Spring has finally sprung and the work continues, I could feel overwhelmed but I don’t.  I will do what I can, my budget is slowly building but I have to be careful.  I only have so much to work with, the budget is split between boat gear, food, and a small savings so I have a month of breathing room when the cruising season ends.

I’ve been using this wonderful vegan cookbook to attempt to make a list of base stores that will last for three months.  I’m not a vegan but with my small budget there wont be any meat on the table unless I catch it.  Sweet potatoes, onions, and potatoes will be my base food and I hope to work the summer here and there as a migrant farmer on the islands exchanging labor for fresh island grown produce.

I still have no water tank, stove, or engine but I’m not worried.  I have a camp stove that is safe at anchor, I will carry 30 gallons in small portable water tanks and the whole engine is up in the air.   I found a nice little hard dingy for $300 bucks but my 25 year old inflatable dingy/liferaft might have to do it for now.  Because I work on commission only I have no idea what lies ahead in way of budget but again I’m not even thinking about it.

Once again I am revisiting cheap Chinese shit.  I broke my new replacement cleat the replaced the broken cleat that proceeded it.  Today I will buy two more, one to replace the previous two and one to use as a mold to cast all new ones in either stainless or aluminum.

Life is good on the good ship The`

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

A world that teaches our children that a time out is a bad thing is a world I simply cant live in. ~AEO

I RECEIVED THE FUNNIEST COMMENT A WHILE BACK FROM MY FRIEND BEN, http://bccelizabeth.com/ , IT WAS ALL IN CAPITALS AND IT READ YEAH I’M SCREAMING. YEP YOU GUESSED IT, TODAY I’M SCREAMING

EVERYBODY NEEDS MONEY, THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT MONEY.

MY TEN DAY WORKING VACATION CAME TO AN END LAST NIGHT  I WAS SITTING IN THE BOAT WHEN I GOT A TEXT, “MEET ME IN THE PARKING LOT” I WALKED UP TO THE GATE AND THERE WAS A MERCEDES WITH TINTED WINDOWS.  I STARED AT IT AND THE WINDOW ROLLED DOWN, A PLATE WITH A GIANT HUNK OF  TIRAMISO WAS HANDED TO ME WITH A SMILE AND THE CAR SPED OFF.  I SPENT A BEAUTIFUL RAINY EVENING ENJOYING MY TREAT WITH A GLASS OF 2 BUCK CHUCK.   I ENTERTAINED DIFFERENT GUESTS FOR TEN DAYS STRAIGHT ON 50 BUCKS.  SUNDAY WAS WAS FIRST DAY IN OVER TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD THREE SQUARE MEALS IN A DAY AND IT WAS AWESOME.

WHEN YOU DON’T CREATE THINGS YOU BECOME DEFINED BY YOUR TASTES RATHER THAN ABILITY.  YOUR TASTES ONLY NARROW AND EXCLUDE PEOPLE, SO CREATE.

I’M CONSTANTLY AMAZED AT HOW MUCH LIFE CAN CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR, 14 MONTHS AGO I SIGNED A PIECE OF PAPER AND MY LIFE BECAME AN EMPTY VOID.  SINCE THEN I HAVE COMPLETELY RECREATED MY EXISTENCE.  I HAVE MY REDUCED MY LIFE TO SIMPLE NEEDS, SURE I COULD FILL A BOOK OF THINGS I WANT BUT WHEN IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO IT I HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED, I AM AS FREE AS A BIRD AND THE WORLD IS MY OYSTER.  THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IF I CANT AFFORD TO PAY CASH, I CANT AFFORD IT PERIOD.

~If you want to feel rich, just count the things you have that money can’t buy.  Proverb

All of the problems we’re facing with debt are man made problems. We created them. It’s called fantasy economics. Fantasy economics only works in a fantasy world. It doesn’t work in reality.

~Michele Bachman

TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT YOUR LIFE.  HOW MUCH OF IT HAVE YOU WASTED AS A SLAVE TO THE DOLLAR TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH CHEAP WORTHLESS SHIT.  LIFE IS ABOUT SHARING, CARING, TEACHING AND LEARNING.  IF YOU CANT BE HAPPY WITH NOTHING YOU MOST CERTAINLY CANT BE HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING.

