Kokomo

The chart we'd been waiting 96 hours to pull out

LAND!!!!!!!

We made it!!!!!!  After 98 hours at sea, gail winds in excess of 44 mph, an unexpected Bahamas pit stop, minimal sleep, and 8 Dramamine tablets (that's my 'new' word...no one uses the word "pill" unless their referencing drugs, and not the legal kind) we made it to St. Maarten and Oh My God was this island a sight for sore eyes!  I’d been on watch since 2:45am but once the sun came up and I spotted land (mind you it takes about 2 hours to go 20 nautical miles and my 1^st land spotting was at 31km out) I couldn’t sit still and I DEFINITELY couldn’t sleep sooo I’ve been up for 23 hours so don’t mind me if this blog is a little “cracked out”.   So once we got within a mile radius I started recognizing my friends boats - Northern Star is here, Lady Sheridan (who was next to me at my 1st job Dayworking and was docked across from us in Atlantis), Mi Elise, among others and I got really excited!  Not only to see some familiar faces but to walk on LAND!  I just read an article about this 15-year-old South African who pulled into St. Maarten yesterday after 3 weeks at sea and my jaw about fell off my face – 21 days at sea, riding SOLO, kudos to her but she's gotta be out of her mind!  Anyway, after squeezing through the tightest bridge ever we pulled into Isle De Sol…a marina with over 50 sailboats and motor yachts (all our size or bigger).

St. Maarten- a picture can't do this island justice, pure beauty!

After we threw out the lines and docked up, the 1st thing I see is the crew bar and 10-20 yachties dressed in theme (wasn't ugly sweater, but a close 2nd) and I instantly felt at home :)   It's hard to describe this "community" but after witnessing it I can definitely understand the appeal of life at sea.  It's a carefree world with very little judgment...everyone is loves their "job" and is happy, healthy & down to have a good time.   Probably doesn't hurt that there's 100's of billions of dollars floating within a dock radius ;-)

Isle De sol

So my Captain's got us a crew car, and Nina, Zahraa and I have decided to dedicate tomorrow afternoon to touring the island and I'm definitely looking forward to that!   The owners and their guests come on board Wednesday so we won't have long to explore, but we're heading to St. Barts, Guadeloupe, Turks & Caicos, Barbuda, Antigua, and ending in St. Lucia where we'll be dropping them off (apparently St. Lucia is amazing so I'm excited to have time to play there).  As for the charter we we're hoping to get...caught wind today that Mi Elise picked up a charter for Jan 6-16 for 10 guests and I'm pretty sure that's the trip we were hoping to get (an extra 4K in each of our pockets) but se la vi, looks like we'll have more time to relax before heading back to FL :)

Well that's all I've got for now...23 hours up and I'm about ready to crash. 

xoxo,

mE 

On the 'road' again

Unexpected Bahamas run-in with Becs!

Ahhhh I feel like a kid on Christmas - I'm so, SO excited I can't even sleep!  We took off for the Caribbean on Monday but ran into some more than dangerous weather (gail winds in excess of 40MPH) so we had to get the hell outa the Atlantic.  We randomly ended up back at Atlantis (in the Bahamas) where one of my best friends and roommates boyfriend were ported (Becca was 3 boats from mine and Johnny was right next to us)!! Starting to feel the "yachting community" vibe and I'm definitely digging it ;-)  And although I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas gift (seeing a familiar face was exactly what I needed) two days in the Bahamas was enough and I am SO excited to be back at sea.  As it stands, we should be pulling into St. Maarten on Friday, but I'm starting to feel the winds pick up (the boats a rockin') so who knows!  I'm crossing my fingers we get there by Friday because my chief stew has three friends on the island already and they're throwing a "Caribbean kick-off" Friday night...I've never been to St. Maarten but Haley says it's one of the best party spots in the Caribbean (and she parties so this should be nothing short of amazing!)   Despite the winds picking up, it's been a beautiful ride so far and after seeing another breathtaking sunset I have no doubt it'll be a smooth (safe) ride!

