A cloudy day

Well I got some fairing compound on the boat early in the morning yesterday then the clouds arrived. I worried about rain but it never came. I’m going to have to contend with the weather a lot over the coming months, I know I must be patient and not loose focus. I have plenty of indoor, as well as outdoor projects and just need to  keep busy.

I spent most of the day on the computer making a flyer & business card (Photoshop), you can click on them to make them larger. Please give me input before I print them. I like the flyer but need to find a better picture of myself, I kind of look like a retard in that picture.

Getting ready to cross an ocean again is a big project but one I can make happen if I balance making money with charters, spending money on by beautiful girl and working my ass of her, while trying to save a few bucks for the canal and my journey. I don’t want to get caught like so many people here that are content sailing the Caribbean, chartering, growing old, and drinking too much rum. I want to explore the world and document my journey. Printing the flyer and business card give me a feeling of permanency I don’t like. I don’t want roots here, or anywhere for that matter, even though this is one of my favorite places in the world.

I should be getting my new flip video camera this week. I’ll get a video up fast, it will be good to have a camera again. The flip will be good for internet video however I really want to start shooting my next film and the flip wont cut it. I’m looking at www.kickstarter.com as a source to raise a few bucks for my camera package & film project. They raise money for independent projects and it may be a good avenue for me. I spent so many years in my younger days raising money for indie-film projects I should be able to pull it off. I put a widget on the right side of the screen to see if I can raise the money in-house first. If you want to see the camera package I’m looking at I have put it together at B&H photo.  I’m going to release my next film with my e-book (Autonomy at sea, a free man’s guide to the world). I think it is going to be really cool, but a totally different experience than my first two films. Its going to be about the nuts & bolts of living a minimalist life at sea. Not only sailing, but boat choice, as well as independent thinking (making wine, pasta, bread, tofu, cheese, etc.), and self-sufficiency on the boat working with metal, fiberglass, wood, rigging, diesels, and paints. I think I can get Splendid sorted out in the next 10 months but I know I wont be able to pull off and afford the camera package I want by next March.

I’m really, REALLY excited about getting my scuba/pneumatic tool set up completed and running this week. Being able to spray paint will complete a skill set I’ve been chasing for a while. For me there is “peace of mind” knowing that I have the ability to take a run-down boat that nobody wants, breath life into her, and in turn, set myself free. Having this ability means I don’t need to rely on the system to make copious amounts of money in order to travel the world and make it my home. It’s all part of my (not so evil) minimalist plan :)

I’ve made good friends with Aaron (Irish) and his girlfriend Stephanie (South African) they are on a 1983 Cheoy Lee Golden Wave (Racer/Cruiser (Escape 2)) Nice boat. They are pretty new to the whole cruising thing and have had a bit of bad luck. Their engine is broken and they got hit by lightning, the electric system is fried. I’m trying to give them a hand with some projects & guidance as we both get ready to cross an ocean.

Well my morning coffee is about done, the sun is out and I have about 5 sheets of sandpaper left. I’m off to Panama city (GOD I HATE THE BUS!) tomorrow to buy supplies.

Peace, Love, and Freedom

Sail far and live slowly (but work your ass off at the moment)

– alex