Saturday, April 30, 2011

The time is now

I am back from a 24 hour sail. What a crazy person I am to be so dead tired and to think that going without sleep and being physically exhausted is good. Yet, even though I swore this morning that I would not do something so grueling again, this evening I am thinking of the next adventure.

I am glad that my career as a scientist and being on research vessels prepared me for being on the water at night. The big swells and the swoosh of the waves beneath the hull is both scary and exhilarating. It felt almost hypnotic at times. And it took quite a while to get where I was headed.

Sailing isn't for those who have to be some where in a hurry! This isn't a sleek racing boat but a heavy full keel solid cruiser. She is made for coastal and blue water sailing. I felt really secure with her as we made our way back home. There certainly was a lot of time to think! I was grateful to watch the crescent moon rise this morning and see the sun rise as I made my approach to the sea buoy. It was a comfort to have the dawn come and to be nearly home.



Last night, I thought about all those things that I wanted to do or be when I grew up. Do you remember those times when you were young and would say that there was plenty of time to do this or that? I can remember thinking that there would be time to hike or cycle across the country, time to have children, time to accomplish great things, time to feel happy and live filled with joy. Some of those things have come true for me, while others were the dreams of a young person who thought there would be plenty of time to get around to fulfilling the dreams. These days I realize that the time is here to make the dreams happen. There may very well be lots of time left, but I am not planning on what I am going to do in 20 years. I simply am doing and living life as if the next 20 years won't come.

But tonight it is good to be home. I missed my sweet heart, the animals, and the land. It was nice to be in a new town for a week, to meet some great people, get to some new meetings, and sail there and back. But nothing beats being home. I was ready to get back.

And with that I am going to close my eyes and get some much needed rest in a bed that will not be swaying, except in my imagination.

19 comments:

  1. its like reading huckleberry finn :)
    Sweet dreams syd and enjoy your rest at home :)

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  2. sleep well man...used to sail in the summers...and this makes me sooo miss it...

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  3. I'm glad you made it home safe and sound.well a 24 hr sail sounds like fun but wether it is totally sound thing to do,it it not my cup of tea.

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  4. I would never sail like that - not much of a fan of the Ocean even though I live close to it!

    But it sounds amazing. It sounds like you had a great time.

    I hope you can get a lot of sleep - it is well deserved.

    Glad you are safe.

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  5. The sailor must leave but he yearns in his heart for home...

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  6. Sounds like a good vacation.

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  7. I always loved being offshore in heavy weather. I guess I'm crazy too. LOL

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  8. I am happy to see that you are safe and sound. Well maybe not "sound" ;)

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  9. I'm going part time the end of this year. Not quite ready to let go of my "work identity" entirely.
    But I'm not making too many plans either for the free time. I like the idea of letting adventures unfold.
    You're inspiring me!

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  10. Maybe there should be a law..... ;-)

    The dreams you have when you are young should never die.

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  11. Thanks for sharing that, Syd! I am a crazy person who has gone on 3 or 4 hours sleep every night this week except one. One day/night this week I was awake for 23 hours straight. But I was awake for work and worrying, not for vacation. And I'm crazy enough to be planning my indefinite future of doing this with trying to juggle 2 part time jobs, or one part time job and school, or one full-time job that's a 2 hour commute. These seem to be my 3 choices at the moment. Actually, I'm not even sure which option will come through, because all of them are pending at the moment. I guess I will keep praying about what might be the right choice. It would be nice if a really simple and serene option presented itself. Maybe I have to keep looking for one. I'm really on a deadline with my budget, though. Still, it can't hurt to look. Or turn it over and sleep...? Glad you had a great vacation. I love the ocean, too. Thanks again for your timely sharing on sleep deprivation and have a great day!

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  12. When I was young I wanted to be anyone other than who I was: a weird-looking smart kid. As soon as I discovered drugs, I could stop being me. 35 years later I began recovery, I got a glimpse of me. Now I am learning to accept who I am, warts and all, for reals.

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  13. Welcome home, Syd. I love to live vicariously through your posts.

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  14. Loved this post, and the picture. Gratitude is a wonderful thing.

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  15. Welcome home, Huckleberry. Until the next adventure...

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  16. Ah home sweet steady home. Thanks for the beautiful sailing and imagery....

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  17. You are wise to live in the day.

    Love,

    SB

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