Why do you do it?

[Carolwildbird]

Ozcruiser's post in the thread "Is the ARC a ripoff" set me pondering last night on the diverse reasons that people become liveaboards/long term cruisers - and why I'm planning to..

I've long been interested in "how people tick", so to speak, and reading blogs and books of people who do long distance cruising is endlessly fascinating.

For me, there is something very profound about being at sea on passage - it sort of cuts through all the normal layers/barriers that I put up to survive in everyday existence. So maybe setting off to sail for a long time is partly for me about a journey of self discovery. Alongside that there is something about living more simply and in harmony with the earth, and living a less material life. Wanting to meet and be part of a community of like minded people who share these values, and of course adventure- which has been sadly lacking in my life for the last few years.

There's a great quote by Osho on this:
"One needs to be an adventurer, always ready to risk the known for the unknown. And once one has tasted the joys of freedom and fearlessness, one never repents because one then knows what it means to live at the optimum. Then one knows what it means to burn your life’s torch from both ends together. And even a single moment of that intensity is more gratifying that the whole eternity of mediocre living"

There's my twopennyworth- I'd be interested to hear what motivates other people...

 

[TiggerToo]

Carol,
I am not a liveaboard, but someone who has been dreaming about it for a long long time. "Life gets in the way" so to speak, but my dreams have a habit of coming true ... (sometime turning into nightmares!).

However, I have given lots of thoughts to these very same things.

As a biologist, I think we have evolved some neural circuits that push us into travelling. Roaming is usually driven by actual circumstances: famine, war, disease, predators, economic drivers, whatever...(lots of examples in recorded history). However there is probably also something deep-down that is "instinctive" (for want of a better word). A sort of primeval drive to wander, which balances that to "settle". You can easily see how this might have been of selective advantage to humanity. And therefore why it has fixed itself. Although for most of us here in the UK, especially us privileged enough to be able to affordto run a boat for leisure pursposes, probably do not "need" to go elsewhere to find food/job/liberty/a future, we do experience this "pull". And going by sea is one of the most effective ways of doing this.

Well, that is a start anyway. Does this ring any bells? Maybe it is a drive akin to that which makes us reproduce (sex), eat (hunger), look after our offspring (parental love) etc..

 

[capnsensible]

Coz it's how I get paid. Bit mundane reply, I realise!!

 

[cozzykim]

Like Tigertoo I don't liveaboard either, but I'm planning to someday (sooner rather than later please).
I live a long way from the sea but I'm drawn to water like a duck!
I feel at peace on the water whether it be lake, river or sea.
The possibility of changing the view from your window, feeding the fish that shelter under the boat, catching the fish that come to eat them /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif being able to choose your neighbours and friends.
If I'm going to end up in a home one day I want to be able to look back and feel that I've done something and been places outside the norm.
I love being close hauled, overpowered at 45 degrees in an F6 (SWMBO says I'll probably grow out of that one, LOL)
There must be a thousand valid reasons, escaping from the "nanny state" is climbing up my list.

Best regards Kim n Chris

 

[Metabarca]

Augustine, in his Confessions, says: " Men travel far to climb high mountains, to observe the majesty of the ocean, to trace the sources of rivers, while they neglect themselves." Petrarch, having read this passage on a summit in the Alps, exclaimed: "Admirable reasoning! Admirable thought!" "If," said he, "I have undergone so much labour in climbing this mountain, that my body might be nearer heaven, what ought I not to do in order that my soul maybe received into those immortal regions." Go to sea, perhaps!
It is an irony of our modern society that we have turned this on its head: we climb high mountains, observe the majesty of the ocean etc, for our 'immortal soul', or rather for 'self-discovery' and 'fulfilment'. I'm sure the great explorers of the past would have felt what Osho expresses, although they would have put in other, less new-age terms.

 

[beancounter]

Interesting...

Why are we planning to do it?

a) There are so many places to see, and sailing is a damn fine way of getting there..

b) For me, anyway, there is something more satisfying about getting to a place under your own steam than being spat out of a cruise ship with 2000 others. (Possible Puritannical steak in me?)

c) Not discsussed this point with SWMBO, but our lives are becoming increasingly "cluttered", both physically and time-wise. Simplicity beckons...

Even if the sailing plan falls through, we've discussed plan B, which would certainly then kick in. Buy a campervan, and head off....

Ageing Hippy? Moi?

 

[LadyJessie]

Carol, I think you got it. I have been a permanent liveaboard for five years now and I would not trade it for anything. There are many aspects to this life that is just incredibly nice and the values attached to those will depend on the individual. But I think you touch on some of the fundamentals; IMHO you have to enjoy being at sea and you have to love being self sufficient. If you don't, you will not be a cruising liveaboard for long. Then you might be a marina liveaboard and there are many of those, but that is a totally different life.

In addition, some other benefits: being able to visit some beautiful places that are only really accessible with a boat. You will meet some very interesting people. If you are in the Med, you will get close to our ancient history. I always get a kick out of anchoring in a 2000 year old ancient harbour.

I could go on and on, but I think you got the point so that is not necessary.

 

[Sea Devil]

I lived and travelled for around 10 years and soon hope to be able to do it again.

Partly it is the independence - there are no restrictions except my own limitations. No time tables or rules except those I wish to create for my own well being.
I can experience the pleasure of being answerable to no person unless I want.
I was or maybe still am a gypsy - no fixed aboard when I voyage.


Then there are the far away places with strange sounding name that really do call to me... Been to an awful lot of them - would like to go back to some and certainly want to go to a lot of the ones I have missed... New lands. different cultures, different lifestyles...

