I've noticed an interesting fact about myself here in Boot Key Harbor. We travel down here to this beautiful, warm place. We secure our boat to a mooring ball and then have a very difficult time leaving the harbor until it's time to head north again in the spring. We come down with plans to got out to the reef snorkeling a lot. (It's just abut 5 miles from the harbor.) We want to go out fishing in Hawk Channel or beyond to catch a mahi mahi or other delicacy. We talk about sailing to Ilamarada or even to the Dry Tortugas. In three years we've made it to Ilamarada once and have yet to visit the Dry Tortugas. We get out to the reef once or twice a season, but no more unless company makes it happen.
I can come up with many reasons for this phenomenon. The wind, which is so common here in the winter, can make conditions a bit rough out there. It can stir up the water so it's not clear or comfortable to go snorkeling at the reef. The cold fronts coming through can produce some cool conditions which make it less desirable to out and about. At times the wind can be quite strong so sailing can be uncomfortable. Going to the Dry Tortugas requires good weather for both the trip out and the return across 70 miles of ocean. We aren't interested in fighting large waves and strong winds to get back once we get there. And then there are all the activity in Marathon. Yoga is offered three times a week; there are weekly lunches for different groups that attract our attention; there's a craft group that meets and softball and tennis at least once a week. Then there are speakers who come and festivals to attend. Shopping is also on the list. Of course a trip lasting a month or two to get down here often produces a number of boat projects to be addressed. I can attest to this last issue, since I've had several projects related to the boat to work on since we arrived. So getting out will happen. If not this week, then perhaps next, or the next. After all, we're here for the entire winter.
So it is not surprising that all of these distractions have an impact on initial plans. That said, however, I believe that there is another impediment to getting out. It's called inertia. It's so easy to come with a reason for not going out today. The most difficult action to accomplish seems to be dropping the mooring line. Once we do that, the rest is easy, and going out becomes a great idea once again.
I must admit that we've done a better job overcoming the inertia this year. As I write this, we are anchored out in Florida Bay enjoying a couple of days of relaxation, swimming off the boat and exploring a nearby mangrove island that is home to many birds. It becomes a great balance to time spent with all the friendly cruisers and locals in Marathon and enjoying the busy atmosphere there. We're a mere 9 – 10 miles from the harbor, but out here we see more stars. We can also clearly see the bottom a few feet below our boat. Out here we have the chance to reconnect with our natural surroundings and recharge our batteries (personal – not boat batteries). We are really glad we made the effort to drop that mooring line and get out. Such small adventures really help us to appreciate out surroundings.
We suspect that we are not alone in our difficulty getting out. And this problem is not unique to cruisers. How many times have you heard people say that they've lived in a particular area for years and have never been to see some of the local attractions. I've talked to New Yorkers who've never been to the Statue of Liberty or the top of the Empire State Building.
Last summer we traveled cross country and camped at several National Parks. A number of people were interested in our trip and wished that they too could do something like that. There are usually some very good reasons for not being able to do a trip like this. I often wonder, however, if the greatest impediment to getting out on some even small adventures that could enrich ones life is overcoming inertia. For us, it's dropping the mooring line. For others it may be some other block that prevents them from beginning an enriching experience. We must always remember that it's not the number of years we live but the life we put into our years. So Carpe Diem!
Captain Bob
aboard Carpe Diem
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