Challenges of Cruising

Below is a letter Loon got from a friends friend who is cruising and is sooooo right thought I'd send it on. Some of you know this is true, some of you will learn it soon, and some will just have to take our word for it. __________________________________________________________________________ > When you pick up "Currents" or "Cruising World" it all seems so idyllic. Calm anchorages, warm clear water, laughing natives, and you bobbing contently in the bay without a care in the world. Ha!! > It's all about worry. Worry and work. Worry and work and incessant planning. And worry. You worry about the weather, you worry about your boat, you worry about your abilities, you worry about your spouse, you worry about your money, you worry, worry, worry. And you work. You work on the boat, you work on your dinghy, you work on your electrical system, you work on your engine, you work on your watermaker, you work on your computer. You work and work and work. > And you plan. Everything takes planning. The simplest things take planning. Going to the bathroom takes planing. Is the holding take full? When can I pump out again? How much deodorizer have I got and when is the next time I can get some? Ditto toilet paper. Do I have spares for the macerator pump? When was the last time I put vinegar in to clean the pipes? By the time you've run through the list you're so tensed up you don't have to go anymore. > And groceries!! You can't just get up and go to the store. Most times there isn't any store. And if there is you don't recognize anything. And getting there is a major chore. First you have to find a dinghy landing. And it may be through the surf so everything you take or bring back must be protected in case you dump. And you must find somewhere to lock it up since you look like Donald Trump to the locals and they assume you can buy a new dinghy motor every week without breaking a sweat. Freezer space is at a premium so you have to plan meals weeks in advance with cuts of meat you've never seen before. > Just going ashore takes planning. Does it look like it might rain? Do we lock up the boat and risk having the cat pass out from heart prostration when it gets to 100 degrees in the cabin? Are we going to want to take pictures? Do we want the bikes? Should we take water and a lunch? Do we need to take a light in case it's dark when we get back? Have we plugged in the anchor light? > Now we come to electrical consumption! It's a constant battle to keep batteries charged and all the systems running. We are forever checking the battery monitor and worrying about how muck power we are using. Trying to get as much out of the solar panels as possible. Trying to figure out how much fuel we are using running the engine to charge. And where is the next fuel stop? Do we have to jerry jug it? How much is it? Is a cab necessary to get to the station? When is the next oil change and where do I dispose of the used oil? Can I make Panama City before I run out of fuel and oil filters? Is the fuel I'm getting clean and is my baja filter working properly? Outboards are easy to get fixed down here since everyone has one, but diesel mechanics are . well, there aren't any. So that means you constantly worry about engine failure. Any little change in the sound of the engine is mini heart attack time. And just a note here - forget about brushing up on your sailing. You are going to be motoring 70% of the time. > And finally, route planning. Since charts down here can be relied upon about as much as your wife's ex- husband you have to worry about that too. No going in anywhere at night. Either the rocks aren't charted, the navigation lights are not working or the GPS shows you sailing down the Central American Highway two miles inland! So plan on getting everywhere in the daylight. And don't plan on anything being like the cruising guide says. Marinas are closed, the regulations for checking in and out of a country have changed and you no longer have the right documents. In one country it's $100 US to stay for five days and in the next, it's free. But you might have to go three hours on a chicken bus if you want to extend your visa. Inland trips mean planning where to leave the boat. Who will watch it, change the cat litter, start the engine to charge the batteries? Where do we stay? Can I eat that? Do we have enough money because nothing ever costs what they say it will cost? What will the weather be like while we're away and will the boat be safe at anchor? Am I losing my mind or is the fact that I'm sitting in the corner quietly weeping just a sign of senility? > So welcome to real cruising! Not the glossy magazine variety. If you don't have ulcers, you will. You better love your spouse because they are in your face 24/7. Learn to bite your tongue. Remember that everyone at home thinks you are relaxing on tropical beaches with some kind of rum drink in your hand and not a care in the world. Foster that notion. It's nice for them to think that someone escaped the rat race and is leading the good life. Reality would be too hard for them to take.