In my constant battle to simplify my life I have grown weary of technology. How wonderful it must feel to have no computer, cell phone or any other gadgetry to have to charge, maintain, or upgrade.
This blog very well may be coming to an end. In the ultimate search for simplicity I have started writing a”paper” journal/log that I hope someday will become a book on setting off into a simple sailing journey.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci
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Allen: I’m sure there are LOTS of folks out there that REALLY ENJOY sharing your journey with you. While I understand and respect your feelings on “shutting down” your electronic footprint…………..selfishly, I hope that you don’t. Your wonderful photography, Positive Karma and Deep Thoughts, as well as day-to-day effort to live by your own creed, inspire and incourage me in my own life’s journey, while reminding me of the important things in life. This is not hero worship, instead I consider it encouragement & friendship……… made posible from 3,000 mile away, by Technology. Regardless, friends support one another and I will be happy for you if shedding the Technology Yoke will make you happier.
Say it ain’t so captain. Looked at in another way technology is a great way to spread the simplify message and get others involved. There wouldn’t be the tiny house movement that there is today without the internet. It’s also made it possible to make a living anywhere in the world, whether it’s writing a travel blog, selling stuff online, trading stocks, etc., with just a laptop. That’s been a huge incentive for people to simplify. I just recently started worm composting. I never would have done it without seeing the online videos of others doing the same thing. The examples are endless. For the folks who are spending hours and hours on facebook or playing games endlessly I would agree that the bad outweighs the good. But if used in a constructive way, in my opinion, the good far outweighs the bad. Just my 2 cents.
Don’t stop blogging if you enjoy it. Don’t continue if you don’t. Simplicity has nothing to do with it. It’s a form of communication that either works for you or doesn’t.
A paper journal is a fine record (assuming it doesn’t get destroyed by water intrusion, fire, an overzealous cleaning); but it is limited to an audience of one.
Might it provide the content of a book? Sure. But having a blog gives you the opportunity to acquire a potential audience for your book before it is written (I am assuming it will actually be an authored book and not a collection of blog posts…they are somewhat different in my eye). Plus, it could potentially open up some possibilities at home and abroad that you might not find otherwise.
I enjoy your writing, for what it’s worth.
Well if you put it that way…
I’m not trying to hide or take a break. I actually find a great outlet in writing. Its maintaining electronics on a small boat that gets to me. My netbook is dying again, camera’s rarely last a year. My electrical panel is almost thirty years old is slowly dying. Five of my eight interior lights have died and I haven’t even considered replacing them. There is not a single day that I don’t sit in my cockpit contemplating cutting the lines and sailing away. I will never be more free than I am today. The boat needs so many basic items I feel guilty paying for gadgets when I could be outfitting the boat. The sun is shining today as I sit at my desk wondering whats over the horizon…
P.S. Thanks for the kind words, I will do my best
I’ve thought of this a bit as I’m beginning down a similar road…sorry about the big rambling comment…feel free to ignore…
Some kind of electrical system is practically necessary; but it doesn’t have to be complicated. You at least need navigation lights (I don’t even think the Pardeys are using kerosene for nav lights anymore). LED lights, while a bit of an initial investment, really cut down on the amps needed and can mean smaller/cheaper batteries and a smallish solar charger. I personally think that electric cabin lights are actually a simpler system than, for instance, kerosene, and probably cheaper in the long run (no globes to break or kero to spill). But you only need a couple, and they can be dry cell powered if you prefer, which can be cheaply picked up at WalMart. Not strictly required, but pretty desirable, handheld VHFs (which can also often be drycell powered) are pretty affordable now-a-days. Carry a bunch of rechargeable AA batteries and beg/borrow/steal the occasional power outlet to keep them charged (or rig up a solar charger if you don’t mind an extra system). I don’t see the need for an inverter; but small ones that plug into a cigarette lighter port can be had pretty cheaply.
Regards the laptop I have a couple thoughts… 1) when not in use, putting it in a sealed plastic container with some desiccant might extend its’ life. 2) Maybe you can setup your solar charging system (or borrow the ships power charger) to charge your laptop on occasion. 3) you can always restrict it to shoreside use. 4) Find replacements in the old cast-offs of friends, and embrace linux and open software to save clock cycles and funds on older, less powerful (and generally less power hungry) systems. 5) Save your files on multiple USB drives and periodically upload the important ones to some sort of web storage (even email, if that’s all you have) to protect against the inevitable fried system.
Computers are a luxury item. But so are books. And playing cards. And a boat for that matter. But we need some luxury in our lives to keep it from becoming boring and tedious. The question is which luxury items give the greatest bang for the buck.
Thanks Adam, you are pretty spot on with how my boat is set up and being set up. I have completely removed the electrical system and rewired the who boat. My panel is dying and all my light switches are breaking but the lights are fine. The reason I’ve yet to replace anything is that kerosene is infallible. I have a masthead tri-coler which is my only source of nav lights and legal as I have no engine. My priority is to sail away, once I’m out there it will become very apparent what my true necessity’s are. Since I will be sailing local waters for the first year I can add anything I need quite easily. Alan
It sounds like you have a fine plan. Good luck. I hope you keep blogging about it (I’ll understand if you don’t).
Big Al,
Danville here, i don’t know if you realize the impact your writing & sharing has on some of us out here still pacing the cage… At my age learning to think, differently, about stuff just aint that easy… however, you have the opened my eyes on so many topics, hell, i’ve even started trying to read & understand some poetry thanks to you… (Yates is just too hard for me but Elizabeth Bishops “Art of Losing” strikes a chord, i’ll cut&paste if for ya)
Often your blog is the best part of my day or week, when we cross paths i owe you a good bottle of rum or a great bottle of wine…
kindest regards…
The art of losing isn’t hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster,
Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn’t hard to master.
Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.
I lost my mother’s watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three beloved houses went.
The art of losing isn’t hard to master.
I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn’t a disaster.
– Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan’t have lied. It’s evident
the art of losing’s not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) a disaster.
Big Dan, That is awesome. Rum, scotch wine beer, you name it. Hopefully that day will come sooner rather than later. I think I’m parched.
Alan