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Day 3190
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Jan
24
Written by:
Alex
1/24/2012 6:58 AM
 I know I’ve been really quiet but a funny thing happened to me on the way back from Panama city a few weeks ago, I met Carla.
As all of you know I HATE the bus, well…, not so much this time. Anyway, on my way back from the city I needed to change buses in Sabanetas which is a really nasty, dirty, cruddy little Panamanian town. I was really stressed to make the bus and only made it by a minute or two, had I missed it I’d be sitting in the heat for hours. Carla was sitting on the sidewalk next to her long board looking a bit dazed, lost, and supporting a frown. She was on her way to Isla Grande for some surfing and adventure and had been sitting there for hours. She didn't get to the surfing but she did get the adventure as did I :) When we got to Puerto Lindo I offered to introduce her to my monkey friends and take her to Isla Grande via the inflatable. It took all of about 5 minutes to  know something was going on with us as we had a really strong connection. Carla has been traveling the world for the last 12 years teaching children. She studied languages in University and is also a translator for a children's rights foundation in Argentina and translates documents via email so she can travel. She gave up her flat at the end of last school year and went traveling again, luckily this time to Panama :) The last thing on my mind has been the possibility of any kind of romantic relationship. Relationships are really difficult for me because I have a list as long as my arm and I’m not willing to settle down, or settle for someone who isn't right for me or just convenient. I find it very difficult to communicate & relate(in person) with most people and this was certainly not the case, Carla and I really clicked in a positive way. Most of my friends are couples and keep telling me I wont come across a well educated, read, spoken, and traveled mermaid with no children, husbands, or baggage of any kind. When she told me that “every year I strive to live on less money and things” I nearly choked and swallowed my tong. I asked her if she was stalking me through my website and had made a psychological profile of what would be a perfect woman for me. You think I’m joking, this was a valid concern in my mind. She's a super-hippie with a great attitude and great…, well…, I wont get into all of that. The list of things we have in common is absurd, our birthdays are even 2 days apart. Carla holds 2 passports (Croatia and Argentina) and lives in Patagonia. She flew back to Buenos Aires yesterday because her sister had a baby. Her sister lives in the mountains of Patagonia with no electricity and just gave birth naturally without a midwife, doctor, hospital, or drugs. Her sister is a super-hippie too and obviously wants to live out of the system as well. My head is spinning. She tells me she's coming back in a few weeks after she packs some personal things and finishes the family reunion in the mountains. Maybe she will come to her senses and run away as fast as she can but I don't think so, she left her surf board (prized possession) and some of her things. She is going to help me focus on chartering for the next 6 months. She is a great vegetarian cook, plays guitar, and needs to be in the water all the time. Aside from my love-life I’m getting back to non-skid today. I have a friend coming on the 11th and have some work to do before he arrives. I bought a cheaper paint ($50/Gal) for the non-skid. I have some friends I trust and they assured me a one-part polyurethane is fine for the non-skid and easier to work with. Well…, so there you go. I’ve traveled far enough to know I don't know anything, life just happens and we have no control over it no matter how much we think we do. I know a guy who one wrote “fear guards the gates of freedom”. Personally I’m not afraid of the sea, weather, being poor, or the unexpected. My fears lay in my heart and I’m good at protecting it. But I wish to be free, truly free! This is my path and I will walk it save my trepidations. Cheers guys. Peace, Love, and Coconuts. Sail far & live slowly. alex
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37 comment(s) so far...
Re: Life happens!
Yeah!!! You just never know what surprises life has in store. She's pretty and you look giddy.
By Hannah on
1/24/2012 7:33 AM
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Re: Life happens!
I know your friend would love to help with any boat projects. He is probably looking forward to learning all the aspects of cruising....boat projects, sailing in beautiful spots, meeting the locals.....and yes, meeting beautiful female hippies.
By Chuck Lanham on
1/24/2012 9:16 AM
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Re: Life happens!
Alex,
Hey man, its great to see your happy and found someone to share your happiness with. It dont matter what your doing or where you are, just always be true to yourself because in the end thats where your happiness comes from. I personally Kinda lost myself, getting caught up in governed world. Just realizing what I have done and everything i let pass by me. I am bulling myself back to where i need to be.... The Ocean, just looking for the right boat that calls my name but I need something close to me so I can work in the system while I work on the vessel and provision.. well... all I really wanted to say is Keep it up man your awesome I like to see you happy.. looking maybe meetin you someday. maybe ill talk ya in to a Greenland trip when i decide to take off...
