The final two words on the last page of my singlehanded book:
Tandem Solus
Or my quote from psychologist Carl Jung:
Isolation causes an activation of the unconscious, and this produces something similar to the illusions and hallucinations that beset lonely wanderers in the desert, seafarers and saints.
There is a spiritual side to lengthy periods of solitude that 99.999% of the world will never understand.
I just feel happy when I'm on a boat and at sea.
I don't need to be alone....nor do I need company.
The ocean , rivers, creeks are just where I feel happiest.
Never lived in a city.......and often wonder if I'm missing out not being in a city
P.s besides....its easier on a boat to deal with annoying ppl .you just throw them overboard. ...cant do that in town can you
Joking....maybeee
really worth using some of your precious time to listen to this !! very interesting !!! thanks for finding and posting HG !!
I sometimes decide not to go solo sailing , as i feel i,m wasting time just sailing around and around . time that i could be doing stuff !
That's why i prefer racing ........ more purpose ....
But the thoughts in the link , are a good reason just to "go sailing" for the hell of it !!
Wow.
I'm sitting on the boat, not doing anything really. The stars are out, the harbour is quiet as a mouse, there is a chill in the air, and my pants are wet from the condensation on the deck, as I'm stupid enough to be sitting in the cockpit listening to this, savouring a drink.
I was feeling guilty because I wasn't doing anything constructive, just well...sitting.
I just completely reversed how I was feeling....now I just feel...content.
Thanks HG.
I used to call it tree hugging some time you just have to do it to clear your head
My late mum was a very intuitive woman. She knew the affinity I had with sailing and being on the water. Whenever I was moody, broody, pubescent, or any other manner of discontented, she would give me a hug and kiss and say, "...Trace, you need to go for a sail to clear the cobwebs..."
Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits.
"If you can spend a perfectly useless afternoon in a perfectly useless manner, you have learned how to live." - Lin Yutang
HG , Ive just shared this with a bunch of people. Its really touched everyone. Thank you so much for finding this little Gem. Listening to it again for the 2nd time.
2 nights ago i decided not to tell anyone and spend the night on the boat. Had full sails up and got a good 25 plus nots of wind. Dealt with it and then found a sheltered spot. Was going to go ashore and get food as i just left on a whim with not much supplies. The wind was still pretty strong and i couldnt be bothered to go to Manly for food. I threw my line out and caught a decent size bream. Dinner. In the morning, had some muesli and coffee and went for a nice snorkel around the boat checking out the hull.
THe whole experience was beautiful. I was alone but didnt feel alone at all. I had to leave yesterday at 9am as i had work appointments. I remember feeling i just wanted to stay on the boat and regretted having to go back to the mooring, clean up the boat, have a shave and go to some appointments...
All i want to do now is do that for an undisclosed amount of time.
Peace All. X
HG , Ive just shared this with a bunch of people. Its really touched everyone. Thank you so much for finding this little Gem. Listening to it again for the 2nd time.
2 nights ago i decided not to tell anyone and spend the night on the boat. Had full sails up and got a good 25 plus nots of wind. Dealt with it and then found a sheltered spot. Was going to go ashore and get food as i just left on a whim with not much supplies. The wind was still pretty strong and i couldnt be bothered to go to Manly for food. I threw my line out and caught a decent size bream. Dinner. In the morning, had some muesli and coffee and went for a nice snorkel around the boat checking out the hull.
THe whole experience was beautiful. I was alone but didnt feel alone at all. I had to leave yesterday at 9am as i had work appointments. I remember feeling i just wanted to stay on the boat and regretted having to go back to the mooring, clean up the boat, have a shave and go to some appointments...
All i want to do now is do that for an undisclosed amount of time.
Peace All. X
Years ago while back packing through N.Z. I was naughty and camped on a beach on the south Island , I was woken around 4 am with a penguin standing on my chest . But beside that I lived on the local mussels and caught a few fish love the isolation . Did the same in Tassy a few year as earlier loved it.Both my boys are the same. I sent them the link as well
HG, this is really lovely.
I listened to it the other night in the solitude of my V berth, when I was feeling quite lonely.
I have been talking a lot recently about the difference between solitude and loneliness.
I'm loving the solitude of my boat life, especially since I've left the marina and been on the hook. I love what you said Sectorsteve, and have just had to go back to work myself after 3 weeks of bliss on my boat.
Really enjoyed that HG thanks for sharing
Nice quote from Henk: "most people don't know there is something between alone and loneliness"
I have to say though that the enjoyment of solitude does have it's limitations.
Last night as me and my cats watched the sunset as I ate a really nice piece of dolphin fish with stir fry veges, I was muttering to myself... "F&*(k Solitude!!!"
Some things in life are much better shared.
Yum G&T. With lemon and ice! Im getting some for Trek. Just remembered a tragic G&T story, at one time is was working in Zurich and bought some G&T one night to have at my flat. It was warm so I put it in the snow outside. 1/2 later we went out to get it and couldnt find it. Poked everywhere. Damn!!! When summer came it would have pleased someone
Yum G&T.
Four Pillars gin + fresh lime + Capi tonic water, triple yum...
Great to see some like-minded folk praising the pleasures of solo sailing. I have done a few multi-week trips, sometimes crewed part-way. I can honestly say the most memorable parts were when I was alone.