Wilbur Hubbard wrote:


I'm not bitter I'm just fed up with the way people don't seem to be able
to prioritize these days. Why is it that fully half the people you see
walking down a sidewalk or shopping in a store or eating in a restaurant
or driving their automobile are having cell phone conversations. It's
not necessary to be doing so and it's dangerous and most of the time
it's rude.

If you're off cruising then enjoy cruising. If you can't enjoy an
activity without having to be talking on the phone 24/7 about it then
why are you really doing it? So, somebody is "anxious" about your
situation. Too bad! It's their way of thinking and their negativism.
Maybe if they weren't catered to 24/7 they might have a chance to
develop a more mature and realistic attitude. I was always taught that
no news is good news. I have found that old adage to be very accurate.

There are some things that people do like climbing a mountain, or
cruising far offshore or scuba diving where it's reasonable to expect
they will be out of touch with civilization. What makes people think
they are so important that everybody in the world must have instant
access to them and they to the world? Is it an ego problem or is it just
a bad habit? I think it's some of both.

Family and friends should allow a man some space and some freedom
without making him feel guilty about having to constantly keep in touch.
Having keeping in touch as a priority when you're way out on the ocean
somewhere cruising getting away from it all seems an unnecessary burden
to all parties concerned. How can anybody get away from it all while
taking it all with them?

Does anybody really know what it means to cruise or voyage anymore?


No argument except I think you are taking this to an extreme. I lived
aboard and sailed for 6 years with nothing at all in communications. I
didn't even have a VHF 'ship to shore'. That was ok.

I used to joke with my (now late) wife that those guys who had CB's were
hoping to get the traffic reports from truckers - or why else did they
have them? I thought it silly.

However, today we have new tech. If I were to sail again far offshore
like I did singlehanded in 2002-2003, I'd like to be able to call my
daughter and tell her things were ok with me. She was very anxious with
me offshore last time. I call to make myself feel better about her
anxiety at my being offshore. It's not like a 14 year old girl can 'give
me space' or I should expect it from her.

This does not mean that I'd be chatting continually with her or anybody
or that I'd scream for help if a seacock developed a seep. In fact, I
don't see rescue at sea as something which would occur no matter what
electronics I have. I don't see the Navy or whatever having enough
interest in me to do anything.

Being on a cruise and continually chatting with folks on shore about
what their TV stars are up to is one thing. Just being able to call my
daughter, if I see fit to, once a week or so, is another thing.

Can't you see there is a distinction?

-paul