Boat
People
“Being
on a boat that's moving through the water, it's so clear. Everything
falls into place in terms of what's important and what's not.”
James
Taylor
I'll
be honest with you—I'm not a boat-person. I don't just love everything about boats, as some people do. I've had very few boating experiences in
my life that didn't make me sea sick, or sad and sorry
for the fish being caught. I'm a real kill-joy, and probably bad
luck, when it comes to getting on a sport fishing boat. But I do
understand the peace and buoyancy of being in a small boat on the water.
Just you and the water and a couple of paddles—no motor, no noise
other than birds singing, wind blowing and, occasionally, fish
popping up to catch a bug on the surface. It's a calming, pleasant
place to be.
I
know folks who do their best thinking in a boat on the water. Some
who love to blaze along at top speed, feel the exhilaration of
excessive wind in the face, and the power of one's ability to move so
fast and free. It may be a bit like flying. There is the survival
aspect, too, that some find invigorating. When it's just you and a
boat and a couple of paddles down in a gorge or a river canyon, you have to pay attention to what
you're doing. Losing one of those paddles, or capsizing the boat can
get the best of even a good swimmer. If you love the feeling of “you
against nature,” if you're a natural-born risk-taker, paddling a
kayak down the Ocoee River might be for you. Lots of white water and
long drops. You either come out triumphant or drowned. Such a thrill!
Jean-Paul
Sartre said, “Only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the
boat.” True enough, but that guy can also sit and enjoy the view,
can dive deep into thought and turn an idea around and around to see
it from all angles. That person, who's gliding through the water with
someone else steering the boat, well, he's got all the time in the
world to figure out what's important and what isn't. I suspect James
Taylor had someone else at the helm when things got so clear for him.
But then, I'm not a boat person, so what do I know. I prefer to do my deep thinking while sitting on dry land, watching the river flow by.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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