Life in the fast lane

 Imagine a turtle racing down a major highway.  Even at top speed the critter is likely to turn into road kill.  After several months of moving an average speed of 6.5 knots (7.5 miles per hour) I can relate to that turtle.  Two recent trips to Philadelphia and a several from New Jersey to Delaware quickly turned into an adrenaline-spiked adventure. 

Doesn’t anyone use turn signals anymore?  Cars zip in and out of traffic lanes without warning.   Speed limits, forget it!   On the way to visit the folks in Jersey, I noticed that traffic was moving along at 75 miles per hour (mph) in the slow lane.  Talk about a culture shock.  After setting the cruise control for 65 mph, a semi loomed in my rearview mirror.  I was determined not to let that intimidate me.   After a few minutes, the impatient driver did use a turn signal, moved to the left lane, and passed me before moving one vehicle ahead.   I thought, “Okay bud!  That move is sure to get you to your destination quicker.”  

The adrenaline rush began to settle when a black BMW attempted to zoom from the left lane, which was beginning to back up, into mine. Apparently BMW’s (and many other newer cars) don’t have blinkers.  When the driver noticed that my lane (right) was suddenly slowing and that there was not enough room to pull in, he zipped back to the left lane, narrowing missing a car moving forward.  I slammed the breaks and waited for the car behind me to turn my vehicle into an accordion.  Yep! The adrenaline rush was back

Was driving always this treacherous?   Is it because there are more cars on the roadways?   Are more people in a hurry because traffic is heavier?   What’s up with not using blinkers?   A guy on a cell phone driving a truck pulled out in traffic from convenience store turning left, cutting me off.  He used no blinker to indicate a turn. 

Maybe I’m just getting old?  How the heck do much older adults, whose reflexes are not so quick, get around?   Maybe it is because I’ve lived a slower life for the last nine months, or not?  Whatever the reason, today’s drivers seem to be working hard to make defensive driving more like an arena game.  Perhaps weaving in and out of traffic without signaling and riding someone’s rear to speed them up is the new normal.

I take some deep breaths and try to focus on the road.  I work to maintain a constant speed.  I watch the break lights of the cars in front of me and say a silent prayer when I’m out of heavy traffic.   

The most important thing is that I don’t beep or make gestures to the offending driver.   I learned that lesson the hard way.   Before sailing off into the sunset, a man in a beat up truck cut in front of me.  He gave me the one-fingered salute. I shook my head and mouthed idiot. The angry man turned and followed me into a parking lot where he called me a few names and threatened to pull me from the car.   Another driver who witnessed the entire event intervened and came to my aid.   I reported the incident to the police.

According to Fox News, over 40,000 people are killed in automobile accidents each year.  Many of these accidents can be prevented.  Using common sense probably gives one the most preventative means to avoid an accident. The list includes driving sober, slowing down (which also conserves gas consumption), and avoiding distractions such as cell phones and answering texts while driving.   Another word of advice to prevent an accident is not to drive when drowsy.  Pull off the road or give the wheel to someone else.  Bad weather events such as fog, heavy rain, or snow is a good time to slow down and put distance between you and the car ahead.  If you can, pull over or stay off the road entirely.

Following these tips can help keep you safe on the road, but one must also remain attentive and aware of other drivers.   These are the drivers who tailgate, refuse to signal, and pull out from stop signs or lights.  Scan ahead and keep an eye open for unexpected moves from other drivers.  Watch out for drivers talking on cell phones, or those weaving in an out of traffic.  Be extra vigilant and slow down through construction zones.  Look out for bicyclists and those on motorcycles.  Many organizations such as AARP offer defensive driving courses.  Consider taking one and get a discount off most auto insurance policies.  It’s a war zone out there on those roads.

Most importantly, wear a seatbelt to protect yourself and your loved ones in the event of an accident.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Association reports that more than half of all accident fatalities involve drivers and passengers who were not wearing seatbelts.  Seatbelts prevent one from being thrown through a windshield or around the inside of a crashing car. 

I suspect that as traffic becomes heavier, roads more congested and drivers more stressed accident ratios will increase.  I will wear my seatbelt, breathe deeply, keep my eye on the other driver, and remember that I’m not traveling 6.5 knots this summer.  As for the turtles, when I see one on a Salem County road, I pull over and help move it along.  There is no way that God’s critters were created to race with cars.

