Tag Archives: minimalism

Triage

22 Wednesday Feb 2012

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It may seem a bit backwards for some, Alan , but the first step one might take towards rearranging the present circumstances of their life is to stop dwelling upon the present circumstances of their life. 

But for you it’s probably a no-brainer.

    The Universe

Triage,  is the process of determining the priority of a boats’ upgrades based on the severity of their condition. This rations a boats maintenance efficiently when resources are insufficient for all to be upgraded immediately. 

The` is officially a voyaging yacht.  My broke bank account is soon to have a few freedom chips, not as many as I would like but enough to start provisioning.  My priority’s are as usual dogie food and treats for 4 full months.  A few cases of wine, a case of whiskey, one full bin of fun munchies and 4 cases of beans rice…, ie boring but sustainable food.  I have been sailing with zero safety equipment but that is going to change as I can’t afford the potential ticket I would get if I get caught.

I plan to fill every nook and crannie of the boat.  I am tuning her rig and getting the bugs out.  I still have no water tank, oven, blah blah blah, but we are ready and sea trials start this week.  There is still lots to do before departure but it has all started, from here on out its one hour of fun for every one hour of work.  I’m so excited today as I have just received a new book :) thanks ken.  I am also buying a new/old camera today for 25 bucks.

If we fasten our attention on what we have, rather than on what we lack, a very little wealth is sufficient.

~Francis Johnson

Port Townsend.

20 Monday Feb 2012

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I’m sitting in the Wooden Boat Chandlery at Port Hudson Marina in Port Townsend.  Staring out across the Straights of Juan De Fucha.  The rain is blowing sideways, the angry grey water of an opposing tide combats the wind.  A lone gaffer works against the tide making her way towards me and the safe harbor.

This little gaffer sailed around the Cape Horn and is representative of Port Townsend.  Every corner, nook, and cranny of the marinas and boatyards here are filled with nautical history.  I had made an impromptu trip here to refinish the interior of a 26′ Falmouth Cutter.  Now a whole week later, back in Bellingham it all seems like a dream.  I locked myself inside the boat with great music and went to work, varnish shavings covered every inch of the boat as I stripped out 20 years of neglect.

I had my bike with me and explored every inch of PT, I have been hoping to spend a month here in the spring working on the boat before setting off to explore the Salish Sea.  My real dream is to spend one last winter in PT before sailing down the coast.  Port Townsend is a sailors mecca.  The two top places I have wanted to live and sail for a few months are Port Townsend and San Francisco.

I spent a good amount of time talking with local sail makers and riggers hoping to set my final budget.  I was quoted just under 11k for a new suit of working sails, not just any sails but the finest sails made, lets just say I will be using what I have for now.  I was fortunate enough to visit several other Falmouth Cutters and was reminded of how much I prefer the simplicity of my boat.  By the time I left town I had crossed nearly every item off my must have list, and transferred them to my someday list.

I had many revelations on this wonderful working vacation but the biggest one is that there is one thing still missing from this boat and I intend to keep it that way…

I keep sailing on in this middle passage. I am sailing into the wind and waves in the dark. But I am doing my best to keep my boat steady and my sails full.

The hardest part is leaving.

08 Wednesday Feb 2012

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It’s the little things that count.  I love all the constant little nudges and words of encouragement that I get my my sailing friends all over the world.  I’ve honestly made so many friends from this site that I could show up in any region of the world and have a friend to sail with.  The link below is one of my all time favorite journals.  If you haven’t met Linda take a peek, she just might teach you a thing or two.

shttp://lindapasquariello.com/2012/01/24/680/

I’m sitting at my desk looking at a two hundred thousand dollar unsigned contract that I just tore in half.  I was offered full funding to open a film studio based out of Portland, my one year contract to start this firm was a dream come true, money, fun, security, travel.  In addition to the start up money there was quite a healthy pay schedule for me including all relocating costs, living expenses and a free car for a year.

Why would I turn my back on such an opportunity?  Fear, apprehension about the future, fear of failure, fear of success, fear of leaving, fear of staying.  I wonder, will my boat every be ready, will I? Setting off as a solo sailor has a small amount of risk attached but its my dog I worry most about.  I know I can take care of myself but can I keep her happy, safe, and comfortable?  The list of fears is so long I could write a book.  From the start I have known that I would fit the boat out as I coastal cruise so what am I waiting for?

