“You deserve it” the words are meant to encourage, affirm and congratulate rang hollow in my ears.
In 2023, “out of the blue” we purchased the sailboat of our dreams a Catalina 350. The boat that will serve us well and safely for our “senior years” afloat.
The truth is we’ve gotten older and we realize that Arcturus a 1976 Cal 2-27 no longer is a vessel we can take on our next sailing adventures. Arcturus has given us so many great sails and good times. She is sturdy, reliable and seaworthy. We are the ones who have changed. We recognize we will soon need good modern systems and modern comforts to do the type of sailing we want to do in the future.
I do not believe “we deserve this”. So many good kind hearted people live lives of desperation and they deserve better. I’ve spent my career working with people in need, connecting people who care to people who need care. Whether it’s working with young people to educate, inform and help them experience the joy of giving of time and effort to people who deserve better or doing home repair with volunteers to make homes safe, secure, and sanitary, or even feeding people who suffer from food insufficiency, I know people who deserve better.
We have spent a lifetime working towards this goal. Every decision – what to purchase, where to live, our diet, our recreation, choices have laid out a path towards our next 20 years. We are currently in good health and are agile enough and fit enough now, but no one knows what the future holds.
One thing we know-we nurture our spirit in nature – gazing at the changing landscapes and the ever changing reflections dancing on the water. Living in harmony with the weather, and waves. Awed by the sight of an eagle or two welcoming us to a new anchorage or by a great blue heron skimming the water, fish jumping, kingfishers chasing each other, crows cackling, swans gracefully swimming past. Looking up into a clear night sky to find thousands of stars twinkling down upon us. These things are our sunshine and joy.
No we don’t deserve this but we are over joyed we were able to buy the boat, live our dream, be together, share with friends and sail into our sunset years.
