Comments on: Friday Fill-in #101

By: Midlife Slices

Midlife Slices — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:48:46 +0000

I’ve been reading all about your sailing life and I think I’d feel the exact way you do about it. My husband yearns to spend a week or two on a sailboat and insists I go with him. It’s just not my thing and I want him to get those weeks of sailing but why do I have to participate? It scares me to be on a cruise boat, for Pete’s sake. I think I’d have to stand there and make sure I could always see shore and I’d never take off my life vest…plus I’d have to carry a rubber life boat with me at all times. I’m not kidding either.

I loved your 50 random facts about yourself. I should do the same about myself but I’m not sure I could come up with 50 that anyone would be interested in.

You know something, MLS? I spent 15 years bitching and moaning (and writing!) about the sailing. I made TFH’s life miserable every time he suggested we spend some time on the boat. And then, finally two years ago, I took some lessons myself and I stopped being so scared. I was too old to qualify as deck fluff, and too mouthy to function as ballast, so I’d graduated to being winch wench – I did all the winding in of the sheets (ropes) for the sails etc. Then I took the lessons and things changed quite radically, because I finally understood what we were doing and why. Now I’m quite happy to take the helm and sail the damn’ boat, or just lie in the cockpit reading and sunbathing; it makes no difference to me. I’m still not as passionate as TFH is about the whole sailing thing, but it’s actually a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon, scudding along before the wind, and we have had some interesting cruises around Lake Ontario. This year, we spent a week or so on the US side, which was great. I still get bored sometimes, but no more “minutes of terror.” If the wind or weather changes, we just do what we have to do, and it all works out.

My suggestion would be to take some sailing lessons, then spend a week or so down in the Caribbean on a charter. We went to St Maarten last year and had a ball – he did some racing, I spent lots of time on the beach, and we sailed with friends a few times. We’ve also spent a week sailing a charter in the Greek islands with friends, which was magical. Realistically, we only have maybe two or three more years of sailing like that before it becomes too much for us, and then I want us to spend a couple of months in different parts of Europe every year after I retire. TFH is quite happy to go along with that, because I’ve been going along with him on the sailing. It’s all part of the give and take that makes a marriage work. And anything is better than golf, IMHO!

I’d like to read those 50 random facts about you sometime. You could start with that glorious red hair …

By: Tessa

Tessa — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:48:37 +0000

Thistles, you have to remember that wisewebwoman lives in Newfoundland – she’ll need the fire and jammies at least from September to July! (Just kidding, wisewoman, honest.)

It seems like forever since we had anything as smart and funny as Buffy on tv. I guess if I were to name a really old, steam-television show it would be the original Dr Who. But my family didn’t get a television until I went away to boarding school when I was 16 – I believe it was because of the difficulties my parents had getting me to do homework … or something …

By: Tessa

Tessa — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:43:57 +0000

I agree, wisewebwoman – let’s make it the law when women finally rule the world!

By: thistles

thistles — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:00:44 +0000

agreeing with wisewebwoman…at least from November 1 til January 31…

and lord, is ‘Buffy’ already considered an old show?…where has the time gone

By: wisewebwoman

wisewebwoman — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:27:45 +0000

I wish every day were jammie day by the fire, there should be a law…..
XO
WWW

By: Smart Mouth Broad

Smart Mouth Broad — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:57:32 +0000

Great fill-ins! Good for you that your work is slowing down and gives you time to think and plan and get things done. We are crazy at my office this time of year. Enjoying the journey none the less.

Thanks SMB. Usually down time is one of the downsides of free-lancing/contract work. But not at this time of year … or during sailing season!

By: Janet

Janet — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:42:34 +0000

Tessa, thank you for your kind comment

I wish I could’ve gotten into Buffy, seems like my type of show, but…

Thanks for playing and enjoy your weekend