Chapter 7

Light Breeze

In the spirit of course adjustments, I’ve jumped back into real estate to fund the dream (this aspect of the field was part of the reason I pursued it). I feel better about it this time around. Perhaps since a purpose has been found. In all the years prior, it felt like working just to work. I didn’t have a ‘what for’. No wife, no kids, not because I don’t want these things, I do in fact.

So, I found myself just working. When the checks came in, they just about felt meaningless. But that’s money I suppose, worthless if it has no purpose behind it. With Sea Change, that changed.

So back at it.

The past month has been good. Increased focus, increased effort. Not just on the profession, but physically, mentally and spiritually. Locking in on positive habits. Keeping up consistency, being harder on myself in the right ways. With the new year, I sat down to write my goals as well as what can stop me from achieving them and the largest obstacle, the greatest opponent to my success, is my own self. Knowing what you want, knowing how to get it, yet making choices that lead you the opposite way or just short of your goal. Self imposed stagnation. One must stay vigilant. Keep a watchful eye on the mind. For its deception is so subtle that the wrong or the wayward path seems natural and a matter of course. When in reality, before every decision made that leads you or hinders your progress, there are many tiny little choices, little wayward winds and subtleties that lead you there. So a vigilant mind is crucial when wanting forward progress, no matter what it is you seek. You must be alert enough to catch the mind when it begins its whispers and be strong enough and love yourself enough to resist them.

Over the last month, I took Sea Change out for her first sail (since the initial sea trial). My parents were thrilled to have come along and I was happy to have them. We all experienced a sense of enjoyment and I was happy to hear their perspectives of the experience. One hiccup at the start with a line in the water getting caught in the prop led me to take an early morning dip to free it up. This happened after we were freed from the mooring ball (floating anchor where you tie up) and the sails were not up. Having no power from the engine or the sails means no steering, beholden to wind and current. This can be a dangerous situation with other boats around. The response from everyone was fantastic. Swift but calm. Cut engine, dropped anchor, jump in the water, freed line, change of clothes and we were off.

It was a light wind day and perfect for shaking the sails out and observing her systems. I have since taken her out on my own and am beginning to make a list of what things I would like to adjust in the hopes of achieving a smoother flow of all actions. The way lines are led, where they’re stowed when underway, items on or below deck that can be somewhere else or removed completely. The solo sail was both enjoyable and educational. I picked a light day of 8-9 knot winds and tooled around in the waters close to me. But as I passed the channel that leads to the ocean, I knew that that’s where I want to be. But first things first.

Sea Change is currently scheduled to be hauled out at the end of March and transported to North Carolina for a refit of key items for safety and increased longevity. So, until then, I told myself that I’ll hold off on ocean sailing. Little day sails in the river, intracoastal and local pocket will do me good for now and I look forward to the day of going further.

As always, I am grateful for the opportunity and all life’s little paths that have led me to this experience and perspective. I don’t know where this will lead me, but all along I go with trust.