Not too sure that people who want to travel in organised groups like the ARC will get it but if it works for them that's fine... Not sure that people who are into passing lots of totally irrelevant exams will get it either - I learned to operate a SSB in an afternoon of with somebody who used theirs regularly - but then only used it for weather and chatting to my friends or on nets... very useful and lots of fun but certainly does not need a 'course' or a certificate - unless those things turn you on...

My boats were always a bit overladen with things - I tried to sail within my limitations but actually found the more you did the easier it became and the more fun, friends, freedom there was.... Nothing to prove but lots to do, places to see, peoples to meet.... just being a water gypsy.

 

[Salty John]

Freedom, a simple life, adventure and, afterwards, immense satisfaction. That about sums it up for me.

' The truth is I already know as much about my fate as I need to know.
The day will come when I will die. So the only matter of consequence before me is what I will do with my allotted time.
I can remain on shore paralysed by fear, or I can raise my sails and dip and soar in the breeze'

Richard Bode, from his book 'First you have to row a little boat'

 

[Jock89]

"there is something very profound about being at sea on passage - it sort of cuts through all the normal layers/barriers that I put up to survive in everyday existence. So maybe setting off to sail for a long time is partly for me about a journey of self discovery. Alongside that there is something about living more simply and in harmony with the earth, and living a less material life. Wanting to meet and be part of a community of like minded people who share these values, and of course adventure- which has been sadly lacking in my life for the last few years"

That's it exactly Carol, you hit the nail right on the thumb there.!

 

[AndrewB]

[ QUOTE ]
There's a great quote by Osho on this:
"One needs to be an adventurer, always ready to risk the known for the unknown. And once one has tasted the joys of freedom and fearlessness, one never repents because one then knows what it means to live at the optimum. Then one knows what it means to burn your life’s torch from both ends together. And even a single moment of that intensity is more gratifying that the whole eternity of mediocre living"

[/ QUOTE ] What tripe! This guy has NEVER been out there!

More realistically voyaging is about preparation, organisation and effort. You've got to sort out how to get from place to place, fix your boat, organise maintenance, supplies and so on in unfamiliar circumstances, fill in the time.

A bit like work, really, only you don't get paid. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[tarik]

Michael,

I entirely agree having retired after working in a disciplined and organised organisation, I can't wait to sail off and soak up the freedom!

Could I ask you about the SSB I intend to get one fitted but was under the impression that it will mean another exam/certificate course. I am very familiar with radio procedure etc, do I need to have a piece of paper confirming that or can I connect up and go?

Many thanks


David

 

[Carolwildbird]

I don;t think i was claiming that OSHO had sailed!!! Just that adventure is significant in human psychology.

Undoubtedly voyaging involves preparation, organisation and effort... but is that WHY you do it?

If its like work- what motivates you to continue?

 

[Carling]

You seemed to have missed the point. There are many things that you need to do in order to do anything, these things are generally a means to an end. I have to plan, organise and prepare to go on holiday...these are not the reasons I go on holiday but a necessary part of the adventure.

 

[Sea Devil]

David hi,
There is so much nonsense talked and written about operating an SSB by people who have never left the Med or EU waters that I have not bothered to contribute to the threads on certificates etc.

SSB are only worth having if you are leaving the Med and European waters... An SSB has hardly any value in these areas. Once you are in the Caribbean and beyond they are almost vital and an essential piece of equipment.

The course and certificate are a total waste of time and money. Carrying the Admiralty list of Radio Signals are a waste of space... Never in 10 years did I find my copies of any value whatsoever.

There is nothing you cannot learn about operating an SSB that cannot be picked up in an afternoon with somebody who already has one... Hardest part is writing in frequencies and the instructions for that come with the set... Normally you will operate 'simplex' tx and rx on the same frequency... sometimes people use ITU channels to chat on and those are pre programmed into your set just like VHF.

I was net controller on the Red Sea Net with perhaps 80-90 checkins each morning from yachts spread out over a 1500 - mile area... I would bet that 85% like me did not have the operators certificate or had done a course and we all knew how to do it... You will pick up the way to use difference frequencies in different conditions quite easily and as for the safety issue remember that the merchant navy uses vhf and satellite telephones as does the military who hardly monitor SSB at all.

If you can operate a VHF then you can operate a SSB -- the instructions come with the set and the list of nets operating in your area you will get from other boats and keeping in touch with 'friends' will be a personal matter of deciding on skeds and times etc..

Sorry to go on - people talk such tripe about a very simple to use tool

Michael

 

[HoratioHB]

We hope for all these good things but need another 6 months to know whether we were right. However what we do know is:

a. The winter in UK is driving us mad and we want sunny weather
b. I've worked for 37 years and am bored with it. No-one lies in their deathbed wishing he'd spent more time in the office.
c. We've reached the age where we've already lost some friends and it could happen to us, so time is no longer on our side.
d. We CAN do it, as suddenly we have no family or financial ties.
e. We will never forgive ouselves if we don't try !!!!

 

[Sea Devil]

You always regret the things you don't do....

 

[jimbaerselman]

What motivates me:

1. Independence

2. Facing the unknown

3. The satisfaction of dealing with the unknown

4. The adrenalin rush of failing to deal with the unknown and working out a new strategy under pressure

5. Relaxation after the adrenalin . . .

6. Moments of sheer bliss when you meet natural phenomena that most other people won't - shooting stars, green flash at sunset, a whale bumping your boat, schools of porpoises - add you own thrills.

7. Moments of sheer panic when you meet phenomena that most . . . . . . . and you survive

8. The fascination of sharing foreign cultures

 

[AlanPound]

You seem to have expanded upon that old saw about the two "pleasures" of sailing...

i) To leave a place of safety and to embark upon a great ocean.

ii) To leave a great ocean and enter a place of safety.

Concise perhaps, but it says a lot!

 

[jimbaerselman]

Hadn't heard those. Neat.

It's all about uncertainty, isn't it?