There is a calm sea in my mind, the tide is pulling and The` is patiently waiting.  I’ve given myself till May 1st to get all my ducks in a row.  If I can make enough money I will make a stop in Port Townsend to replace my pintles and gudgeons, an expoxy job and add a water tank.  If I don’t have the money it will have to wait.  My short sea trials have been going well but I want  to feel the long pacific rollers under my keel, and the wind on my back.

There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.
                                  ~William Shakespeare

An impossibly perfect day.

07 Tuesday Feb 2012

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The weather has been absolutely wonderful here.  We have been averaging 60 degrees, sun, and just a bit of wind.  All of the Bellinghamites are coming out from their winter hibernation.

I decided to play hookie from work and clean up the boat.  The afternoon sun warmed my shirtless body and life was perfect.  I jumped on Schwinnie and headed into town in search of a yummy dinner.  People were everywhere, it was nice to see skin after so many days of snow and cold.  Its looking like I will be out of here sooner than I thought.  So much to do so little time.  I’m trying as hard as I can to stay focused as summer is right around the corner.  I have given notice to the marina so who knows where I will drop the anchor next.  The sun is calling my name and the wind has offered me free passage.  Close your eyes and imagine, can you see me now?

When we love, it isn’t because the person’s perfect, it’s because we learn to see an imperfect person perfectly.

Skinny Dipping.

03 Friday Feb 2012

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It’s becoming very apparent that I need a girl on the boat.  I have been so consumed with the blue jobs that I have completely ignored the pink jobs.

Condensation, dog hair mold! GROSS.  I clean the boat daily, weekly, and monthly to different degrees.  My bilge pump went off today which is strange because The` Doesn’t leak a drop, top to bottom she is 100% dry.  I stuck my head in the bilge to see what was going on and there was massive condensation.  Every locker has started to sprout mold.  I pulled the boat apart and started my spring cleaning.  All I know is a girl would have never let it get this far.  On a positive note its gonna be 50 degrees with sun for the next 6 days.  I should just cut the dock lines and sail south while its warm but I’m just not ready to say good bye to the San Juan’s yet.  I have been waiting for this break and will make the best use of it that I can.  I love the contrast in weather here.  It was just a few days ago that there was 2 inches of ice on the bay.  Its definitely skinny dipping weather.

Judge of your natural character by what you do in your dreams.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The end of the beginning.

01 Wednesday Feb 2012

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February 1st, I cant believe how time fly’s.  Two years ago I began a journey into self sufficiency.  I decided to try and live off of one dollar per hour.

I had spent the better part of the last ten years living like a king.  I didnt respect money and quite frankly had so much of it that I often gave large portions away.  I was living in a manor most Americans will never experience.  One day it all came to an end.  I had choices, I could spend years fighting over money, or I could simply walk away, I choose the later.  This was my first experience in total freedom that I had lived in years, I had forgotten what it was like to be completed free.  I had sold my soul to the devil for a bunch or worthless green paper.

It was the middle of winter and I was living in my car, then a snow cave and eventually a tepee.  I lived off road kill deer, pine needle tea, and started dumpster diving.  Even when I was making a 6 figure income I had never been as healthy or happy.

I was living like Jesus, I was homeless, jobless, and possession-less.  It was the purest my soul had been in as long as I could remember.

Eventually a 9 ounce tarp become my home.

Nature provided for all of our needs.

Eventually I was sucked back in, first a job, then a car, then a house.  Not just one house, I was living in seven houses all luxury vacation rentals.  My life became a constant vacation living like the rich and famous.  Money came and my happy simple life faded away.  I had traded my freedom for a beautiful house and my Harley.  My thousand mile road trips never felt as free as when I had nothing and I always had to be back before I was ready.

I skied, surfed, mountain biked, and hiked, you name it, but the cost was always too high.  I wanted to be free, I wanted all of my life not just a few short hours here and there.

The best years of my life were slipping away and no amount of toys could shield me from the fact that my youth was coming to an and.  Time was running out.  Sure I could go back to work again but I’m human, I’m weak, I’m greedy.  I could easily be sucked into another ten years of toil which is how long it would take me to save a million dollars.  A million dollars that could go away overnight.

Today I have officially ended all personal tests, challenges, boycotts, and the like.  I have proven that not only can I survive but that I can live happily simple and free. There is no more need to challenge my self.  From here on out I will look to nature.  I have become the sailor and mountain man, the friend and lover, a natural born leader who will graciously follow.  My next journey is the sea, she will be my teacher and provider.  In return I will continue to protect her as best as I can.  I am free.

