Do We Have To Arrive?

May 11

Day 17 out of Galapagos, Day 25 out of Panama.  We're 700 miles out of Rangiroa and 900 from Tahiti.  Depending on the wind, we'll likely arrive at one of the two some time on Sunday, 6 days from now.  Aside from wanting a few simple things (to know that my friends and family are all well, fresh fruit and more soy milk), I don't really want to make landfall.  I could easily stay out for another week or two, and if we didn't have to be in Tahiti by the 18th for Oly's flight, we'd all vote to slow way down (except for Elze).  Sure, it helps that we're all easily getting along, the routine is comfortable, Oly has an inexhaustible supply of movies, I have an inexhaustible supply of books plus more things I *could* be doing if motivated, etc. etc.  I don't understand why long passages aren't more appealing to sailors.  Get the formula right, and it's kind of heaven. 

You don't have to do any 'deciding' out here.  My big daily decisions are: lay out or not?, nap or not?, write or do divemaster review or not?, which films today? and if I'm making dinner, what will it be?  A few more important ones come up every few days in regards to sailing or the boat, but those are a far cry from "what are you doing with your life? and am I happy?"  Know what I mean?  I've read stories of sailors, particularly singlehanders (people who sail alone), who get close to land, freak out and turn around and go back out for another few days or a week.  "AHHHH, people, conversation, money, noise...NO!" 

I realize you can't stay away forever, that in this day and age just about everybody has to come back into the proverbial port.  I suppose all I can do is be thankful that I've gotten this chance to cooommmppllleeetteelllyy unplug for so long. 

Arrival for me means having to find another boat (sigh), schlepping around my way too heavy backpack and paying exorbitant sums for food and accommodation in Tahiti if I need to stay on land at all.  No bueno.  The 'find another boat' task brings up an interesting possibility that those of you who have been following from the beginning of the adventure will appreciate...Spirit of Nyami Nyami set out from Cabo San Lucas bound for the Marquesas on April 16, same day we left Panama.  It is rumoured to be a 30 day trip from there, so they'd be arriving May 16th ish.  To fill you in, while I was in Curacao I was in regular contact with Don from Nyami.  When it became clear that things weren't peachy for me, he started trying to woo me back.  When Todd offered to fly me to Panama and put me up in a hotel, Don said, hey, just fly straight back to Mexico.  When Bubas was still so iffy but it was my last chance sitting in Panama, I truly started considering it.  I had fewer reservations about the strength of the boat - Don and Ben had been working daily toward ensuring her safety, but what put me off was by then, they'd picked up a few more crew.  Total on board:  6!!  I would make 7!!  Jeeebbuuuss that's too many people for only a 53' boat.  You'd be on top of each other.  It'd be like a sleepover for a whole month!  Bleh.  Anyhow, come landfall, I'll once again have the opportunity to reclaim my Nyamian status.  It's a tempting proposition.  I'm hoping that one or two folks will want to get off though.  Her final destination is New Zealand by November, so it'd be leisurely cruising through the S.Pac island till then.  As you know, it was a very sociable boat, and it could end up being a ton of fun.  We shall see, dear Readers, we shall see.