This is a cliché’.  But where do sayings like this originate?  There must be some fundamental, even if overused truth.  Here on the boat – yes, we are twenty odd days into another season of living aboard, I need to consider timing.  We needed to time all of the details of leaving the land-based home and time all of the details of getting the boat sea worthy for a long trek – even to Alaska.

In daily life we often think of the right timing in negative terms.  Have you ever thought to yourself, “I had better wait to mention such and such, He’s not going to like it!”  Just as a matter self-perseveration at worst, or simply getting along in life, we consider our timing. We want things to work out in the best way possible.

Living aboard Voyager, we are surrounded by opportunity that requires thoughtful timing. There is the ever-present ebb and flow of the tides and the currents that predictably follow. Our slow boat would either be hindered or helped along by the current depending on when and where we find ourselves. All it takes for this to become indelibly etched in your mind is to find yourself going against the flow with all of the engine power available, only to stand still or even realize you are going backwards because the current or flow is contrary. I like the fact that with just a little planning, the ‘bucking the flow’ can be averted and a ‘free ride’ is available. We found this to be the case when we transited Johnstone Strait. The strait attempts to drain all the inlets further to the east during the ebb. So, with light winds and a strong current, we made record time, at least for us! There is a sense of accomplishment that comes with ‘getting it right’.

But what about those things that aren’t predictable? Oh, this the area where it would be tempting to keep the boat tied up at the dock or worse yet, to never leave home. There are those things that are beyond my ability to anticipate. Even with all the technology available and the best of intentions, bad stuff will probably happen. Sometimes people ask, aren’t you afraid? So, where does confidence come from? Allow me introduce Captain Bluewater. Unafraid, boldly going, not looking back, he is capable. How did we encounter him? In the most unpredictable manner and with the timing not of our making, we met John Clarke. We were needing to reprovision in Pender Harbor, but there was no room on the dock. The accommodating dock manager, called a wharfinger in these parts, asked us to raft up or double park against a huge ketch named Porpoise. The only inconvenience is that you have to crawl across someone else’s boat to get to the dock. I always feel slightly uncomfortable and coming face to face with The Captain on his boat was awkward. I was in the act of trespassing. I didn’t know whether to extend my hand in greeting or ask, ‘permission to come aboard’. But since I was already on his boat, we just introduced ourselves, and I invited him to dinner. He had just that minute arrived himself – what timing!

Serendipity means: There is an element of surprise, and delight is the result. Captain John is the brother of good friends we had met in summers past. What a surprise! We had a memorable meal, complete with John’s guitar and Beth’s singing. Our friend Dean (John’s brother-in-law) showed up too! How is it that all of us converged for this incredible gathering? As our evening concluded, John offered us a couple of books that he has written about sailing and life’s journeys. This is where we’ve learned about the character ‘Captain Bluewater.’ In John’s book, Cast Off Your Bow Lines, he relates a time on Porpoise when halfway to Hawaii, his confidence was shaken. He gave himself a stern talking to and emerged from below as Captain Bluewater. I can muster up a certain amount of courage, but in all reality, it is a trust in the Unseen that makes the difference. This is true not only when fear wants to win the day, but also when the timing of serendipity is involved.

In the off season we had planned for an extended cruise this season.  What we could not have anticipated turns out to be the things that no amount of planning can bring about – serendipity!  For me there is inexpressible joy in rounding a bend only to discover a take – your – breath – away scene.  In just the few beginning weeks of this summer there have been several of these occasions.  These are gifts to us.  I don’t take them for granted.  I like to ask my grandkids a question when they discover things in their world that we adults take for granted – things like the stars, or bugs or the rain. I ask them, “Who did that”?  With just a little coaching, they know what the answer is: “God did!”

We have meandered to the point of nearly doubling the miles that this long trek to
Alaska requires. For every day that we make some progress, there are days we have gone sideways or even backward to follow the lure of delight.  And with the prospect of more serendipity, we’ll point this ship north.   

Where do you find joy, delight and serendipity?  I’d like to know…

-mike