Becoming Self Aware

The American Dream: At the end of the nineteenth century, the call went out around the world to come to America for a new start. A chance to climb above your station in life, to own property, to start businesses and make your fortune. All it took was hard work, determination, and a bit of luck. After that call went out, the United States saw the largest migration of people ever recorded in history and doubled the population of the country. With the immigration, the American Dream became the new reality for many and a bitter-sweet struggle for others.

Fast forward about one hundred and twenty years: The dream is still alive. The dream, however, has been manipulated by corporate America through advertising and credit. Many Americans are caught in the revolving door of debt, purchasing things that they don't really need just because some slick advertising made them think they did;. then those items are often discarded when a new model comes out and the remaining balance that they owe on the old one is put on top of what the new items costs. This, in the eyes of corporations, keeps you locked into debt, never getting your head above water.

The new American Dream lets you have anything you want, as long as you can make the monthly payments. Its not uncommon for people to borrow money for their home, automobiles, motorcycles, boats, vacations, and use credit cards for everything, even their groceries. Our country is drowning in debt, and at some time, the bill will come due.

Five years ago, I became self aware. Aware that I was caught is this cycle of greed; trying to have everything and live above my means to pay for it. I decided that I wanted to live a simpler life, a life not dependent on material things and not beholden to the corporate greed masters. I'm not saying that you cant own anything, finance what you must have, and pay cash for other things you need.

We paid off all of our credit cards and then destroyed them, are paying off the things we have financed, stopped buying things that we didn't need, and started saving money. Loving history and travel, we set a goal, when we retire, to live along and explore the Mediterranean coastline. We decided the best way to live free and frugal but still be able to travel, was to live on a sailboat. We will be able to sail to all of the sights of antiquity and with the power of the wind, take our home with us.

We still have several years to work and save before we can live our dream, but we are working for ourselves, and the money we make is ours and doesn't belong to some bank or corporate slavers.

So, the next time you are watching or reading ads and commercials, think about what is important to you, and not what your peers will think about you. You can become self aware and break the cycle of greed and live the American Dream, the way it was intended.

Winter Blues

Locked in what seemed like a never ending Winter nightmare, our boat sat upon its cradle, ice and snow hung from her stanchions and rigging, drifts of snow blanketed her pad. The lake and everything around it was covered with craggy ice. It had only been a few weeks since Winter began, but with the polar vortex dipping into our region, we were living in conditions not usually seen outside of Canada.

For a sailor its pretty depressive, so depressive in fact, I only visited Aquilon one time this past winter. Usually, I visit every couple of weeks and do a few small projects or just sit in the cockpit and dream of sailing. But when it seemed it would never end, suddenly the air was fresh again and the sun began to feel warm on my skin. We have had a week or two of warmer weather, so I am confidant that Spring has finally joined the party. I checked on Aquilon a week ago and was pleased to find that she survived the harsh winter with only a few minor areas where the varnish wore away. Inside she was fresh smelling and dry and only needed a light dusting.

In the next few weeks I will replace the diesel fuel, change the filters and if there is enough water in the lake, get her launched. Over the winter I had her roller head sail repaired and a new UV cover added to match the new mainsail cover and Bimini cover. I don't have any major plans for the boat this season though, I just want to relax and enjoy the quiet solitude of a sailboat underway and spend the night at anchor and few times, (which we haven't done yet), and try to imagine how life will be during our retirement.