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A QUOTE FROM STERLING HAYDEN'S BOOK, WANDERER
To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest. Otherwise, you are doomed to a routine traverse, the kind known to yachtsmen who play with their boats at sea... "cruising" it is called. Voyaging belongs to seamen, and to the wanderers of the world who cannot, or will not, fit in. If you are contemplating a voyage and you have the means, abandon the venture until your fortunes change. Only then will you know what the sea is all about.
"I've always wanted to sail to the south seas, but I can't afford it." What these men can't afford is not to go. They are enmeshed in the cancerous discipline of "security." And in the worship of security we fling our lives beneath the wheels of routine - and before we know it our lives are gone.
What does a man need - really need? A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in - and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment. That's all - in the material sense, and we know it. But we are brainwashed by our economic system until we end up in a tomb beneath a pyramid of time payments, mortgages, preposterous gadgetry, playthings that divert our attention for the sheer idiocy of the charade.
The years thunder by, The dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed.
Where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life?
Sterling Hayden
To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest. Otherwise, you are doomed to a routine traverse, the kind known to yachtsmen who play with their boats at sea... "cruising" it is called. Voyaging belongs to seamen, and to the wanderers of the world who cannot, or will not, fit in. If you are contemplating a voyage and you have the means, abandon the venture until your fortunes change. Only then will you know what the sea is all about.
"I've always wanted to sail to the south seas, but I can't afford it." What these men can't afford is not to go. They are enmeshed in the cancerous discipline of "security." And in the worship of security we fling our lives beneath the wheels of routine - and before we know it our lives are gone.
What does a man need - really need? A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in - and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment. That's all - in the material sense, and we know it. But we are brainwashed by our economic system until we end up in a tomb beneath a pyramid of time payments, mortgages, preposterous gadgetry, playthings that divert our attention for the sheer idiocy of the charade.
The years thunder by, The dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed.
Where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life?
Sterling Hayden
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Re: A QUOTE FROM STERLING HAYDEN'S BOOK, WANDERER
Sat, August 30, 2003 - 7:09 PMHot stuff!
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Unsu...
Re: A QUOTE FROM STERLING HAYDEN'S BOOK, WANDERER
Mon, October 20, 2003 - 6:31 AMMan that's a great quote. I'm going to find that book to, kay.
I love talking to the people at the dock where I live. You can get advice about anything and everything nautical (plus lots of frivolous knowledge about every other subject under the sun) hear stories, listen to peoples dreams, talk about places and people you may or may not ever see or meet.
My favorite person to consult is Scotty (not to be confused with just plain Scott or the Scotsman down the river we affectionately call "Wolfie.") Inevitably Scotty can tell you three or four different ways to do almost anything, he's been on boats and on the water way, way to long. He will usually end one of his diatribes with, "Well, it all depends on your comfort level really." So it goes. Captain Bob (not to be confused with Carolina Bob or Robbie of the "MoonFlower") used to always say, "The first step is to untie the lines." So it goes.
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Re: A QUOTE FROM STERLING HAYDEN'S BOOK, WANDERER
Wed, November 26, 2003 - 5:49 PMa quote from sophocles:
'Nothing is so sweet as to return from sea and listen to the raindrops on the rooftops of home.'
and from goethe:
until one is committed, there is hesitancy,
the chance to draw back, always
ineffectiveness.
concerning all acts of initiative (and
creation), there is one element of truth, the
ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans -- that moment one commits
oneself, the providence moves all.
all sorts of things occur to help one that
would never otherwise have occurred. a
whole stream of events issues from the
decision, raising in one's facour all manner
of unseen incidents and meetings and
material assistance which no man would
have dreamed could have come his way.
whatever you can do or dream you can,
begin it. boldness has genius, power and
magic in it.
begin it now.
goethe
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Re: A QUOTE FROM STERLING HAYDEN'S BOOK, WANDERER
Tue, December 16, 2003 - 5:38 PMnice quote!
check out early moitessier "sailing to the reefs" while he's still a young sea vagabond dumpster diving behind the yacht clubs and living off slingshot, cormorant and pressure cooker..
i'd go buy the heyden book but i can't afford it ;-)..just blew all of my cash on a used sextant
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Re: A QUOTE FROM STERLING HAYDEN'S BOOK, WANDERER
Wed, December 17, 2003 - 12:29 PMGreat quote! It sort of sums up my current position...waiting that is...sigh.
I have good new though, I just finished my masters defense yesterday and within a few days I should be truely footloose for the first time in 46 years. The scarey thing is what to do with freedom when all of a sudden you have it! I know...go out and get the boat and go... as Hayden suggests. :-)
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Re: A QUOTE FROM STERLING HAYDEN'S BOOK, WANDERER
Wed, December 17, 2003 - 12:48 PMyeah, get the boat tim..
and it's hard but you've got to be ruthless about keeping things relentlessly simple....especially with all the hightech gewgaws being marketed as essential..otherwise you'll never get away
the whole business can be daunting but i'm going to just focus on getting to the stage where i can cast off the lines..i think that once i'm at sea with the basics things will sort themselves out -
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Unsu...
Re: A QUOTE FROM STERLING HAYDEN'S BOOK, WANDERER
Tue, December 30, 2003 - 10:56 AMSuperhuman focus is exactly what you need. It's been a constant battle for me. It amazes me when I think about all the money and time I've spent with and on my boat but, when I'm at the helm offshore somewhere and all the sails are trimmed just right and I have this huge s%!t eating grin plastered across my face, it all seems completely and utterly worth it. Get the boat!
Oh and amen to the "relentlessly simple." I know a lot of people who think going offshore without a radar or EPIRB is tantamount to disaster. It's kind of crazy really. You wonder where the hell their self confidence went (if they ever had any at all.) I take good care of my boat, watch the weather and pack truly essential gear (good fowlies, plenty of food and water, a strong harness, ample first aid and working VHF etc...) no problem.
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