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!!!!
Hey Alex and Carla and to all readers of PBS
Great blog… it once again makes it all clear to me… and just in time!
eerr….. I just bought my boat!!!!!
I’m so overwhelmed, I can only say hargannapfutuahWooHoo!
So I too have started a (lame-ass) blog for starters, she’s got some work to do, planning launching in May. No “serious” cruising yet, just the Aegean sea this summer…
But I would really like to thank Alex and everyone here for the inspiration!!
sailingzootallures.wordpress.com/
Lots of love to ya’ll
P
WOW!! Foredeck looks awesome Alex and Carla.
I don’t often take credit but my friends who do canvas work made me a great offer. I don’t know if you remember but when I first got Splendid I had a new bimini, dodger, and full enclosure made. The enclosure never got completed but all the pieces were built. Carla and I bought new zippers in Panama City and my friends are going to do the work and accept payment as I can afford it. This next rainy season we will be totally dry in the cockpit, WEEEHAAAAA!!!!
Also you have probably noticed the extra video player on the upper right hand corner of the screen. This is probably confusing as we have another video player but I wanted one connected to my YouTube account so I can post videos directly from my iphone. I’m going to try and get weekly videos up from now on. Bandwidth is still an issue but I can try and upload from the iphone when I go to sleep and its not like keeping a laptop on all night. I have a very slow edge (much slower than 3G) connection.
Peter D, congratulations I know you’ve wanted this for years. Good luck my friend, if you need any help please let me know.
Alex,
Everything looks beautiful man, Carla thanks for the support on my last post..
Alex, the way you put things couldn’t be said more perfectly as I am thinking more and more about trying to do everything while I still can. I think about it every day, like what if one day I wake up and cant walk, or one day I dont wake up. All the dreams I have like Greenland during the summer and somewhere down your way during the winter would be lost and just a dream and thats not what I want. I couldn’t imagine life being any more beautiful and exciting. I know my little 22′ seafarer isn’t quite right for all i want to do. Im just learning the ropes, as for right now I cant afford year round slip and dry dock so the trailerable vessel is best for me “At the moment”.. Soo when I am ready im selling the little one and buying ” The One”… unless my demanding life pushes me to set sail on the little one…..
I am having trouble with names… I really like “Drift Wood” but the woman really likes “Sweet Pea” any ideas?
well sorry for such a long post just have alot on my mind and still have more… are u able to check your email? would you mind if I dropped you a few lines?
Peace, Love, and living real life dreams
Steve
I’m real excited for you. the boat is looking great. You guys are having fun. This is how life should be.
Still trying to get the youtube player to work right. I uploaded a video but its not refreshing on the player. If you click on the youtube player icon on the player it will bring you to my youtube page where you can see a quick (2min) tour of the decks :)
Alex,
Sorry I didnt get back to you about youtube and i still havnt been on my photoshop. but what do you use to edit your website? and I seen a few things on you tube I hope this helps a little and I will try to get on the research.. I just work stupid hrs and trying to fix the boat..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucGeL2dHBQY
http://www.htmlgoodies.com/tutorials/web_graphics/article.php/3480061/How-To-Add-a-YouTube-Video-to-Your-Web-Site.htm
groups.google.com/a/googleproductforums.com/forum/#!category-topic/youtube/how-to-use-youtube-features/TOLiiakr_-g
take care man hope one of these helps if u didnt try these already
Steve
I like the new video log on the upper right! Did it cost a small fortune replacing all the stainless? Ill bet. I really like the nonskid accent on the foredeck, because it is original. Great idea. Finals are almost over and I will have some more time to spend on my boat. I am going to re-name her “Travelier”. A combination of travel and cavalier. I have cavalier spaniels so why not? Take care.
Steve,
I dont like changing the name of my boats unless they have “bad luck”. Splendid has been splendid her whole life. That being said there are some pretty stupid boat names out there. I really like isaac’s name as it is really unique. At the end of the day you should realy like your boat name. I didnt like “splendid”at first and wanted to name it…, well I dont want to publish the name in case I use it in the future, but I’m glad I left it Splendid. It was also the wish of the previous owner that I dont change the name as it was named by the original owner who comessioned her.
