Since we left the boat and returned to Maine, many, many people have said something similar to “Welcome back to the real world”. I realize now that I can’t agree….
Real world? I don’t think so.
I think what most people call the “real world” is in fact a cultural construct designed to strangle the spirit and drown the soul in despair, all while distracting the ego with the meaningless candy of consumerism.
The REAL real world is sunrise and moonset, rain and wind, sand bars and sunshine and light so pure it brings tears to your eyes and a song to your lips and you can hardly breathe for the beauty of it.
That’s what I learned from 9 months on a boat.
'Til the butter melts 
May 26, 2017 at 10:03 am
I agree that the consensus of real life is somewhat of an euphemism. But, I think land life is what one makes of it. Some people dream to own a Rolex. If that is what makes them happy then more power to them. Different strokes and all that. The same pleasures you identify as the real world don’t necessarily have to belong to a cruising lifestyle or life on a boat. They can be obtained by adopting an attitude to embrace nature.
Mark
sv Cream Puff
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May 26, 2017 at 10:22 am
They can be, certainly. But how often ARE they? That’s the question. Amidst the hustle and scream of modern land-life, who can hear that call?
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May 29, 2017 at 1:51 pm
At our little boat yard we ate launch driver who frequently discusses this topic. He often quotes Sterling Hayden which is… roughly… “what we cannot afford is to not go.”
Cruising life is as real as anything else and I never make an apology for the time I spent under sail. I will be looking for your Tanzer this summer.
Norm
Averisera
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May 29, 2017 at 1:52 pm
Somehow “we have a…” turned into “we ate…” Very amusing
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May 30, 2017 at 3:53 pm
We spent a couple hours today painting – before we froze solid and went home for hot toddies!
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May 31, 2017 at 8:09 am
In a lot of ways, the Matrix is a horrible place. It does irritate me the way they attach the word ‘responsibility’ to the ‘real world’ as well. It’s as if battling traffic, waking with an alarm, and organizing your life according to the arrangement of ones and zeroes in some computer locked up in some bank vault somewhere trump reality. Screw their “Real World.”
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May 31, 2017 at 9:01 am
Colorfully put! And I (Keith) agree. And your reference to “The Matrix” has me curious. Of course I’ve heard the term, but having no television in my life for many years, I haven’t got a handle on it’s meaning. I’ll do some research!
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