. Not proud or boastful, he’s the type of guy who shows quiet, calm competence. When one of the other guys swam too far from the group, Matt offered to go retrieve him. When Matt and Todd had dinner duty last night, Matt did nearly all of the cooking and most of the cleanup, all without complaint. Nothing seems to upset him much. Instead he focuses on what needs to be done and goes to work.
On the trip down, Matt told me he intends to pursue a career as a police officer or perhaps criminal justice. He would do very well in law enforcement.
Brian is the one in the group with the biggest heart. He is a good kid who has always been warm and friendly to me and the other adult leaders. He’s about 6’3” tall and probably weighs 220-230 pounds. He’s a wrestler and a big kid. It was funny yesterday, though, as we found out he doesn’t like being in water with fish! He did well, overcoming his fears and diving with the crew.
Faith and I learned a lot about Capt. Charlie last night too. Sitting in the cockpit listening to Kenny Chesney sing about Key West and key lime pie, Charlie told us he had been born in Hawaii and grew up in San Diego. He lived there and in the Riverside/San Bernardino area until he and his wife Phyllis decided to get out of such a congested, high-cost area.
They moved to Arkansas, in the Fort Smith area, and eventually spent 20-some years farming, raising poultry and cattle. Living off the land, they raised their children in Arkansas until deciding seven years ago to trade a life on land for one on a sailboat.
Charlie said his son was driving them to Florida seven years ago to go sailing. Charlie and Phyllis were in the back seat, with the son and his wife in front.
Apparently Charlie’s son fell asleep and hit a tractor-trailer loaded with gravel, resulting in a major accident. Charlie was nearly killed. Both of his lungs were punctured, his back was broken and his forehead was nearly scalped. A long scar on his back and another on his forehead, though not apparent due to his deep tan, remain as evidence of his misfortune.
After that near-fatal experience, Charlie says, every day is truly a gift to him. He recovered from the accident and now lives on Social Security and disability income, plus the occasional charter, which allows him to sail around the Caribbean with Phyllis.
They have been all over the Caribbean, from the Bahamas to Jamaica, Grenada and the islands of Venezuela. Besides chartering trips with Scouts for Bill Benson, they also do couples cruises. Like farming, they keep their lives simple, not owning a house or a car, getting away to Las Vegas for their own vacations every few years, and maintaining a post office box in a small town near Tampa where they have some friends.
The crew is starting to stir, so I should probably close this chapter, head up on deck and see what the day brings. For me, it’s very therapeutic to awaken early without having to rush to work. I can make a pot of coffee, enjoy the sunrise and early morning sights and sounds, be a bit introspective and decompress from the usual experiences of my life.
I’m uncertain whether the cruising lifestyle would be right for me, but it’s great to be out here for a week. The calm relaxation I’m feeling right now convinces me there has to be a better way to live than my current method of working 50-60 hours a week with little or no satisfaction. It’s time to start planning the next phase of my life.
A quick side note: As usual, I brought too many things with me. Although it’s only Tues., and I might reverse my thinking later in the week, as of now I think I’d change the following in terms of my pack list:
Leave behind:
• Second travel sheet — one seems good to last the week
• Boat shoes — one pair for use on shore would be sufficient. We’re going barefoot on the boat. Perhaps a pair of flip-flops or sandals would be useful.
• Smaller duffel bag — I knew my bag would be too big, but still I brought it!
• Flashlight — night lights are plentiful on the boat, as is moonlight.
• GPS — naturally Charlie has his own
• First aid kit — ditto
• Second bathing suit
Add:
• As of now, I cannot think of one material possession I need, but don’t have.
posted by Joe Wollet at 8:38 AM
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