Alex,
Thanks man someone once told me that chancing the boat name is bad luck.. But her name is “Kelly Ann”.. I kinda really like ” Driftwood” as I feel it kinda resembles my life wandering around aimlessly, without direction. simple name but it fits me.. lol its that or the wandering Jew, but i wouldn’t want it to offend anyone. but thanks for the advise man.
I once sailed on a boat named “The Broad” meaning very beamy as the boat was 13 ft 6 wide. Woman would walk down the dock and shake their heads in anger as they thought it was a slir against a woman.
There is a boat here in St. Augustine named “Breaking Wind”. Who in their right mind would name their boat after flatulence?
Isaac,
If I had to guess I’d say I’ve invested between $600, and $800.00 in stainless screws, nuts, bolts, & washers. Some of the original 1/4′ stainless bolts I found on Splendid I could snap in my hands. Chinese stainless in the early 70’s was crap.
Carla and I had our “the decks are F’n done” dinner party last night and invited our Scottish friends Jim & heather from SV Charmer, and our Brazilian friends Mani and Rafi from SV Brava. Jim and heather brought really nice dried ham appetizer from Spain, and Mani & Rafa brought wine from Argentina. Carla and I made pork tacos with home made tortillas & salsa. It was an awesome night with good laughs. Splendid is so nice to entertain on as she has room to spare. With 6 people aboard Splendid still felt empty.
It’s a beautiful morning and the seas are laying down, they have been pumping 3-5 meters for about 5 weeks and the visibility has been crap. I’m planning on shooting some fish today with Mani, life is good!
Steve, you can email me any time man, no worries : )
My back has been really killing me and I bought a 2 inch, 5lb, 100% visco-elastic (memory foam) topper for the bed, hope it does the trick. It’s coming on the 11th along with my new editing computer so I can get to the business of making a film!!! I’ll get a new video up showing the current headliner & full enclosure projects.
Peace from Paradise.
I’m re-installing my SSB today and want to get the weatherfax hooked up to my iphone using black cat’s iphone app. If I have any electronic junkie friends that know where to get the parts for me to build the cable please let me know.
Here is the directions & parts necessary. What a great APP!!!!
http://www.blackcatsystems.com/ipad/iPad_iPhone_iPod_Touch_Microphone_Wiring.html
Hey bro,
The decks look awesome! I am so jealous. Well plans are moving as well, if not better than expected. Basically what this means is I am still on track to be on my new (used) boat by Dec. Well that is the goal anyways. And so far everything is coming together.
I cannot tell you how helpful your blog is in keeping me focused and on track. I also really appreciate all the advice you have given me as far as video equipment and such.
I am so happy you have someone to bring you joy. It really does increase the juice we get out ot life.
Above all, I can’t wait to meet you in person some day “out there” and thank you personally for giving my dreams a track to run on. Like you, I have WAY TOO MANY ISSUES with “the system”. Everyday I seem to find ways of changing either my thinking, or approach to life which minimizes my dependency or even desire to play anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I still want to play. In fact, now more than ever. I just want to play a NEW GAME, and I am so greatful you have shown me a game that is worth playing. It’s one thing to not like the game your in, but what really sucks is to not have any clue as to what game you do want to play, or what games are even available to play.
Thanks again, and God Bless you brother.
Alex,
I was going to get the BlackCat apps and wire up the audio circuit. I was already going to place an order with Mouser electronics for some other items, so I’ll get enough parts to put together two audio cables. How long do you need your cable to be from the iPhone to the SSB?
The weather has been great here in the Tampa Bay and have taken advatage of the great breeze.
Tim on S/V Reverie.
Tim,
On the SSB side I just need open wire, no connector. A short 4/5 inches to the guts of it all, and about 2 feet os wire to the plug for the iPhone. Send me an email and I can paypal you for parts & such.
Lucky,
Good on ya M8, way to go. The “system” can get old pretty fast but better to benon the controlling end of it and minimalism works pretty well :)