Epilogue

Thinking back, we clearly had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. I recall the first time we pushed away from the dock into the mighty thunderstorm and winds that were so blistering we couldn’t leave the harbor. Our second attempt was successful, but I think it also might have set a tone for that first voyage. We all said, had we left 10 minutes before that storm hit we could have made it to the Sky Way in an hour, but instead it took us nearly 3. The entire trip consisted of us tightening the jib and shifting the main sail to catch winds that were less than ideal. I’d be so bold as to say that not one time did we have the wind at our back. That kind of thing can be a burden on a person’s livelihood after 3 days at sea. I mean that because this was a trip we had planned and shifted and adjusted to accommodate the needs and desires of every crew member. Our plans meant very little in the end, as we made such lofty heights that we were hardly able to capture and copy the image of the trip we had instilled in our minds from the outset.

But I’d hate to sound too pessimistic. Of course if you asked anyone on that boat at the time who the most pessimistic of the bunch is, they’d all point fingers at me whilst jumping up and down throwing vulgar and harsh words my way, because I’m sure my brutal honesty of the situation grows tiresome after a while, even for myself. But I digress. I mean that not all was lost on this trip. Actually, little was lost. We didn’t act out our trip as we had so planned, but we did indeed prove to ourselves we are capable of survival on the open seas for several days, having nothing but the ocean around us and the 27 feet of fiberglass beneath our feet. Our trip was one of endurance; that of the mind and body. Being trapped on a boat 60 miles off the shore of Florida with 4 of your best mates can test anyone’s limits, as you have to share everything, be confined to on another, sacrifice privacy and give up on any form of comfortable sleep.

All those things seemed a bit too much at times. There were moments when the clarity of our darkest characters was radiant. At times, we snapped at each other like dumb beasts. Other times all we could do was sit and watch the others act in this way, only to sit on the sideline and try not to judge, because it would be unfair to judge in that situation. We had to freak out. It was necessary to not kid ourselves of the trying circumstances set before us. Yes we had food and water and vice, but in the end we completely removed ourselves from all comforts we had known prior to the trip. We each pined for others not present, all in different situations and circumstances. But that proved to be good grounds for deep conversation between us.

There were more fun memories than I’ve set forth. I’d not want to cheat you of those, as it was the intent of the trip to have a righteously good time, and we did after all. There were moments we took ourselves too seriously, as we blared Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries upon leaving and returning to port. We posed proudly after we made it to Naples, only to sneak onto a millionaires dock and crawl through his property with gas cans and a serious disposition to heat and mosquitoes. We saw the miracles that are the sunrise and sunset. We were stunned by the dozens of small and large shooting stars we saw per hour, when the heavens were clearly visible. We rehashed old memories of good times, experiences with past lovers, and spilled our fears, hopes, dreams and mistakes. We got a kick out of roughing it, which we considered to be eating soup cold out of the can, and sleeping on top of sweaty sheets, and not always your sweat. We drank almost a case of Roset straight out of the bottle, as well as champagne when the moment called for it. We had to use a bucket with a toilet seat on top of it to “go,” and we laughed each time someone had to sit on the bow and use it, especially if the sees were rough, which made it difficult to hold steady.

This trip forced us to think as well. With so much time on the open water and only so many conversations capable between 5 people, there were hours when each of us had to sit and let our minds unfold. I found myself thinking less about my career and more about my family and friends, which made me realize what I hold most dear in this world. That brought me a level of comfort I wasn’t expecting, but one I’ll gladly embrace for the beautiful epiphany it is.

We kidded ourselves to think we could do what we set out to do, but we surprised ourselves with what we did in the end and how we had to endure the conditions to get to our final destination. The foundation has been established for many more possibilities for adventure, even if it is to be once or twice a year for a week at a time. It was something to be there on that boat, in this time in our lives, with the people chosen, in a world we have yet to fully understand. This age is one of confusion, fear, frustration and uncertainty. There will not be and has not been a better time for us to have taken such a voyage among friends. And for now, all I can really do is close my eyes and ponder what it all meant to me, what it will mean to me in the future, and how I can’t wait for the next journey of its kind, which I relish the opportunity to be a part of.