Sailboat hangout just South of the Exumas
  

So switching gears for a minute.  Here I am, a month into my adventure at sea (yes, it's been 1 month today), sitting in the crew mess, anxiously awaiting my 3-6am watch shift, and feeling a total sense of peace and contentment. As I sit here, watching Pulp Fiction on a boat with 10 complete strangers (who are slowing but surely becoming family) in the middle of the ocean heading to what can only be described as Paradise to all who

On watch with a friend for life; Zahraa

have traveled there...all the drama-filled Minneapolis bullshit seems so insignificant.   Ex-boyfriends, old fizzled out friendships, the Loop, Big Island, Zorbaz/Moonlight, certain Downtown Minneapolis people who shall go unnamed, and all the stupid mistakes I've made that at one point seemed earth-shattering...they all just seem so silly.  I'm amazed at how easy it was for me to get wrapped up in the small stuff and I'm just so thankful I was able to cease this opportunity to get out of it.  I keep thinking back to my decision "to go or not to go" and after more than 2 months away from MN I wonder what it was that held me back for so long.  I mean everyone knows how much I adored my co-workers, how much I LOVED my job, and how cozy/comfy I'd made my little condo...but you also know the severe anxiety I had on a weekly (sometimes daily) basis and how painstakingly miserable and bored I was, living the same routine scene weekend after weekend.  But the question remains...Where am I meant to be?  And when the hell am I going to figure it out?  I used to think financial stability and a successful career was what it's all about...make a lot of money, save 1/2 of it, invest wisely, buy property, etc but as I type it all out (literally) I can't help but laugh.  The part of me who's living this adventure (going from port to port not knowing who I'll meet or what I'll see) know's that life is meant to be LIVED, not strategically planned out.  But the side of me who's "responsible" (whatever that means) and cautious and scared feels like that 'plan' is the only thing I have that keeps me safe.  Why can't I just get a 30 second glimpse into the future to tell me what I should do and where I should do it?!  At the heart of it all I know, I KNOW, my family and friends make me happy.  When I take away logic and money and jobs and geographic location I know they're my energy and if all else fails they'll keep me afloat. But I also know that the Minneapolis scene just isn't something I'm into anymore...I deserve something more - in a warmer climate where I can wear flip-flops 365 days a year and in a city where I can go out and meet NEW people!  Maybe I'll pack Linda, Doug, and the girls (and their dudes) up in a small truck and ship them to St. Maarten where we can build our own village, live on yachts for 3 months a year, make shit loads of cash, and jam out to Kokomo.  Ugh, if it were only that easy.  Well enough word vomit for this evening...looks like this "blog" is turning into more of a diary (eek) but thanks for listening.

Sending all my love from the middle of the ocean!!

xoxoxo,
mE

Friends are the most valuable treasure

Isn't it weird that no matter where you go or how long you go without talking, your friends will always be your friends?  Back in college I was on this Muhammad Ali kick (don't ask), and I remember a quote by him saying "friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain.  It's not something you learn in school.  But if you haven't learned the meaning then you really haven't learned anything."   High five to you Muhammad, wherever you are...wise words indeed!   As I was writing out my Christmas cards last night (had to get them out before we left the country this morning) I got a little choked up.  If you're reading this blog you obviously know me well enough to know what I'm talking about - you know those tears I get when I'm smiling and happy (with the little hiccup, like when I watch a Hallmark commercial).  I'll be the first to admit I'm an extremely emotional/sentimental person and totally sappy when it comes to cards/letters, but honestly I couldn't help feeling this overwhelming love and appreciation for friendship (and everything it entails).  It's crazy how things change and perspectives continuously evolve...I remember back in high school, the more friends you had the better.  College was the same way...the bigger your posse, the better.  And now, as I sit down to write out my 6 Christmas cards I feel SO lucky and fortunate for these 6 girls and the memories we've shared.  And I know that no matter how far away I go or what continent I end up on, those girls are my family and I'll have them to lean on until the bitter end.  I'm going through a lot of different emotions with regards to "missing out" on things back home, but when I think about the word friendship, and what it's come to mean over the past 8 years I know without a shadow of a doubt that I'll be able to pick back up right where I left off.  To me, that's the most comforting feeling in the world (a comfort I really need right now) and I just had to share...

xoxoxo,
mE


P.S  We took off for the Caribbean today (won't be back to the States for a few months) and this is what we're sailing into..pure, rough, beautimous waves.