The struggle is real: Finding a coastal cruising “mate”.
A running theme here may be the struggle to wrap my head around just how people can claim to love the beach, water, boats, travel, “trying new things,” food, and countless other related experiences... yet virtually lock themselves into a life that denies them fulfillment, or at best, delivers only sips when they have a true thirst. A real-world example: a friend went to the beach with her family last summer, and it was clear they loved it. When she got back she desperately tried not to lose that place in her mind where she found peace, contentment, and fulfillment. So she’d re-post and re-share the photos of the trip, swap out profile and background pictures, and even share beach-themed memes. We joked about starting a commune with other friends, and had fun with the dream of it. What she shared of her experience reminded me of my last beach trip. I enjoyed the reminder, but I feel like there’s a difference. She’s a vacationer, and that’s fine. She and her husband have jobs, her kids are in their later years in school, and they’re surrounded by family in the area. Their roots are deep. I get it, I really do. But will she and her husband move once the kids are out of the house? That’s the real test. So onto the subject of singles. Some women get dogs for companionship. Some women have kids from a prior relationship. But what is keeping them from a dream life? Nothing, really. Dogs and cruiser life are compatible. Kids can thrive in the cruising environment. So whatever they love about Austin or Nashville can also be found in areas with golden sunrises and sunsets, sea breezes, and somewhere where hearing a “Margaritaville” cover is far more appropriate. That said, I understand why they aren’t interested in taking steps that require major changes. They’re getting comfortable with the idea of settling, maybe referencing memories of a slightly wilder youth to describe their character, but not their intentions moving forward. They will, in effect, become vacationers.
So what about a future mover, shaker, and dream-maker? Where the hell are they or how do they awaken to the prospect of embarking on a life that offers and delivers exactly what they seek? They want love. They want adventure. They want to push the boundaries of their comfort zone and grow as an individual. They want a future. They want what I want.
But how does anyone sift through to find that needle in the haystack? If embarking on the journey alone and publishing solo stories is the magnet that will attract that needle, maybe that’s how it has to happen. I can only imagine that anyone who has crewed on SV Delos has had crushes reach out. I can imagine that Taylor of Taylor’s Travels has singles proposition her all the time. But maybe the magic doesn’t really happen in the virtual space. Maybe it’s bonfire nights, starry skies, and meeting someone the old-fashioned way that is what it really takes. Someone who is also blown by the wind, that we just so happen to cross paths with and realize we’re both down for sharing the life we’ve already chosen... together with each other.