Steve
By Steve on
1/24/2012 9:31 AM
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Re: Life happens!
you look like the cat who just ate the mouse in that picture. no pun intended.....good for you.......G
By gary on
1/24/2012 10:03 AM
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Re: Life happens!
Chuck,
im looking forward to our time together, I'll make sure you'll return with the knowledge your looking for :)
Thanks for the kind words Steve Greenland sounds fun
By Alex on
1/24/2012 10:51 AM
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Re: Life happens!
Dude,
You're not afraid of being alone too, and ironically that makes it possible to find true love. Everything happens for a reason my friend, you put yourself on a good path and good things come to you as a result.
Cheers mate!
By Chris on
1/24/2012 11:55 AM
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Re: Life happens!
WooHoo! Looks like 2012 is gonna be a great year for you, Alex. Funny how things develop. If you didn't have the bout with the cops and bike thing, you wouldn't be taking the bus! (maybe I should try that)
Hey, what's Spendid's opinion on having a board aboard?
Bytheway, I'm in luuuuuuv but she ain't much of a squeez. She's a 33ft 7ton mama. Looks like I'm one of those "doin' it" this year. I'll keep you posted
Happy for ya
Cheers
Peter
By Peter d. on
1/24/2012 12:19 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Well, well Alex:
Yup, you're looking happy. A little glazed, and happy. Now that's a good place to be as far as I'm concerned.
Things do happen perfectly in this World. It's hard to remember that so on my fridge, I have a magnet... Only one. It says, "We Plan... God Laughs."
Nothing religious here, it's what ever God means to anyone at any one time. It's just the way it works. Four little words keep it all in perspective for me.
Hey best of luck. Have fun. Stay in touch.
Capt. Paul
s/v Panacea
By Capt. Paul West on
1/24/2012 3:58 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Good for you Alex. Your happiness is contageous and it has brightened my day by sharing your joy.
All the best
Sharne
By Sharne on
1/24/2012 10:56 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Thats great Alex , remember " nothing good Comes easily" live for today as you say we never know what will happen in the future.Thanks for sharing it with us!
Regards
Rob!
By Rob on
1/25/2012 3:37 AM
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Re: Life happens!
Alex, Congrats and all that but the burning question all us dedicated readers want answered is....Does she Blog? ))
Cheers,
John
By s.v.kloosh@gmail.com on
1/25/2012 8:41 AM
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Re: Life happens!
She's a writer and translator, if this all goes well I'm hoping she willand possibly translate for a Spanish reading audience? Man, she types like lightning!!!!
By Alex on
1/25/2012 9:03 AM
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Re: Life happens!
Alex,
Dont write often but thought if appropriate to offer some advise from a fourty year old sailor who has been through a storm or two. When you find your "best freind' and you werent looking GRAB HER! I did and I will die happy!
Love and calm seas,
Mike
By isabella on
1/25/2012 7:57 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Mike,I hear ya M8. I don't know where it's going but she's a keeper for sure. I don't think I'm a good catch but well see :)maybe shell wise up soon, I hope not !
By Alex on
1/25/2012 8:28 PM
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Re: Life happens!
WOOT! All of the stansions and life lines are back up, Splendid looks like a real ship again :)
By Alex on
1/26/2012 11:49 AM
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Re: Life happens!
Alex:
Shoot me a pic of Splendid. Love to see the progress progress.
I'm with Mike, hang on and enjoy the ride.
Capt. Paul
s/v Panacea
By Capt. Paul West on
1/26/2012 8:50 PM
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Re: Life happens!
been a long time follower but infrequent contributor. Have you "known" a woman that wasnt a big deal. I have always found them remarkably interesting when I have been alone fo a while.
Enjoy the jorney,
Mark A.
By billlapworth on
1/26/2012 9:44 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Aww Jeeezzz. Here we go again.
By Tim on
1/27/2012 1:44 AM
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Re: Life happens!
Congrats on the stanchions. 8*) Pics please...
...and best wishes with your new friend. Pics please...
