I've come to a conclusion after having to deal
with the likes of Shen44, otnmbrd, and RickyTugs
and some others this past year or so that perhaps
I have misjudged their motives.

I think I owe them all an apology because I
underestimated their love of the sea. It dawned
on me as I was pedaling to the store a little while
ago that, given all their other shortcomings and
faults, their love of the sea must be a match or
greater than that of the average sailor.

Why did I come to this conclusion? Easy.

Just examine what they do. They sit in a
wheelhouse surrounded by modern technology.
They breath air-conditioned air full of noxious
fumes from the operation of the ship. They
are subject to constant vibration and unnatural
motion. Noise is a constant companion. They even
admit to becoming seasick on a regular basis.
They spend their time alternately gazing at a
radar screen a Playboy Magazine and perhaps
a video tape or television.

If they are willing to ruin their health and
well-being and put up with such conditions just
to say they work at sea then they must truly
love the sea in order to sacrifice everything
to it.

What one must wonder, though, is why is it
they are either too stupid or too afraid to go
to sea in a small sailing yacht where they can
commune with their love of the sea and actually
enjoy what they're doing being close to the sea
in a healthy and challenging environment.

Go figure!

S.Simon - Master Mariner