If you dream of cruising don’t hold your breath too long, it might be too late!
Mark, a friend of mine had a heart attack and died on his boat (Melody) in the San Blas just over a week ago. He was a man who lived his life. It’s got me thinking as he was only a few years older than me. My life isn’t as long as it used to be and I wish to savor every moment.
I’ve always had an issue calling myself a “cruiser”. To me cruising implies that one is going “cruising” for an allocated amount of time, perhaps after they retire, or for a three-year circumnavigation. This is not my case. I’m in the 
process of writing the script for the “Minimalist Sailor” and I don’t quite know how to describe what I do. For me “cruising” is a life-long journey and I don’t take “life” too seriously.
People often ask what I will do when I’m old and can’t take care of myself because I don’t have medical insurance or a pension. The answer is…, simply…, I’ll die! But I will do so with a thick smile and skin to match.
Life is a natural process, and for me it doesn’t include giving away my time to the matrix anymore. It surprises me how quickly men sell their time for “insurance”, comfort, or things from Costco. I’m not saying it’s wrong, but it is really not for me!
I see life through thick glasses of contrast. Life is pretty simple to me and its not muddied by endless shades of gray. I either like or dislike people, love or don’t love, enjoy a place or not. I don’t have much time for bullshit, needless baggage, or head games, and I suppose that’s why I’ve been such a loaner my entire life. That being said, I’m a bit in awe as to how well Carla and I are getting along, she’s a really good woman!
My days have been full of Love, good food, smiles, laughter and a few disagreements while aboard a ship that will take me through the rest of my years. I have a large hole in my pocket but my heart is full and I don’t know that I could ask for much more.
Carla and I will throw a dinner party at the end of the week celebrating the end of my deck & cabin-house project which has taken me the majority of the last 4 years of my life. All that is left is a few hours on the foredeck which we will knock out today. You can see Carla here finishing the non-skid Chinese 
character for courage which is in the center of the foredeck. It will appear in a circle of non-skid by the end of the day, and in my humble opinion will be thoroughly “BAD-ASS”. The Chinese symbol for “wind” will shortly appear on Splendid’s stern, “peace” on the forward starboard hull, and “Love” to port. As you know Splendid is Chinese and was commissioned in Hong Kong in 1973. She will sail the seas with exceptional pride and direction.
I have another year or so of cruising locally, making a few bucks (chartering) for the cruising kitty while we make our way back to the Pacific. After my decks are done I wish to get my big fridge & water-maker working, paint the hull, and 
do a few other small projects. My work on Splendid has been a GRAND investment but one I am happy to have behind me. I wish to bring Splendid home (Hong Kong) for a visit on my travels.
All I can end this blog with is the realization that I am a lucky man and equally as grateful. It’s time to see life in 3-D guys. If you need the glasses we don’t need ours anymore and can ship them to you 
As always, if anyone needs help with a dream or cruising project please feel free to ask, I always have time.
Peace, Love, and Coconuts.
Sail far & live Slowly.
HA!!!!! Splendid’s non-skid is DONE!!!!