By Dave from Austin on
1/27/2012 2:03 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Capt Paul & Dave, I'll get pictures up soon for sure, in the next blog. I'm trying to figure out how to get video direct from my iphone to the webpage. I'm gathering I can shoot video and directly up to youtube (via iphone). If that’s the case I’ll put a youtube player up on the blog page. If it’s that simple I’ll get multiple videos up a week. Right now I have to shoot, transfer, edit, compress, and find a fast internet connection to upload to the server. I end up fooling around with the video for a week or more and it’s all frustrating as hell, not to mention I burn a lot of battery power through the inverter.
Tim, yup, here we go again! At the end of the day though Love has to be the objective. I don’t always know that, and as you guys know I’m uber hard-headed, but it does have to be the goal, if not, why are we here?
Today was the first time I took soap to the decks in over a year. I usually just hose off all the dust & crud from sanding & grinding. The non skid will go fast once I start. Today I mounted all the jury jugs & propane bottles, scrubbed and prepped for paint. Tomorrow I need to pull a few threw-deck fittings as I want to paint under them and re-5200. Its all coming together finally !!!!!!
By Alex on
1/27/2012 3:19 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Happy for you, Alex :-)
By Martin on
1/27/2012 5:54 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Alex,
Personally I think you should carve Your name in her surfboard while she is gone!!!! LOL
Dave
By dave@networksconnect.net on
1/27/2012 6:26 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Don't get me wrong Chief, When I think, "Here we go again," it's in the voice of Sam Elliot when he played a character in "Roadhouse." So when I say that, it's not downing you. The way I see it, we are all this part of your life together. It's yours, but you have us all here with you. You're happy. We're happy. You hurt. We hurt. Who knows? Maybe this will be the best thing that ever happens in your personal life. I believe we will all celebrate that. Don't want you to stop being open to possibilities. And just like going down the backside of the first really big wave of the approaching storm, we watch as you hang on and plow forward. It's gonna be wild, but that doesn't stop one from sailing, as there will no doubt be more storms....more highs and lows. So while I'm glad you're feeling better about things, just know that, while we've never met in person, you're my friend. I want so much for you to find that peace. We've been there. The pain. The frustration. The elation.
Fair winds.
By Tim on
1/28/2012 6:18 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Tim,
I didn't think you were downing me at all, you’re just right. I had a hard time of it last time and just didn’t want to go there again. As most of you can probably tell from a decade of blogging I’m not afraid of being alone. My life (to me) is very rewarding and I enjoy it enormously. I’ve always been a loaner & traveler and I like to watch life pass by and learn from it. However the idea of sharing it with someone who I can relate to, and who is truly like-minded is a welcome one, Carla is a diamond in the rough. No expectations, we’ve decided to spend some time together to nurture a relationship and see where it goes, I’m excited.
I think I’ve figured out the iphone to youtube thing. I’m hoping to get a video player on the blog page this week, if it works I’ll get mad amounts of video up :-)
By Alex on
1/29/2012 7:36 AM
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Re: Life happens!
Hi there everyone! The woman in question here hahaaJust wanted to tell you all how happy it made me to read this. I was already emotional when I finished reading the way Alex described our little beautiful story but then I came to all of your comments and I was blown away about how cheerful, respectful and heartfelt they were. I love it that you support and advise him like that.Feels like not only am I entering this adventure of a lifetime with him, but also that I'll be surrounded by a lot of love and camaraderie from all the friends and fellow sea lovers he's been connecting with all these years.Love from Patagonia! Will be back on Splendid next Friday : )
By Carla on
1/29/2012 1:36 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Hey Carla, We all have great respect for Alex, as most of us have been following his daily life for years. He gets to do the things we only dream about, so we get to live the adventure through his words, the highs and the lows.
To have you here brings a united smile to our faces and I believe I heard the distinctive sound of many beer cans opening and glasses of wine tipped in your direction.
Salud y mucho gusto conocerte!! 8*)
By Dave from Austin on
1/29/2012 7:40 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Carla:
Hey, good to hear your voice. I'm sure you and Alex will have a great time sharing your lives along this journey. I'm just glad that you guys found each other. It's fun to play with a partner and it seems like you guys are heading down the same path.
Have fun.
