Inarticulate Freedom

Oriental, NC
No LL

I finally figured out that the primary attraction to the cruising life is freedom. There are very few niches left on this planet for people to live as freely, without restrictions, as we do. One of the telling aspects of freedom though is what you do with it.

Libby and I choose to exercise our freedom by migrating north and south in a constant (and largely successful) search for fun. Others choose to circumnavigate or to at least sail to exotic places. Others might choose to exercise their freedom by staying at the same place forever at anchor, not paying rent or taxes, and rowing their dinghy in to work every day at their jobs. Still others stay fixed, pay no rent or taxes, and drink lots and lots of alcohol.

The cruising community is very egalitarian. People of all backgrounds, all ambitions, people with wildly different income levels, reputations, and appetites for alcohol mix pretty freely. In other words, they tend not to be snobby.

Sadly, those with a great affinity for drink don't last as long. It is they, I believe, who are responsible for most of the derelict vessels (DVs). DVs are a big problem. Taxpayers and local residents hate seeing them, and even if the law is against them, they often succeed in getting rid of the DVs. Sometimes, the process leads to anti boater sentiments and restrictions.

The sailboat above in New Bern is what I call borderline derelict. It appears to be in good shape. However there are no sails visible. That's not a good sign. Worse, it is stuck in the mud. You can see it heeling over in the picture despite the lack of wind or currents. Deeper water is just a few yards away. It is also in an area were several other boats sit stuck in the mud. How did that happen? It could just be a mistake, but most likely it was blown there during a storm. Stormy winds and high water can cause the anchor to drag. Year after year, if the boat sits unattended it becomes a little higher and drier after each passing storm. Therefore, I suspect that this is a sound boat that is destined to become a DV. That says nothing about the owner. He or she may simply be absent having voluntarily or involuntarily abandoned the vessel.

So, what is my point in this blog post? Muddled I guess. It was triggered while contemplating the sailboat in the picture on the same day that I was reminded that freedom is the true essence of cruising. The two are connected, but I have not yet found to articulate a conclusion.