“Jewelry” – the A to Z Challenge

April 12, 2016 by s/v sionna 10 Comments

Do you wear jewelry on the boat? Ever given the question a thought?

Way back in one of my former lives, I was an aircraft mechanic. Mechanics don’t wear jewelry on the job, particularly rings, because of the chance they might snag on something while working. This can result in anything from inconvenience to the loss of a finger or arm, so the subject is taken pretty seriously.  I’ve spent 30 years trying to forget the pictures they showed us to drive home the message…

But a boat? What’s the big deal, right?  Well now, let’s look at that.

First, there’s the injury issue. Let’s say you’re moving up the foredeck in preparation for dropping sail, and just as you reach the mast, the boat takes a funny roll, and pitches you toward the rail. With your lightning fast reflexes you grab for the mast, and almost get it… But your wedding band snags on some piece of protruding hardware , so it’s now attached to the mast while your body heads overboard. Naturally you’re snapped into the jackline, so you don’t go completely over, but your ring – and your finger – are still at the mast. Ouch.

Yes, it’s happened.

And then there’s the temptation factor. Much of the allure of cruising, for us at least, is visiting simpler, more relaxed and – frequently – much poorer places than the good old first-world. Wearing fancy, shiny jewelry can be an invitation for an encounter you’d rather not have.

So Nicki made the suggestion a little while ago that we re-consider the regular wearing of our wedding rings. Logical, practical suggestion – and my heart says “Hell NO!”

See, my wedding band means something to me. It means a LOT to me, actually. I know some men don’t wear them, and in some cultures men don’t wear them, period. But that’s not me. I worked hard to earn the right to wear it, and I want to do so.

I also see her point, however. I like my fingers, too. And I like hers – right where they are.

We still haven’t made the final decision on that question, but I can see the way we’re leaning.

Don’t know what I’ll do without my ring, though.I’ll have to beat the women off with a stick if they think I’m single.

I guess I’d better stick close to my wife – she’ll protect me.