If you’ve been reading me over the years you know I have a simple altruistic perspective on life. I really believe in living small, green, free, while helping others along their path. I know it’s a good philosophy as my karma is rewarding Carla and I ten-fold.
It may seem that I don’t worry about things like health care, or having money for my old age, but the truth is I do, far too often. I weigh the importance of “security” heavily, but have a tendency to want to live life today. Watching my mother pass when she was only 42 has something to do with it. Life is just too damn short, milk it for everything its worth!
I also don’t like to make plans! I prefer taking what the universe brings me and listening to her subtle voice explicitly. If we take the time, I mean really take the time, we’ll notice our path is well-lit and easily navigated. Our internal compass works just fine, however it’s been dimmed by the distractions and responsibilities of living in the western system. We have either forgotten how to navigate by our internal compass (instincts) , or more likely never knew how to to begin with. You just need to take the time.
How do I take the time you ask?
You make it. If you don’t like your job you quit, and you get rid of the people in your life that make seeing your path complicated. You shed yourself of possessions, debt, and especially the television! You embrace peace and demand clarity in your life. You must open yourself to peace.
Smart phones, new cars, and shinier things don’t bring one peace or “security”, they only fill the empty space with an even larger void that seems filling, “empty calories” if you will. Our souls need nutrition, and peace is that food.
My life, and what I write about isn’t about “sailing” or “travel”. It’s about peace and freedom.
Last week Carla and I decided to go to eat on shore. Neither of us find the idea of eating food someone else prepared appealing, but sometimes we just like a break from cooking and dishes. We had worked hard on our new galley all day and just wanted a break.
As soon as I got in the dinghy I squeezed the fuel bulb to the outboard and it sprung a leek spilling fuel all over the dink. Carla said “don’t stress baby, lets row”. I broke out the oars for the sailing dinghy. My oars are bent and I had to buy the kind of oarlocks that are bolted to the oars. I don’t like them but it’s the only way to row with bent oars. Well the oarlocks were seized (rusted) and our dinner plans seemed to be dissipating on the wind. I got angry, “Why don’t you want me to go to shore” I barked at the sea!
Starving, I ripped out my tools and re-plumbed the fuel line. I knew we shouldn’t eat out as the universe was speaking to me, but I was so belligerent that I just had to make it happen. Well…, as usual, I did just make it happen even though cooking at home would have been much easier. I get stupid when I’m hungry. When we got to the restaurant I noticed 
that the cook was sick, and within a few hours I was in bed with a 103 degree fever and sick for a week.
I know, some of you are rolling your eyes saying Alex is into “signs” or some stupid new-age shit. I don’t know if I’d call it “signs”, or “new age”, but I do believe that some of us have a purpose greater than being a drone in the system guiding our lives by the light of the television. We should take the time to notice the world around us. Life does speak to us and listening is good practice, at least in my humble opinion.
I’ve been bummed with the idea of bringing backpackers to Colombia and back. The money is good but I’d have to beat up Splendid in order to get it, and beating up Splendid now is really the last thing I want to do as I’m just fixing her up.
All I want is to be able to stay here in Linton so I can make the last big push to finish Splendid. We don’t need that much money, just enough to keep me in sand paper, paint, varnish, and a few odd parts. As you can see the galley is turning out spectacular. All surfaces re-painted and re-varnished. Our new stove arrived today, and I need to focus on the refrigeration systems next.
My asthma has been really bad from all the dust and fumes from the sanding, stripper, paint, and varnish. I often wake up in the night with a very short breath. Restoring a boat while living on it seems impossible at times, not to mention the fact that Carla and I are always tripping over tools and wires.
It’s funny how the universe works. If you listen and open yourself to her she really wants to help.
We have been asked if we would like to run a local B&B (The Bamboo house) until November.
We would have a beautiful house within walking distance of Splendid, a small income, a car, and a place for me to empty Splendid and make the last big push on her restoration.
I would never consider working off the boat as I just don’t like being off the boat, but I must admit this makes sense. I’ll have the days free to work on Splendid, Carla will have a nice space to work on canvas off the boat, and I’ll also have a place to build my CLC Passagemaker sailing dinghy. There is a maid who does dishes, cooks, and cleans the rooms so this whole thing is a no-brainer for us. The owners are friends of mine who live most of the year in Holland. 
The caretaker just had a baby and wants to return to her boat so she can be with her husband chartering in the San Blas.
I’ll also be running the odd day-charters to Playa Blanca (white beach) for extra cash. It’s only 5 miles from Linton and really beautiful. I’ll provide fishing, lunch, sailing, and snorkeling for $60 a head (1/2 day), more if it includes dinner.
Some other big news is the French marina down the road will be ready to haul boats next month. We will probably wait until November to haul-out so Splendid will be on the hard while Carla and I are getting married in Argentina and bumming around Patagonia. When we return I’ll paint the bottom & hull and “baddabing”, off like a shot! I don’t mind being broke, but I’ve found being broke while trying to restore an old 40’ ketch to be trying at times. Once I’m in maintenance-mode life will be soooooo much easier!
When Carla and I move back on Splendid every surface will have new paint, new varnish, and will be CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN! At which point we will most likely transit the Canal for the Pacific and sail off into the sunset, but who knows?
Not a bad plan for someone who doesn’t like plans, eh?
The first thing I need to do when we have a few bucks is buy a laptop, Carla’s died a few weeks ago and it’s been tough.
I also have some engine work to do. I’m going to install a new Teflon seal kit to stop my Perkins 4108 from leaking oil. The Perkins is my favorite of all marine diesel engines even though they leak oil. I found a fix though. I’ve had Yanmars, Volvos, and universals. If you have a Perkins you should read this article and never consider repowering, it’s such a dependable motor!
I also want to paint the motor and clean up the engine room.
It’s an awesome stove, isn’t it?
Peace guys.
Sail far and live slowly.
– alex