If you know
cruisers, or read a few cruising blogs, you’ll know that at some point, in some
place most of the female-type sailors tend to get a bit down. In my case I sort
of saw it coming. I’ve never had such sustained fun as I did the whole way
across the Pacific: We had already made it through that transition that comes
with the first year of cruising, we were travelling with a fantastic group of
people, there was something new to see and do every day, and we had a goal—and for
me this equals bliss. But no one stays happy all the time. Especially when a
big adventure is shutting down and good friends are dispersing.
I get this.
But when I
had a motionless home, and a group of friends in roughly the same time zone, I
knew how to deal when my happy went walkabout. I’d call up a friend, sequester
myself with chocolate, and talk long and wide about whatever drama was eating
at my soul. Then I’d move onto the next friend, and the next, until I had bored
them all to tears with my tears, and I’d be good again.
But when
you are on a lightly charted atoll in the middle of the Pacific, or an
island-continent an ocean away, those failsafe happy-making methods are plum
useless (just because you have friends you can call at 3am doesn’t mean you
should). And no matter how fond you might be of your spouse—most of them are
pretty poor stand-ins for chocolate supplying, long-suffering, long-listening
bffs. Husbands try to solve stuff—friends just commiserate and pass the wine.
This all
means that when your (my) happy goes missing on a sailboat, trying to find it
again can be tricky. Especially because to the rest of the world, life afloat is akin to a fake life--one that doesn't really come with sobs.
I do have
sailing friends: Lovely people with whom I’ve weathered storms and enjoyed some
of the most intensely beautiful moments of my life beside. But the sort of
friend you turn to when you’re tearing up at the thought of another Christmas
away from you mum are the friends who have picked you up before—not the ones
who’ve never seen you stumble.
So here I
am: Floating sadly on the edge of a big city. Wondering how I’ll get my happy
back.
7 comments:
Understandable for sure. Hope your Happy returns very soon!
You may have inadvertently given away too much of it through the internets. In my case for sure;)
So here you go: http://bit.ly/vCnaK0
Anon in San Diego.
hang on! I'm coming!! xxooxxoo
Thanks, Carla--I don't doubt that you understand. And you too Anon--very sweet and thoughtful link and very kind words.
And you Behan--I just know you are bringing a big hugful of happy my way:)
Patience. You will recover. In the meantime, see if anyone needs a director for their Christmas play.
From someone who's been there, as you well know, I can say it'll just pop up again before you know. Take care of yourself, do things you love, and do what you're doing by reaching out to those who love you. What's also weird is that I'm about to post about happiness - not the first time when you and I post about similar things (not just the places we've been)! We're on the same page, my friend. And better yet, we're heading your way today!! So hold on - we're coming. Love you loads. xoxox
I'm really late catching up, but I hope you found your happy....maybe it's with mine somewhere south of here and north of there... thinking about you guys all the time. Tell Maia Jake says hi.
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