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent.  ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Rhumb line.

29 Sunday Jan 2012

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In navigation, a rhumb line (or loxodrome) is a line crossing all meridians of  longitude at the same angle, i.e. a path derived from a defined initial bearing. That is, upon taking an initial bearing, one proceeds along the same bearing, without changing the direction as measured relative to true north.

In preparing for my upcoming voyage I seem to deviate from my rhumb line more often than not.  I only have one mandatory project before setting out.  I ran short of time in the boat yard and want to do an epoxy job on The` before heading out to warmer waters.  She still has no built in water tank or stove.  I would like an ice box but its not mandatory.  More  sails would be a dream.  Lifelines are pretty important but haven’t kept me from sailing.  Some form of auxiliary propulsion seems pretty necessary.  Safety equipment, at least the basic coast guard required equipment sounds like a good idea.  It would be nice if all of my lights worked and maybe a small solar panel to keep them burning.  So many little things that add up.

The boat is coming along at a good pace despite so many setbacks.  I have $1.68 in my checking account, 1 penny on the boat and $8.75 cents in quarters in my shower bag.  I work on 100% commission and don’t have any pending deals.  I should be worried that I haven’t paid my slip rent in two months but I don’t.

For everything I don’t have I work hard and never give up on finishing.  What do I have?  A dream, a boat that is paid for and ready enough to cruise locally.  I have a warm dry bunk and a few weeks of food.  More importantly I have my health, my youth,  a strong determination and rock solid little boat.  How many years have I dreamed about this reality that I now live.  The voyage of The` started almost one year ago.  On February 10th 2011 I received this letter. “Greetings, I have a FC for sale. She is on the hard in Long Beach, California.  Easily movable as she rests on a newer triple-axel trailer.  If you are interested please call or email for her story and details.”

I was wrapping up a heart breaking divorce an in the process of loosing everything that was dear to me.  I never gave up, I put my nose to the grindstone and made my dreams my reality.  I’m free, happy and every day the hard work and sacrifice is paying off.

I don’t sweat the small stuff.  Every day the sun stays out just a little bit longer.  Summer is coming.

A sacrifice is best refuted by accepting it.
  ~Wilhelm Steintz

Batch’n it.

29 Sunday Jan 2012

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I love Saturday nights mostly because I am off on Sunday so I can stay up late and do anything I choose.  Tonight I am doing the bachelor thing and have no complaints about it.

Tonight I have a date with my short wave radio ” Thanks Ken” a Flask of stellar whiskey and my boat projects list.   Solitude can be a beautiful thing when you are in the right frame of mind and tonight I am.  I can’t believe I actually solved my Rubiks cube, I don’t quite know how it happened but I feel enlightened.

A creation of importance can only be produced when its author isolates himself, it is a child of solitude.
   ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Sea for two.

20 Friday Jan 2012

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Up until now I had pretty much resolved  myself to voyaging alone and having friends fly in here and there for longer passages.  This has all changed, as my work progresses I find that more and more I am open to having a full time partner.

I had decided to sell my windless and downsize my chain from 5/16 to 1/4 to save weight in the bow.  I have now decided to keep it make life easier for a small person to handle.  The windless is over twenty years old and completely ceased.  I have been slowly dismantling it and its amazingly perfect.  I love old stuff, I’m still amazed at the quality of products I find that were made in America back before we all entered the disposable revolution.

“When you look at an apple, some people would say the non-organic apple is cheaper than the organic apple. But when you factor in what you’re receiving in terms of vitamins, minerals, etc., the organic apple—on that basis—is cheaper than the non-organic apple.”

~Jerry Kay“

I have always beleaved that I get Karma points for making my own or adding second hand gear to The`when possible.  When I purchased chain for the boat I was told  I could save money by buying chain made in China.  Sure I could have saved a few bucks on the purchase but in the long run It would cost me more due to the inferior quality.  It would also cost my community by sending my money to China rather than keeping in here in Bellingham where I live and work.  With the exception of rigging and ground tackle I try first to buy it used, then local.

 

The ever-mounting glut of waste materials is characteristic by-product of modern “consumer society.” It might even be argued that capitalism’s continual need to find of generate markets means that disposibility and waste have become the spine of the system. To consume means, literally, “to destroy or expend,” and in the garbage crisis we confront the underlying truth of a society in which enormous productive capacities and market forces have harnessed human needs and desires, without regard to the long or even short-term future of life on the planet. 
                                     ~Stuart Ewen 

 

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