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#1
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Boating in Paradise
Part of my productivity today was slightly above average. This is an op/ed piece for a regional boating mag.....but when I got done with it I thought it would probably read about as well regardless of one's geographic point of reference. In the interest of some additional boating-related content in the NG, here's a peek for anybody that might be interested: ********** Boating in Paradise If I try to lead a good clean life, (and if St. Peter doesn't check his list too carefully), I just might sneak through the side door of Boaters' Heaven when I die. If so, I suspect I'll arrive with at least a little bit of local knowledge. When they carved the depths and shorelines of Boaters' Heaven, they must have used our regional waters as a prototype. If my wife, my family, my friends, and my boat are there I'm sure I'll feel right at home. There will be glorious warm days in Boaters' Heaven; moments when quicksilver sunrays race like flying fish through ruffled green waters and the feather soft air smells purified by salt. There will be nights when every cut glass star's alight, telling tales of ancient heroes in the sky. But there will be days when we are humbled, rather than cradled by the sea. There will be hours of Divine Energy overwhelming our abilities to comprehend or adapt to the clattering flood and the moaning furies. There will be ordinary days of somber perseverance: half dark, half light, with clouds on the brow and occasional gusts from unfavorable quarters. The cool, mundane, and misty days will be part of our reward, preventing the warm and glorious days from becoming common and predictable. When I get to Boaters' Heaven, my activities will be limited only by my imagination. On any given day I could fish, cruise, explore, write, take photos, make music, or just hang out at the dock. There will be scores of interesting parks, wilderness coves, and charming seaside villages within a few hours' cruise from home port. I'll be able to go boating almost every day of the year, and never have the same experience twice. If things don't wear out or break in Boaters' Heaven, I'm not sure I'd want to go. Half the fun of life seems to revolve around solving problems- fixing the machinery and relationships of living. There will have to be an element of chance that challenges the mind and spirit to improve the odds. Too much certainty would be boring, and eternity would be a very long time to suffer boredom. I hope they don't pass out perfect bodies in Boater's Heaven, either. After all these years, I've completely forgotten how to use a comb any higher up the head than the crest of the ears. (It would be OK, however, if I were no longer allergic to crab). I hope there are lots of people in Boaters' Heaven, and that they are not too very much alike. Not all of them will be friendly, intelligent, or even always polite. Part of our gift will be the days when the human psyche has clouds on the brow and unexpected winds blow from inopportune quarters. The water in Boaters' Heaven will be a place of soothing magic. No matter how crazy things may get ashore, no matter how challenging or arbitrary the world seems to become, the primordial cycle of the tides, the "scraw-a-a-a-a" of swirling gulls and the gentle caress of the sea against a stout hull will refocus the soul on the energy of eternity rather than the dysfunction of the day. Yes, if I lead a good clean life (and plead not guilty by reason of insanity) I just might wind up in Boaters' Heaven. As I survey my life and the world around me, imperfect as both may be, I have to wonder whether all of us in this corner of the world aren't secretly there, already. |
#2
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Boating in Paradise
Chuck,
Good post, thanks. Paul "Gould 0738" wrote in message ... Part of my productivity today was slightly above average. This is an op/ed piece for a regional boating mag.....but when I got done with it I thought it would probably read about as well regardless of one's geographic point of reference. In the interest of some additional boating-related content in the NG, here's a peek for anybody that might be interested: ********** Boating in Paradise If I try to lead a good clean life, (and if St. Peter doesn't check his list too carefully), I just might sneak through the side door of Boaters' Heaven when I die. If so, I suspect I'll arrive with at least a little bit of local knowledge. When they carved the depths and shorelines of Boaters' Heaven, they must have used our regional waters as a prototype. If my wife, my family, my friends, and my boat are there I'm sure I'll feel right at home. There will be glorious warm days in Boaters' Heaven; moments when quicksilver sunrays race like flying fish through ruffled green waters and the feather soft air smells purified by salt. There will be nights when every cut glass star's alight, telling tales of ancient heroes in the sky. But there will be days when we are humbled, rather than cradled by the sea. There will be hours of Divine Energy overwhelming our abilities to comprehend or adapt to the clattering flood and the moaning furies. There will be ordinary days of somber perseverance: half dark, half light, with clouds on the brow and occasional gusts from unfavorable quarters. The cool, mundane, and misty days will be part of our reward, preventing the warm and glorious days from becoming common and predictable. When I get to Boaters' Heaven, my activities will be limited only by my imagination. On any given day I could fish, cruise, explore, write, take photos, make music, or just hang out at the dock. There will be scores of interesting parks, wilderness coves, and charming seaside villages within a few hours' cruise from home port. I'll be able to go boating almost every day of the year, and never have the same experience twice. If things don't wear out or break in Boaters' Heaven, I'm not sure I'd want to go. Half the fun of life seems to revolve around solving problems- fixing the machinery and relationships of living. There will have to be an element of chance that