life's choices

[Frank]

Thoreau wrote "there is no more fatal blunderer than he whom consumes most of his life getting a living"  I'm just back from Florida spending a week getting Jubilee ready. I realized how much I truly enjoy boat life...how much I look forward to taking off in Jan. and just exploring again.For the last week I did not wear socks..seldom even sandals.Shorts and a T were the wardrobe.What time or even what day it was did not really matter.No TV..no news.I know winter will be like that too.I'm back in the office 2 days and I'm stressed.Screw ups on jobsites,material delays,realestate agents,calls,meetings...life was so simple on the boat. How did I do this so many years? WHY did I do this so many years? I truly admire people like the Pardey's who made the choice to follow their dream and KEEP following it. While they may not be wealthy in the 'Wall Street' sence....they are rich beyond compare in lifes adventures and experiences.Their 'wealth' is in memories of the places they have seen,the people they have met and their 'true to themselves' independant choices that kept them from chasing 'societies dream'. How totally silly most of us must seem to them and others that have made  'CHOICES' to go their own way.How silly most of us must look to them as we 'chase our tails' in what we have been taught is 'normal'. Most of us would be 'blunderers' to Thoreau and the Pardey's and others who followed their hearts uneffected by what was considered the 'right way'. In the end as we reflect back on our lives...it will be our own choices that shape our memories. I hope we ALL choose to sail more,see more,do more...truly enjoy life.                  sorry for the ramble

[Zen]

where is the ramble, did I miss something?  ;)

[s/v Faith]

sorry for the ramble

 No need, wonderful post, great reminder. Thanks Frank.

[Grampian]

Sailors do not ramble.

They philosophize.

You done good.

Grog for ya and may fair winds follow...

[Cmdr Pete]

Free the slaves Frank

jubilee
 
SYLLABICATION: ju·bi·lee

NOUN: 1a. A specially celebrated anniversary, especially a 50th anniversary. b. The celebration of such an anniversary. 2. A season or an occasion of joyful celebration. 3. Jubilation; rejoicing. 4. often Jubilee Bible In the Hebrew Scriptures, a year of rest to be observed by the Israelites every 50th year, during which slaves were to be set free, alienated property restored to the former owners, and the lands left untilled. 5. often Jubilee Roman Catholic Church A year during which plenary indulgence may be obtained by the performance of certain pious acts. 
ETYMOLOGY: Middle English jubile, from Old French, from Late Latin ibilaeus, the Jewish year of jubilee, alteration (influenced by ibilre, to raise a shout of joy) of Greek iblaios, from iblos, from Hebrew yôbl, ram, ram's horn, jubilee. See ybl in Appendix II. 

[Frank]

Seems fitting as I will be turning 50 on "Jubilee" in march in the Bahamas

[s/v Faith]

I'll toast to that!

  Grog!  Grog for all!  ;D

[Zen]

Ah sweet!
Now you have the hang of things, you can start enjoying yourself!  ;D

[s/v Faith]

Thoreau wrote "there is no more fatal blunderer than he whom consumes most of his life getting a living" 

  I'm just back from Florida spending a week getting Jubilee ready. I realized how much I truly enjoy boat life...how much I look forward to taking off in Jan. and just exploring again.

  For the last week I did not wear socks..seldom even sandals.Shorts and a T were the wardrobe.What time or even what day it was did not really matter.No TV..no news.I know winter will be like that too.I'm back in the office 2 days and I'm stressed.Screw ups on jobsites,material delays,realestate agents,calls,meetings...life was so simple on the boat. How did I do this so many years?

WHY did I do this so many years?

  I truly admire people like the Pardey's who made the choice to follow their dream and KEEP following it. While they may not be wealthy in the 'Wall Street' sense....they are rich beyond compare in life's adventures and experiences.

  Their 'wealth' is in memories of the places they have seen,the people they have met and their 'true to themselves' independent choices that kept them from chasing 'societies dream'.

  How totally silly most of us must seem to them and others that have made  'CHOICES' to go their own way.How silly most of us must look to them as we 'chase our tail's in what we have been taught is 'normal'.

  Most of us would be 'blunderers' to Thoreau and the Pardey's and others who followed their hearts unaffected by what was considered the 'right way'.

  In the end as we reflect back on our lives...it will be our own choices that shape our memories. I hope we ALL choose to sail more,see more,do more...truly enjoy life.                 

sorry for the ramble

  Victor Frankel, is credited as the author of 'existential counseling'.  He observed that prisoners in Auschwitz often lived or died based on their decisions about the surrender of their will.  (My summary, for a better one read this {worth reading}). 

  We make decisions every day, so often we do not even consider the result of the choices we make.  Meaning is lost in a sea of responsibilities and expectations.... their tide would carry us along from the cradle to the grave.  Awareness of these choices can make all the difference.

  Posts like yours remind us.

[CapnK]

I read Frankl's Mans Search For Meaning several years ago. *Really* interesting book.

Frank - Good ramble. :) I just began rereading "Walden" a couple weeks ago, for the several-th time, though this is the first time since I have been living 'the boat life'. In my case at least, boat life has much in common with his sentiments (and yours) re: simplicity.

And just a couple days ago I was telling someone something I've noticed since moving aboard - incidents of ill health have pretty much gone by the wayside. I attribute that to the fact that there is just so much to smile about, to be grateful for, when living 'down at the waterline'. Every day I get the best views, the freshest air, and am reminded of the heartbeat of our beautiful world in the ebb and flow of the tides. Well, stop me before I wax poetic, but I think y'all know what I mean... ;)

I have had the occasional morning headache, though these were due more to simpleminded grog consumption the night before... ;D

[AdriftAtSea]

I'd also recommend Po Bronson's book, What should I do with my Life?

[c-hag]

dr barry stephens: dont push the river.......it flows by itself...................

taught me i do not have to make up my mind until i am there and i do not have to force the decision--it will come...........at the right time............

[Frank]

Trying to get caught up enough here to head south. Seems that "enough" part is always a week or more away. I was poking through old posts and read this. Darn...4 years later and I still need work on my choices.....but I'm gettin there.

life's choices
on: December 12, 2006, 07:29:35 PM      

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Thoreau wrote "there is no more fatal blunderer than he whom consumes most of his life getting a living"  I'm just back from Florida spending a week getting Jubilee ready. I realized how much I truly enjoy boat life...how much I look forward to taking off in Jan. and just exploring again.For the last week I did not wear socks..seldom even sandals.Shorts and a T were the wardrobe.What time or even what day it was did not really matter.No TV..no news.I know winter will be like that too.I'm back in the office 2 days and I'm stressed.Screw ups on jobsites,material delays,realestate agents,calls,meetings...life was so simple on the boat. How did I do this so many years? WHY did I do this so many years? I truly admire people like the Pardey's who made the choice to follow their dream and KEEP following it. While they may not be wealthy in the 'Wall Street' sence....they are rich beyond compare in lifes adventures and experiences.Their 'wealth' is in memories of the places they have seen,the people they have met and their 'true to themselves' independant choices that kept them from chasing 'societies dream'. How totally silly most of us must seem to them and others that have made  'CHOICES' to go their own way.How silly most of us must look to them as we 'chase our tails' in what we have been taught is 'normal'. Most of us would be 'blunderers' to Thoreau and the Pardey's and others who followed their hearts uneffected by what was considered the 'right way'. In the end as we reflect back on our lives...it will be our own choices that shape our memories. I hope we ALL choose to sail more,see more,do more...truly enjoy life.
sorry for the ramble

[Pappy Jack]

As Zen said so many years ago, "So where is the ramble, did I miss something?"