Capt. Paul
s/v Panacea
By Capt. Paul West on
1/29/2012 8:57 PM
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Re: Life happens!
hi alex........knowing you personally, following your life here and knowing your journey 1st hand, it's like we are in a car with you , on a roller coaster and now we are at the top of the first hill and in tim"s words" here we go again". if she doesn't get sea sick.....keep her.....G ps Mavis says hi
By gary on
1/29/2012 11:01 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Gary,
I'm still more worried she'll get "Alex" sick, and wondering if she'll keep me? I'm not the easiest guy in the world to get along with, as you know :) For those of you who don’t know, Gary and I cruised together in Colombia, and Caribbean and Pacific Panama together. Our boats Namaste & Plan B actually went through the Panama Canal side tied together.
By Alex on
1/30/2012 8:19 AM
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Re: Life happens!
Alex life is far too short to be worring about if Carla will keep you. Grab on to her and just go for it.
Carla may be the one for you. I know for a fact there is someone for everyone out there.
Don't plan on any thing just live life as it comes.
Carla Alex is a good man.
By timtoolman on
1/30/2012 10:37 AM
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Re: Life happens!
I’m not really worried, what comes will come. Many people in the past have referred to my life as a rollercoaster and I just don’t see it that way, it seems perfectly natural to me?
I couldn’t imagine being restrained by societal, religious, or work obligations. I like my life to go with the wind as they say, and keep it at my back. I usually see the signs to my path very clearly. When I was pulled over by the police (road block) a few days before I went to Panama City, they told me outright, “you may not go to Panama city now, you may not travel this road”! I was mad at the time but wondered why I was not supposed to pass, a motorcycle accident perhaps?
I also listen to the little voice in my head that guides me. Whenever I don’t listen to it I veer off my path and I find myself in places I don’t need to be. Might sound mad to you, but I feel very close and conscious of my life.
Carla and I haven’t known each other long however I really do try and measure my time as a quality now and not a quantity. As you guys know Project BlueSphere isn’t about travel or sailing. Its just about an average guy trying to find his way in the world with a sailboat and minimalism, my hopes that others will find their way if they seek it.
I am a very lucky man and I know this. I fessed up in my new years blog a few years back, and I really do see every day as a gift now, well at least I try too : )
Non-skid today, WOOT!!!
Cheers
By Alex on
1/30/2012 11:31 AM
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Re: Life happens!
Hi!
I'm a friend of Carla's. Be calm everybody, she's the nicest and most cheerful girl I've ever met and I will miss her like hell!
Alex, Carlita's not only a diamond, she's like a sun ray in the morning after a stormy night, a cool breeze after a scorching afternoon. She's great company, a best friend. She will speak her mind too, so I guess you'll have to learn to cope with that! Though I bet you already know that...haha Please, take care of her!
Hope you guys the best! and just....flow together, life happens....
Love you my friend!!
Cande
By cande on
1/30/2012 12:57 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Nice meeting you cande, she does speak her mind:) I find it refreshing, I'm the same way.
By Alex on
1/30/2012 5:09 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Hey Cande. Um, how you doin'? ;-D
By Tim on
1/30/2012 6:28 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Tim, your funny, Love is I'n the air ;)
By Alex on
1/30/2012 6:54 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Hi there again, everyone! And thank you for your beautiful words ; )
Here comes the adventure, I´ll be on the boat in only three days! A lot of work ahead of us to make Splendid look splendid again. We´re both very excited about it, can´t wait to get there.
Captain Paul: how did you get to put your picture there so that we can see your face when you comment? It´d be nice to see everyone´s pictures... Do you remember how you did it?
Much love everyone!
C.
By Carla on
1/31/2012 4:30 PM
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Re: Life happens!
Well since you have your mind elsewhere heres a good bit of paint info. Glidden Porch and Floor is a one part polyurethane. Youy can get it tinted in any colour you like and it IS tough. I put it down on the decvks of Turtle (my little boat) almost 6yrs ago and it is still looking and going strong. At $20US at Home Despot it's a steal. I'm pretty far from the minimalist you are (I am working on it) but I AM cheap and refuse to pay extra for the "correct" label. It's been a while since I checked up on you but I'm glad to see you are doing well. Stay well and move slow.....martin
By martin on
1/31/2012 8:33 PM
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