WHEN LIFE GOT SHITTY I  COULD HAVE CANCELLED THIS BLOG BUT I DIDN’T.  I LEFT IT UP AND LET YOU WATCH ME GO DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE.  I DID THIS BECAUSE I KNEW I WOULD EVENTUALLY CLIMB BACK UP AND PROVE THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN THS WORLD THAT CANT BE ATTAINED IF YOU WANT IT BADLY ENOUGH.  MY SECRET??? PATIENCE, HARD WORK, AND DETERMINATION.  PAY AS YOU GO AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FREE.

A man in debt is so far a slave.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

A letter from Chris McCandles

I’d like to repeat the advice I gave you before, in that I think you really should make a radical change in your lifestyle and begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future.

The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. If you want to get more out of life, Ron, you must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning and its incredible beauty. And so, Ron, in short, get out of Salton City and hit the Road.

~Chris McCandles

Every person I know in Bellingham I either met on the water, in the boatyard, or through sailor friends.  This week has been absolutely amazing.  I decided to take the whole week off from boat work and just play.  Wednesday my good friend Manuka, kidnapped me for steamers and black beer.  Thursday Liz and Melissa showed up for wine, tonight Rae is coming over for dinner and the balance of the weekend will be spent backpacking and dancing naked in the woods around a huge fire.

Bellingham has the most amazing weather patterns, One day its stormy, the next its dead calm and the sun is shining.  I don’t know how I can possibly finish all my projects by July but for now I’m not even thinking about them.

A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.
~Oscar Wilde

Thou wilt find rest from vain fancies if thou doest every act in life as though it were thy last.
~Aristotle

My little project is coming along well, I have officially started my search for a full time camera person from July 1st to October 1st.  no experience necessary.

We realized that the important thing was not the film itself but that which the film provoked.

–Fernando Solanas (“Cinema as Gun”)

That was 17 years ago, it was so liberating having no phone, keys, car, or any responsibility.  My new address was to become General delivery.  When I first started packing it was difficult to determine exactly what I would need for my world expedition.  A funny thing happened starting with my first grueling trek through the tropical sun.  My worldly possessions started to mean less to me, and one by one I began to let go, a shirt here, a lens there.  I wondered do I really need to cart this stove around when I can just make a fire.  What about this tent, its brand new but must weight 6 lbs.

Carrying the weight of my world on my back was beginning to get to me.  my scant few possessions were my burden,  I was constantly worried that my possessions would be stolen.  I carried a bag full of expensive camera gear, my new pack, a leather bound journal, expensive rain gear and beautiful sleeping bag.  I wanted to be free but I know the ways of the world and had to protect my expensive possessions.

A month into my journey a miracle happened I was camped in a dry river bed on Mt Waiʻaleʻale  ”one of the wettest spots on earth”  A midnight flash flood claimed everything I owned except for the contents of my small day pack that zipped onto my huge expedition pack.  I had a small camera with two rolls of good film, a small Swiss Army Knife, a sweat shirt, a clean tee shirt, and a pair of socks, a water bottle, lighter, one pack of cigarettes and a power bar and a single Bit-o-honey, “I can assure you they don’t last as long as you chew”, That’s all I can remember.  It was a tragedy to loose everything but I finally felt free.  I spent the night shivering in a tree but morning brought warm sun and the realization that I might be in for a big adventure. 21 days later I walked out from the jungle a changed man.

An empty cup

There’s a wonderful Buddhist story that tells of a Zen master named Nan-in. One day Nan-in had a visit from a foreign scholar who was himself a specialist in Eastern religions. The scholar came to Nan-in to learn more about Zen Buddhism. Instead of listening to the master, however, the visiting scholar pontificated on and on about his own ideas and everything that he knew.

After a while of this endless talk, Nan-in decided to serve tea. He poured tea into his visitor’s cup until it was full. And then he kept on pouring. The tea began to flow over the sides of the cup, it filled the saucer, it spilled onto the man’s pants, and then it puddled all over the floor.

Finally the visitor spoke up and said, “Don’t you see that my cup’s full? You can’t get any more in!”

“Just so,” replied the Zen master, and at last he stopped pouring. “And like this cup, you are filled with your own ideas.  How can you expect me to give you Zen unless you offer me an empty cup?”

