latitudes
2012-12-25 22:01:03
Merry Christmas to all of you and thanks for all of the answers and advice. I'm hoping that Santa, or you guys can offer up some more, as I may have found a boat. Wondering if anyone knows about the quality (general perspective) of Alberni built boats (wood) and what length poles to run on a 46x 13.5 boat. If things go well, this dream is close to a reality. I got an e-mail from someone, unknown, that is as follows, " Twenty years form now you will be more dissapointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain. I'm taking this as a sign. Merry Christmas!
Latitudes
Once and Future
2012-12-26 01:20:31
I have read those same words and let them influence my life in a positive way. However, a lot of this depends on personality. I think of my niece who had two babies without being married with men who did not stay in her life. It is obvious to me that advising her to be less cautious in life would be irresponsible, and she should disregard Mark Twain's words.
When I read "Life on the Mississippi" as a young man, it practically made me sick. I mean, the life Twain described was so great, but it disappeared in his lifetime. Also, it leaves one rather aimless when you decide your true calling is steamboat pilot but it's the year 1977 out.
When I was younger, I would get infatuated with some shiny new toy from time to time. If I bought it, a week later it would often not be nearly so important. It led me to the phrase: "The only cure for desire is regret". (I think I made that up myself, but maybe not.) Conversely, later in life I talked myself out of excellent, excellent investments because I decided I could live without them. I can guarantee this, though: If you do buy a boat, the moment you find a rotten board, or something else that SHOULD have been obvious when you were shopping, you are going to have to fervently read Mark Twains' passage over again a few times to keep your morale up. Here is a legit piece of advice, before you commit yourself to buying a boat, take a disinterested 3rd party with you who can look at it with non-starry eyes. And I don't necessarily mean a marine surveyor. But here is the trouble, it is a rare friend indeed that will give you advice that isn't secretly in his own best interest.
Two more thoughts, one negative and one positive. It truly pains me to see those in the troll fleet who have to try and get by in life with so little money. Most people probably place too much emphasis on wealth. But on the other hand, there is a bare minimum of money that life is pretty miserable to navigate without.
The positive thought comes from the first few pages of "Moby Dick". The protagonist states something along the lines of he usually signs on for a two year voyage whenever he catches himself "staring at the coffin going by in the hearse a little too longingly". Maybe that's not as positive as I thought. But similar to Twains' words he seems to be saying "Live while you're alive, for tomorrow you won't have the option."
One more bonus thought: It is often considered wise advice to "pick a career you think is fun, and you'll never go to work a day in your life". Sounds good, but if we all want great careers it doesn't leave anybody to clean the public toilets, does it?
Happy New Year!!! (Ever look up what the words to "Auld Lang Syne" mean? It's pretty cool. "A cup 'o kindness" to you all!)
akfisher1978
2012-12-26 02:04:42
Merry Christmas and go for it Latitudes! If you do it and it doesnt work at least you will know you tried, dont wait and them someday have to wonder how it "might " have turned out!
elkiller
2012-12-26 05:34:00
In the end, on your last day, in the last moment, you will be the only one responsible for your own happiness. Life throws you curve balls and big juicy off speed pitches that you can hit out of the park. Don't go back to the dugout without swinging at some of them. May your boat be too small to hold all the fish you can catch in an afternoon.