challenges the mind and spirit to improve the odds. Too much certainty would be boring, and eternity would be a very long time to suffer boredom. I hope they don't pass out perfect bodies in Boater's Heaven, either. After all these years, I've completely forgotten how to use a comb any higher up the head than the crest of the ears. (It would be OK, however, if I were no longer allergic to crab). I hope there are lots of people in Boaters' Heaven, and that they are not too very much alike. Not all of them will be friendly, intelligent, or even always polite. Part of our gift will be the days when the human psyche has clouds on the brow and unexpected winds blow from inopportune quarters. The water in Boaters' Heaven will be a place of soothing magic. No matter how crazy things may get ashore, no matter how challenging or arbitrary the world seems to become, the primordial cycle of the tides, the "scraw-a-a-a-a" of swirling gulls and the gentle caress of the sea against a stout hull will refocus the soul on the energy of eternity rather than the dysfunction of the day. Yes, if I lead a good clean life (and plead not guilty by reason of insanity) I just might wind up in Boaters' Heaven. As I survey my life and the world around me, imperfect as both may be, I have to wonder whether all of us in this corner of the world aren't secretly there, already. |
#3
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Boating in Paradise
Pleasure to read -
Thanks "Gould 0738" wrote in message ... Part of my productivity today was slightly above average. This is an op/ed piece for a regional boating mag.....but when I got done with it I thought it would probably read about as well regardless of one's geographic point of reference. In the interest of some additional boating-related content in the NG, here's a peek for anybody that might be interested: ********** Boating in Paradise If I try to lead a good clean life, (and if St. Peter doesn't check his list too carefully), I just might sneak through the side door of Boaters' Heaven when I die. If so, I suspect I'll arrive with at least a little bit of local knowledge. When they carved the depths and shorelines of Boaters' Heaven, they must have used our regional waters as a prototype. If my wife, my family, my friends, and my boat are there I'm sure I'll feel right at home. There will be glorious warm days in Boaters' Heaven; moments when quicksilver sunrays race like flying fish through ruffled green waters and the feather soft air smells purified by salt. There will be nights when every cut glass star's alight, telling tales of ancient heroes in the sky. But there will be days when we are humbled, rather than cradled by the sea. There will be hours of Divine Energy overwhelming our abilities to comprehend or adapt to the clattering flood and the moaning furies. There will be ordinary days of somber perseverance: half dark, half light, with clouds on the brow and occasional gusts from unfavorable quarters. The cool, mundane, and misty days will be part of our reward, preventing the warm and glorious days from becoming common and predictable. When I get to Boaters' Heaven, my activities will be limited only by my imagination. On any given day I could fish, cruise, explore, write, take photos, make music, or just hang out at the dock. There will be scores of interesting parks, wilderness coves, and charming seaside villages within a few hours' cruise from home port. I'll be able to go boating almost every day of the year, and never have the same experience twice. If things don't wear out or break in Boaters' Heaven, I'm not sure I'd want to go. Half the fun of life seems to revolve around solving problems- fixing the machinery and relationships of living. There will have to be an element of chance that challenges the mind and spirit to improve the odds. Too much certainty would be boring, and eternity would be a very long time to suffer boredom. I hope they don't pass out perfect bodies in Boater's Heaven, either. After all these years, I've completely forgotten how to use a comb any higher up the head than the crest of the ears. (It would be OK, however, if I were no longer allergic to crab). I hope there are lots of people in Boaters' Heaven, and that they are not too very much alike. Not all of them will be friendly, intelligent, or even always polite. Part of our gift will be the days when the human psyche has clouds on the brow and unexpected winds blow from inopportune quarters. The water in Boaters' Heaven will be a place of soothing magic. No matter how crazy things may get ashore, no matter how challenging or arbitrary the world seems to become, the primordial cycle of the tides, the "scraw-a-a-a-a" of swirling gulls and the gentle caress of the sea against a stout hull will refocus the soul on the energy of eternity rather than the dysfunction of the day. Yes, if I lead a good clean life (and plead not guilty by reason of insanity) I just might wind up in Boaters' Heaven. As I survey my life and the world around me, imperfect as both may be, I have to wonder whether all of us in this corner of the world aren't secretly there, already. |
#4
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Boating in Paradise
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#5
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Boating in Paradise
Chuck, I hadn't realized you were here in SWFL :-)
I thought the little piece might have some geographic legs. If you guys down there enjoy boating as much as we do up here, (and you probably do), then most of the sentiments would transfer pretty easily. |
#6
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Boating in Paradise
No, I'm pretty sure he's talking about the great lakes region. His year
'round references are after the global warming, so spray those aerosol cans early, and often :^) As Pat Dailey says: "You may sing of wood on water and the finest boats you please, but my heart is with the laker on the swee****er seas" In article , Wayne.B wrote: Chuck, I hadn't realized you were here in SWFL :-) ========================================= |
#7
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Boating in Paradise
Can you add one caveat?