Blue Water Calls

Two days back on terra firma, the motion of the ocean continues.  A slight case of land sickness follows me down the dock.  It only takes a quick turn of the head... up, down or to the side to bring a brief sensation of surfing down a wave.  

The barrage of questions have begun.. "Well, have you got it out of your system yet?"  "Are you done?" "How can you bear living in such a small space?" And the most heartbreaking question of all, "When are you moving home forever Mom Mom?" hits hard.  The answers are no, no, it's big enough to be comfortable, and finally, dear seven year old granddaughter Lexi, I don't know, but I will carry you my heart wherever I go.

Imagine will soon leave its watery berth for a spot on land for the summer.  Major maintenance projects will fill the hot summer days and most likely cause me to wonder why I want to continue to do this thing called cruising.  Images of aquamarine waters, deserted beaches, and kayaking over reefs while family and friend scrape ice and snow from their cars should keep me on track. 

The entire head (toilet) will come out.  The floor and pedestal must be rebuilt.  Hoses that only a contortionist can reach must be replaced under the sink.  The overhead (ceiling) will be dismantled so that all cabin top deck hardware can be re-bedded.  That means all 14 over head lights must be taken down as well.  The mast boot that keeps water from coming in needs to be replaced.  Anchor chain must be replaced.  A shackle that doesn't fit through the bow roller will be upgraded.  It gets old lifting the 45-pound anchor over the roller each time the anchor is deployed and  brought back on board.

That is only the beginning of the fun.  The entire bottom paint must be removed and sanded down to fiberglass as large chips are flaking.  The deck around rear stanchions have cracks than must be ground out and re-glassed, courtesy of a storm at sea which caused the straps holding a dinghy in the davits to chafe.  That in turn caused the dinghy to swing violently enough to bend the davits and cause the cracks.  The non-skid needs to be repainted and bright work as well. Are you tired yet?  I am.  

Canvas must come off for repairs at the snaps.  Saltwater plays havoc on the zippers. Some have to be replaced.  The radar must be fixed.  The water maker needs a new end cap.  The 30 year old propane oven and stove will be refitted.  Portholes will also come out for re bedding.  Old gaskets on all hatches and portholes will be removed and replaced. New copper sheathing will be run inside along the hull for the single sideband radio connection quality.

Oh yes, in case you haven't guessed.  Imagine has a leak, a major leak coming from over the starboard settee, but only when it rains or when salt water washes over the decks. 

Ed and I will do all repairs and upgrades ourselves.  We will probably get into a few arguments over how to get the work done.  I lean towards the perfectionist side.  He is more of a minimalist.  Sometimes compromise is in order, sometimes not. 

When things get overwhelming and I feel like chucking it all and going back to the status quo kind of life, I'll have to stop and remember why the blue water keeps calling me back.  

Durning nearly 20 years working at Meals on Wheels  too many clients and volunteers lamented about dreams they never lived.  The story goes, "We were always going to do that, but my wife (or husband) got sick."  Living a dream sometimes means sacrifice.  In my case. I seem to always be saying goodbye to family and friends.  I miss my grandchildren.  I get to do boat maintenance that I'd rather not.

On the flip side, I get to kayak along sea turtles and dolphins.  I watch starfish move ever so slowly along a white sandy bottom.  At night I watch meteor showers streak across the sky.  Beaches offer treasures of shells and sea glass.  There are uninhabited islands to explore.  Soft tropical breezes caress my face.  

Sailing has gifted me with experiences that have etched into my memories.  The brilliant indescribable hues and colors of water that change from moment to moment as the sun and clouds move across the sky never cease to capture my imagination.  Blue holes, tropic birds, and ghost crabs that scamper across the fine white sand of an empty beach cause me to appreciate nature at its best.

I've watched pods of pilot whales breach in Exuma Sound.  Pink Iguanas came out from the brush and rocky hiding places to greet us on the beach at Leaf Cay.  On other days, I hiked through blooming tropical bushes on the way to the beach.  Colorful anolis  lizards sporting colors of green and blue race across the path to hide in the foliage.  In the morning evidence that hermit crabs and sea turtles roamed the beaches at night are left by a criss crossing if tracks.

Working on the boat isn't going to be fun, but that's why it's called work.  Living on a boat requires a lot of maintenance.  The call of the blue water beckons.  The work must get done before the call can be answered again, at least for one more year.