"There are good ships and wood ships, ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, and may they always be" recited Captain Frank at our closing event. The cruise was unlike any previous vacation, but rather a lifestyle journey where the destination was incidental to building community and relishing in relationships and friendships.
Just as Albatross are always airborne and never land except to mate; World Cruisers are always marine and only land to repack. One time bucket list World Cruisers become a lifestyle for many, who knows for me?
It truly was a Grand World Voyage from pole to Panama seeing wildlife from Anteaters to Whales! As Captain Frank said sailor's advice:
"You can't change the winds but you can adjust the sails"
Gregory Burns, the presenter onboard whom I befriended, shared:
"Hope you are sailing well and continuing the adventure.
I was rereading some writings I did a few decades ago and came across a passage that reminded me of something you too said ‘go farthest first’…. Here is my version:"
“We travelers are not as courageous as we appear. We have our limits and our fears. But we bring to the settled that spark of freedom, the feeling of feathers. Flying above and beyond the mundane. When I finally settle, I’ll have a wealth of experiences to relate. All we can do is encourage others to go too and live life that is fuller and less sure. We can retire later. But now we were born to run. Go farthest first then retrace and learn from your steps. One at a time, inch by inch. Along the way, absorbing and returning the love and compassion that are free."
Gregory used Robert Bly's myth metaphor comparing a world cruise to a hero's journey complete with trials, tribulations and transformations.
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