A Pirate Looks At Fifty!

This past weekend was the first weekend in forever (it seems) that we didn't have anything to do.  No home repairs (still a few to do, but nothing major), no family outings, no work ... nothing!  We had a free schedule for two days, along with beautiful weather.  The weekend was sunny and in the mid-70's ... perfect!  So we went sailing right?  Wrong.

Unfortunately poor Ken was sick all weekend and still is.   I'm not complaining, but I felt really bad for Ken.  He's been working so hard and when he finally has a weekend to himself he gets sick!   So, we spent the weekend on the sofa most of the time.  Ken even stayed home from work yesterday and pulled himself out of bed to head to work today.  No work means no income from his business!  I'm afraid he has the flu, and if he isn't feeling better tomorrow I'm dragging his butt to the doctor.

Ken is not one to sit around, and I thought he was gonna go stir crazy hanging inside the house all weekend.  Yesterday he couldn't take it any longer (at 9AM) and checked on a few jobs, only to come back in less than an hour cause he felt dizzy.  I joked with him and asked what he's gonna do when we're living on the boat and it's raining for a day or two.  Like now, he'll just have to deal with it.

On the other hand, I'm easily amused and can sit inside for days alone if need be.  Maybe it's cause I was pretty much raised as an only child (my brother lived with my Dad) or maybe it's cause I barely have a pulse (I'm told this every time I'm at the doctor's office), but I don't get bored.  If nothing else, just give me a book and I'm good for hours!

So, while Ken was on the sofa watching television I almost finished reading Jimmy Buffett's book,
"A Pirate Looks At 50".  He wrote this book around 1997, around the time he was about to turn 50 years old.  I've really enjoyed the book, which covers how Jimmy Buffett got his start and became a huge success.  We all know who Jimmy Buffett is, don't we?!  Jimmy Buffett has had a pretty interesting life ... sailing boats, flying planes, and traveling all over the tropics singing fun tunes.  This makes a good read! 

While reading the book, I noticed something.   There were so many times in Jimmy Buffett's life that one different decision would have totally changed his future and his life.  If something hadn't "gone wrong", he'd have never gone down the path that he did.  If he hadn't "gone for it", he'd also have never wound up where he is today.  There's a part in the book that tells of his first marriage and divorce.  When he left the marriage and headed to Key West, he was flat broke and without a job.  With the few dollars he had, Jimmy rented an apartment and went to Goodwill to buy some tropical clothes and a bicycle.  Thanks to the ability to socialize and take risks, he wound up living in Key West for 20 more years! We know the rest of the story.

I highly recommend this book*, and I am once again reminded ... "Live Your Dreams"!  

*This would make a great gift!  Please consider making any of your Amazon purchases from our site!  You'll be throwing a few cents in our cruising kitty, and it won't cost you any extra.

Hasta luego ... until then.  Mid-Life Cruising!