Like the Zen Master, the mountains emptied my cup and filled me with knowledge.  When I started this journey into the Art Of Hookie I knew It would change my life.  I knew there would be hardship and suffering.  My cup was full and until I emptied it I knew deep in my heart that I could never be free of the burden of society.  It’s been seven years now and I finally feel like I have emptied everything from within and am ready to start filling the void.  To live without money, security or even food has changed my view on the world and what is truly important.  It has taught me that the world is truly a beautiful place and that there is a kindness in all of us.  It has taught me that if you want to give freely you must also learn to receive.  It has taught me that there is no such thing as time, and that no matter what the situation may be, it can always wait till tomorrow.  In having nothing, I found everything,  it was nothing. ~AEO

If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your own path.

I have so many wonderful dreams, dreams that will flourish, others will fade, and some that will simply change with each and every day.  Last night I fell asleep in a square bed with clean sheets and a big fluffy pillow.  I woke to a flush toilet and a hot shower followed by black coffee and farm fresh eggs.  I still have dirt under my nails from planting a garden and am craving the salad I had last night, made with fresh radish and beet greens.

I have no shortage of wants and needs.  Someday I will restore and sail a Bristol Channel Cutter, I will clear my land and build a small cabin with my own two hands, I will sail the world, I will …

When I set foot on the’ this morning I knew I was home.  Sure I miss the luxuries I have gone without for so long but small and simple as she is, she, The’ is my reality.  I don’t have to dream about her, she is real.  I remember how small she was when I first moved aboard, I hit my head on something ten times a day.  Those days have long gone but every now and then I hear a bonk and soft little ouch from Rae.  I chuckle under my breath but I do feel her pain.  The` is testing her as she tested me.  With each day Rae gets a bit more comfortable and is starting to feel how wonderful little the` is.  I could easily sell her and put 50% down on the “perfect” boat but then I would be trapped.   More and more I appreciate that the` is the perfect boat because like me she is free.  My life has fallen into a poetic journey with no destination, no time frames, no pressure, nothing but simple living.

Spend Time, Not Money

One Latte, two bottles of exquisite wine and a giant donut, what more could a person ask for.

Sunday evening one week ago I fell asleep to the prospect that I had 6 days until the marina confiscated my boat due to past due moorage.  I awoke Monday and a long past due loan was paid to me in full saving my boat.

Monday brought beautiful warm sun and a little girl stumbled into my life.

Tuesday I put a boat into contract.

Wednesday I put another boat into contract.

Thursday I wrote an offer that is still being negotiated but will go in I hope.  I was also kidnapped by good friends and stuffed with steak potatoes, fresh greens, scotch and beer.

Friday my brother came to visit and stuffed me with Steak potatoes, whiskey beer and award winning wine. http://www.jscottcellars.com/

Saturday was spent lounging around in the sun doing nothing and generally just enjoying life, this was the first time this year I have just wasted time and enjoyed life and it was good.  When My brother left I was a case of amazing wine richer and as I started to straighten up the boat I started to find money everywhere.  Jon had stashed cash in every place I could imagine and I’m still finding more, today I found some stuffed behind a picture, in my hat, in my boot, and under my water jug.

I have always found it easy to give but accepting from others has been very difficult.  I guess I have finally been broken because I accepted this windfall with much gratitude.

Sunday I was up early and after 7 hours of hard work The` was gleaming and I’m almost ready to start off where I ended in October.  I crawled into the cool boat to hide from the sun and have a beer when Rae showed up with her puppers Echo and kidnapped me for Ice Cream and a long stroll down a shaded wooded path.  The day ended perfectly with wet stinky dogs in the cabin and Rae and I laying in the v-birth wrapped up like a pretzel staring through the giant hatch at the sky, our soft tired giggles echoing across the calm water of the marina.

If I had only one day left to live in this beautiful world I would want it to be just like Sunday, I truly am the most fortunate person alive.

A successful relationship requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.

Prevention is, as in other aspects of seamanship, better than cure.
- Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Wind is to us what money is to life on shore.    Sterling Hayden

“My experience with engines is that if you depend on them they fail you, but if it just doesn’t matter, they serve you.”  Frank Wightman

The water is the same on both sides of the boat.  Finnish Proverb

“The person who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore.”     Dale Carnegie