Soon a dream of escape will come true
Issue 47 : Mar/Apr 2006
I have a large dog. She’s a Rottweiler/shepherd mix: no tail, like a Rott, but looks like a shepherd in the face. At my yard, here in San Diego, doublewide gates stop her from venturing out into the world. With about eight inches under one side of the gate . . . a perfect little viewing port is at her disposal. I often look out of my small office and see her peering under the gate, sometimes for hours. This makes me think that she’s off in another world, daydreaming about whatever dogs dream about: wandering the neighborhood, chasing cats, sniffing all there is to sniff . . . your typical dog-heaven stuff. Every now and then she lets out a long sigh, resigned to the fact of no escape. But, nonetheless, she stares out under the gate, day after day.
Then I look to my back yard, with the same glazed look of wanderlust, at the 35-year-old wooden cutter I have been restoring for the last two years. A half-faired hull sits on stands waiting patiently. A bright new cabintop gleams in the morning sun as I climb the 12 steps I have climbed countless times. I stare at her lines . . . her deck . . . and see myself behind the wheel, heading for the endless horizon.
I see a set of new sails, full and driving me to places I have yet to visit, but will one day. I see her bow slicing the swells as she carries me to lands I have only read about so far. I can feel the warm tropical air and smell the sea, tasting a bit of the adventure that only cruisers can savor. I can feel myself lifted up, my spirit just a little bit more restored, my outlook on life slightly altered once again. I feel renewed as I climb back down the steps, knowing that one day soon, I’ll launch this boat and start a new chapter in my life. Soon, very soon, I’ll go through those gates.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
