PLEASE- Not on MY Watch!

After extensive reading of cruising guides, talking to seasoned sailors, float planning, readying the vessel, and provisioning, we're finally about to head down island.

 HURRAY!

Then yesterday we happened to listen to a radio program that focussed on the variety of whales that one may see here in the Caribbean waters right now.  We were not entirely unaware of the possibility of seeing whales here as we'd heard a small group was seen around the southwestern point of Water Island just a few days ago.  Since hearing that report, when on deck, I've been looking in that direction down the coast hoping to see some sign of the great mammals.

COOL- WE'RE GONNA SEE WHALES!



Google image...NOT our boat

BUT- as the radio program began to describe the size of the whales and their various behaviours- I began to get apprehensive about the possibility of an encounter of the close kind ...

EXIT STRATEGY

VS

SPERM WHALE!

 

 

 

 

While sailing during the day, I'm certain we'll able to see humpbacks cresting to breathe or their distinctive flukes raised as they dive.  We should be able to sight activity well in advance and adjust our course to avoid a collision.  What concerns me, though, is the crossing we'll make at night on our 134 mile trip to St. Kitt's.  Whales usually rest/sleep at night and do so by floating at the surface so they can breathe.  A cruising friend from Boston says you can hear them breathe as you go by.  But if the wind and current has us keeled over doing a good clip, I doubt if we'll hear a whale snoring!

 



NOT Captain Dan! (Near Dominica-Google Image)

 

 

ES's First & Last Mate respectfully requested that the Captain modify the float plan to include an island stop for the night to reduce the chance of a midnight rendezvous of the worst kind.  He denied the request.

PRAY FOR US!

"DO YOU WANT TO BE A WELL FED SLAVE...

...OR A HUNGRY FREE MAN?"

Our good friends Jeff and Kristy, of Chartering with Friends s/v As You Wish, turned us on to a new reggae artist called Lucky Dube.  They got acquainted with his music at the recent Rastafarian Fair on St. Thomas.  Quite by chance, we began listening to Lucky Dube’s Taxman CD this morning while the Captain began to organize our 2011 taxes.

One of the tunes, Well Fed Slave/Hungry Free Man, got me thinking about the reaction we often got from people previous to our retirement when we told them about our plan.  Some would respond, “You’re too young to retire- how are you going to do that?” or “Why would you want to retire before you’re eligible for full retirement benefits?” Yet, others would say, “That is SO-O-O COOL!  That’s a GREAT plan!  I hope your dream works out for you.  I wish we could do that…”  

 

 

This blog entry is made today to let you know that Captain Dan & I are doing just fine on our fixed income that is approximately 75% less than pre-retirement. And we plan to enjoy this life for years to come. 

So we encourage you again- MAKE YOUR OWN PLAN AND WORK TOWARD IT!  Are you  currently a “well fed slave” and reluctant to accept less than full retirement benefits if it means that the  building stress will possibly infirm you physically during your final years of employment?  Please consider that quitting early may result in an improvement of your emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being!   Avoid falling into the could’ve-should’ve-would’ve syndrome.   Figure out how much $$ is enough to make YOU comfortable.   Then JUST DO IT.

Lucky Dube 1964-2007;
Life is short.

Christiansted JUMP UP

We dinghied into Christiansted’s boardwalk with a cruising couple from Minnesota, Nancy & Rick (s/v Nancy Ellen) to see what St. Croix’s Jump Up was all about.  The downtown streets were closed off and a variety of vendors were stationed here and there.  Five bands were set up in different locations and provided lively music- syncopated reggae, plinkety steel pan, and groovy oldies R & B.  Loads of people- tourists and Crucians- milled about enjoying the festivities.

Among the crowd, we recognized the pastor from Holy Cross, Father John, although he was in “civilian” clothes.  He told us of his Polish homeland and his travels as a Redemptorist Missionary.   Our Episcopalian friends queried him on the new wording of the mass and we exchanged tidbits about our ties to Chicago and Poland. (Father brought up the royalty in my mother's Potocki bloodline.)

Down another street, we found our son Bob's family along with a group of other missionaries from YWAM- St. Croix.  They positioned themselves to feel every vibration of the Rising Stars Steel Pan Band's lively performance.  Their son Aslan is five and an aspiring drummer.  Their daughter Lyla was amazed at the height and dance moves of the Mocko Jumbies.

We went.

             We saw.

                        We reggaed.