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| Image borrowed from here. |
Today, for example, is another such day. We, along with our friends on s/v Earthling, were planning on leaving today to head north to Joe's Sound - a 20 mile jaunt along the lee of Long Island. We woke up this morning and began to ready the boat when we got a call from our friends on the radio telling us they decided to stay for a local festival that is going on today.
Local festival? That sounds pretty neat.
What to do?
Do we stay, or do we go? (Go ahead, insert the Clash song if you must).
On the one hand is the weather - the winds are light today, 13 to 15 knots, which would be a nice ride. Plus, we'd be all snuggled into our anchorage for Monday's blow (20-25 knots with gusts to 30) with plenty of time to spare. Tomorrow is not too bad, but the forecast is for winds of 17 -20 knots which means a slightly wilder ride (granted, it will be in the lee of Long Island, so not as bad as open ocean). Furthermore, others might have the same idea as us, making the anchorage a little more crowded than usual. On the other hand is the local festival and staying with our friends - isn't this large part of why were doing what we're doing anyway? To live spontaneously, meet new people and experience new cultures and embrace them?
Hmmm....
We looked at both sides and eventually after a few back and forths, made the call to stay (after we made the call to leave, and stay, and leave, and stay). To experience a local festival and remain here a day (or two? or three? who knows!) more is not that big of a deal. Plus, we'll stay with our friends. We are on island time, right?
This little episode, however, got me thinking about indecision and how unproductive and frustrating it can be. Other cruisers and readers - please - how would you have handled this situation? Furthermore, how do you deal with indecision while cruising (or in life!)? Do you go back and forth after a decision has been made or are you all in, all the time? We would love to know!
Either way, we'll let you know all about the Bahamian Marching Band!
Love,
Brittany & Scott
17 comments:
Have a great time and enjoy the festival! Since we're not cruising just yet, all I can say is that I just finished the "Cost Conscious Cruiser" by Lin and Larry Pardley and they addressed this. They said it's easy to get caught up with friends and you just have to learn to set priorities. Either way, you're having fun so don't stress it!
I say stay, whats the hurry? You only get a chance to experience local culture once in a great while. Island time, remember.
@MLC - Cheryl - I must get that book...that is the predicament we find ourselves in...you are totally right...priorities - STAT. But cruising with friends is SOO fun :).
@ Dan & Anne - thanks, we agree...but I think there is a balance...it gets frustrating to go back and forth, we need to learn to just make decisions and stick with them! But agreed, it's not every day you get to see a bahamian marching band!! haha!
Call me paranoid, but I always err on the side of caution - especially when it comes to weather. You could be anchored safely in a sheltered harbor, sitting on the deck, and sipping a tasty adult beverage right now. That's not too bad, right?
Let us know how it works out :-)
All I can say is...live for today tomorrow is a day away...why cruise if you're going to worry about time and dates
“Then indecision brings its own delays,
And days are lost lamenting o'er lost days.
Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute;
What you can do, or dream you can, begin it;
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Bvi is not to far away. 400 or so nm away? Two full days of hard sailing. I say wait it out, by pass puerto rico and you will be sipping painkillers on the Willie t soon!
Isn't taking advantage of new experiences high on your priority list? Well, then you've addressed your priorities. Just make sure you're safe.
For me, indecision often leads to a lot of lost time and energy. Not making a decision is in fact making a decision - A decision to be stuck. You following me?
Indecision - an interesting choice of words. I happen to be retired, and thus am not forced to look at each day where 90% of it is somewhat determined by what someone else thinks I should do, thus, I have choices to make. Each choice offers rewards, risks, and challenges - however minor or major. But having choices, rather than dictates, is a blessing.
Thus, rather than worry about indecision, I prefer to look at one who has choices as being "blessed". So choose whatever feels right, whatever challenges you, whatever you think leads to happiness, contentment and love - and go forward.
To me, indecision is only a curse when the question is choosing between what someone else thinks I should do (like the boss) and what I want to do. But when the choices are mine (or yours) to make, then you are truly blessed.
Uncle Al
We always agreed, the more conservative vote of the two of us, "wins." Especially re finding a safe space to ride out weather - always ask, "What if that storm came 12 hours earlier; was 5 knots stronger; or was 45 degrees closer to being a head wind?" Then plan for that.
The big question to ask yourself - What will I remember 5 years from now? That I made the next harbor? Or that I went to this crazy local festival?
Once you've made your decision, live it. Be where you are and don't continue to ask yourself what if I'd decided to take the other option what would I be doing now? Just enjoy where you are.
They dont call it Chicken Town for nothing. Get OUT NOW. You will love the freedom of leaving all the volley beach politics behind you. Then you will remember why your out there.... To sail and see something new.
Friends are fun, but remember everyone is a follower in Georgetown. What happened to being free and a leader? Thats why no one leaves. If you leave, others will follow. There is ALWAYs another reason to stay in GT...
The festival!! Joe's sound will still be there, even of you have to wait a week. You are not on a ten day package tour are you?
Cliff
As we make our own plans, I've been thinking a lot about this.
For us:
- We don't have the cruiser aversion to making plans. We like making plans. We just don't have the normal fear of changing them and we don't feel strange telling people we've changed them. It's not indecision for us. It's being open to opportunities.
- The real struggle for us (like many people) is how long to stay in one place vs moving more often and experiencing new places and we have mostly decided we'll have to err on either side to figure out where we personally like to be.
PS - That was Livia, accidentally logged in as Carol.
Great comments on a very interesting topic! I have found that indecision can be crippling in terms of wasted time and added stress. Its made worse post decision when we inevitably play the "what if" game. Glad you guys are having such a great time!
MM
Hans changes our plans if not daily, sometimes hourly (sometimes he drives me nuts)!! However, there's nothing wrong with deciding to do something else, that's why we're all here right? To have fun. I think the only time you should worry about a 'schedule' is the weather; just try to err on the side of safety.
Really it was an awesome article… very interesting to read…
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