Please no jet ski's in our Boaters' Heaven. "Gould 0738" wrote in message ... Part of my productivity today was slightly above average. This is an op/ed piece for a regional boating mag.....but when I got done with it I thought it would probably read about as well regardless of one's geographic point of reference. In the interest of some additional boating-related content in the NG, here's a peek for anybody that might be interested: ********** Boating in Paradise If I try to lead a good clean life, (and if St. Peter doesn't check his list too carefully), I just might sneak through the side door of Boaters' Heaven when I die. If so, I suspect I'll arrive with at least a little bit of local knowledge. When they carved the depths and shorelines of Boaters' Heaven, they must have used our regional waters as a prototype. If my wife, my family, my friends, and my boat are there I'm sure I'll feel right at home. There will be glorious warm days in Boaters' Heaven; moments when quicksilver sunrays race like flying fish through ruffled green waters and the feather soft air smells purified by salt. There will be nights when every cut glass star's alight, telling tales of ancient heroes in the sky. But there will be days when we are humbled, rather than cradled by the sea. There will be hours of Divine Energy overwhelming our abilities to comprehend or adapt to the clattering flood and the moaning furies. There will be ordinary days of somber perseverance: half dark, half light, with clouds on the brow and occasional gusts from unfavorable quarters. The cool, mundane, and misty days will be part of our reward, preventing the warm and glorious days from becoming common and predictable. When I get to Boaters' Heaven, my activities will be limited only by my imagination. On any given day I could fish, cruise, explore, write, take photos, make music, or just hang out at the dock. There will be scores of interesting parks, wilderness coves, and charming seaside villages within a few hours' cruise from home port. I'll be able to go boating almost every day of the year, and never have the same experience twice. If things don't wear out or break in Boaters' Heaven, I'm not sure I'd want to go. Half the fun of life seems to revolve around solving problems- fixing the machinery and relationships of living. There will have to be an element of chance that challenges the mind and spirit to improve the odds. Too much certainty would be boring, and eternity would be a very long time to suffer boredom. I hope they don't pass out perfect bodies in Boater's Heaven, either. After all these years, I've completely forgotten how to use a comb any higher up the head than the crest of the ears. (It would be OK, however, if I were no longer allergic to crab). I hope there are lots of people in Boaters' Heaven, and that they are not too very much alike. Not all of them will be friendly, intelligent, or even always polite. Part of our gift will be the days when the human psyche has clouds on the brow and unexpected winds blow from inopportune quarters. The water in Boaters' Heaven will be a place of soothing magic. No matter how crazy things may get ashore, no matter how challenging or arbitrary the world seems to become, the primordial cycle of the tides, the "scraw-a-a-a-a" of swirling gulls and the gentle caress of the sea against a stout hull will refocus the soul on the energy of eternity rather than the dysfunction of the day. Yes, if I lead a good clean life (and plead not guilty by reason of insanity) I just might wind up in Boaters' Heaven. As I survey my life and the world around me, imperfect as both may be, I have to wonder whether all of us in this corner of the world aren't secretly there, already. |
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