Reflections Upon a Passage

Reflection – A Passage

As this passage enters its final days we find ourselves reflecting on why exactly we chose to do this. Why we put ourselves through night after uncomfortable night of being wet, tired and frazzled. Tossed about for days; bruised and battered. What reward makes one willing to sail out of sight of all they know?

The answer is, as all things of this nature tend to be, complicated.

When we began to plan this journey ten years ago we had talked about adventure, of seeing amazing places and learning new skills. Yes, we have sailed over 20,000nm, lived through a global pandemic while sheltering in a remote fishing village in Nicaragua, learned to surf, sound a conch to honor the sunset and sing along with Bill Withers Lovely Day to welcome the sunrise. But it turns out those are not the true rewards we have found here. No, the reward has been simply people.

So many amazing people. Bestselling author, ice road builder, surf instructor, scuba hall of famer, tequila drinkers, Chernobyl program manager, sheriff, vanilla farmer, marina managers, baker, chef, whiskey bootlegger, geothermal engineer, revolutionary, bohemians, professor, oceanographer, French fashion photographer, Chubbies model, conch horn instructor and so many more. Special memories for us are the locals that welcomed us into their lives and shared their homes, foods and cultures.

Most of all though, it has been time spent together.  As we look back at three years’ worth of photos, the ones we linger over inevitably show us living this life together. The chance to live a life outside the lines and to share it with someone is truly special. We are getting to fully use the time we have been given on this earth. It is not the easiest of paths nor the road most traveled that we have chosen but it is our path, and we travel it together.

And that brings us as close to an answer as we can find to the question of “why”.  There may be something inherently “off” with those of us that choose this lifestyle, this path, but then if that is the case it is an “offness” we have shared through history. As the author Jack London penned over a century ago:

““I would rather be ashes than dust. I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze then it should be stifled by a dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in a magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. For the proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”
Jack London - 1916

We are using our time and every day this amazing, beautiful, scary world reminds us of why we are here.

Kevin and Carla