Stability & New Opportunities

Are you wondering why I'm ashore?

I'm in the application / hiring process for a new job!  

I've applied to work for an individual company vice a union.  I will still be working on ships, and I'll have to take a drop down in rank to get started but, I'll have a lot more stability on the job front.

In the reader survey one reader wanted to know the back story on why I make some of the choices I make.  I had never really thought about the fact that I share my changes but, I rarely share the why.  

In this case, I started looking for a new venue for one reason:

I need some stability.

I haven't had an actual schedule in over a year and to be a little more accurate, in over 2.5 years.  When I was sailing Chief Mate I was on a tramp vessel with a world wide schedule - the last time we pulled into port we were almost 40 days past our due off dates.  When I joined my last ship I went into the union hall and had no clue a) how long it was going to take me to find a ship and b) how long the rotation would be for.  

This would be fine and dandy if I was 22 but I'm almost 32.

I have a mortgage, a car payment and financial goals.

I also have friends and family I'd like to visit, trips I'd like to plan and time I'd like to allocate.

I need some stability.

I worked really hard in my younger years to advance my license and diversify my resume - and did a good job.  What I'm looking for now is career advancement.  Where can I go from here?  This is the question I ask myself when I'm looking at new opportunities.

When I think about my career I imagine a jungle gym instead of a ladder.  I want to be able to move side to side as well as up and down.  

Does this company have shoreside opportunities available?  Does this position give me a skill set that is in demand in any other sector of the maritime industry?  Will I be in a position to learn?  Is the pay high enough that I can cover all my expenses and plan for the future?  Does this company have regional ties to the places I'd consider living long term?

If the answer is yes then I'm really, really interested.

In this specific case this opportunity provides something I'm really looking for:  stability.

Stability, it seems, is much more important than I gave it credit for being.  It's essentially the foundation of my shipping life.  Corny metaphor aside, it's the anchor in the storm.

When bags are packed, and ships are joined the knowing is what makes it all feel manageable.  The comings and goings, the challenges, the ups and downs - they're manageable, fun even - when you know there is a beginning and an end.  When the daily challenge becomes not knowing a whole new set of challenges arise because, there is nothing fun about any of it and, it's really hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I went out looking for some knowing, some stability, some light for my tunnel - and found some.

Here's to new opportunities!  

Packing Light. Or not.

Do you know what I've never been accused of?  Packing Light. 

I'd love to say that after almost ten years at sea I'm a light packer but that couldn't be further from the truth.  For years I had to fly to meet my ships - most times flying Internationally - my luggage was severely restricted.  That being said, I was returning to the same ship over and over so I had a serious stash of goodies that I stored in a storage locker.  

I'd love to say that I had a list that I followed scrupulously but instead I usually fly by the seat of my pants.

See that blue backpack in front?  Wanna know what's lashed to the bottom?  Coffee and a milk frother.

See the target bag hanging off the red duffel?  Wanna know whats inside?  My work boots.  Because my bag was so stuffed I couldn't fit them inside!

See the orange duffel?  Full of food.  Oatmeal, nuts, dried mango, tea...

See the blue shopping bag in the back?  Christmas.  Lights, narcissus bulbs to force, candy to make goodie bags for the crew, a Gingerbread House Kit.  I mean come on, you can't go to sea for Christmas without a Gingerbread House Kit!

So what?  I didn't pack light.  I'm currently snuggled up in a flannel duvet cover (that took up a lot of room I'll have you know).  It's the little things.

Aloha Friday v6 + Five Things

...It's Aloha Friday...no work till Monday...da doobie doo da doobie doobie doobie doo....

Maybe you were hoping for a song instead of a rainbow over Hilo town?  Yes?  (Click here for the original Aloha Friday song....cause it's the best one ever!)

Now let's do what the rest of the internet does on Friday - list Five Things!

1.  Jet.Lag.  I have never been struck so hard by Jet Lag!  I have felt like a walking zombie the last few days and really only just feel like I'm perking up.  This might be the perfect meme.

2.  I'm pretty sure my friends have been rolling their eyes about my 'big adventure'...I'm also pretty sure this New York Times article confirms it.

3.  One of the Kathmandu Girls had these Lululemon pants - and then everyone else went home and bought them - and love them - I'm having serious FOMO and think I might need to acquire some.  

4.  I went to Central Kitchen for dinner this week.  It really, really deserves a post of its own.  So really, I only told you that to brag because dude, dinner was delicious.

5.  I kind of want to apologize for not blogging in a while and, I kind of want to promise to jump on the band wagon soon but them I'm pretty sure this hilarious article would have my name in it.

Have a Fabulous Weekend Nautie Friends!!!!! 

Going Nomad :: Bali & Nepal

Via

A few months ago - as in right around the time I made this grand proclamation - I saw the above photo in my instagram feed.  A sweet little bungalow in Ubud, Bali.

In my head I had one thought:  

MAKE.IT.HAPPEN. 

I have been talking about going to Bali for just about my entire life.  My Mom visited Bali a few times when I was just a little girl and brought back tons of stuff.  As I sit here typing and I look around the living room I see a stack of Balinese baskets, a Balinese carving and a Batik throw pillow.

When I knew that I wouldn't have an apartment lined up for myself for the month of October and November I knew it was time.  Time to book some tickets.

My plan was to travel through Bali and Thailand.  Two dreamy, long time put off, destinations.

In July I headed up to BC, where I visited some cousins and drove golf carts.  My Girl Cousin said, 'I'm going to Nepal in October'!  ...and I said, 'ohmygodi'mgoingwithyou'.  

Then, before I knew it, I'd booked myself a ticket to Bali and Nepal.  Mostly because I knew that if I didn't just make it happen, it would never happen.  It's official.  I'll be splitting the month of October in Ubud, Bali and Kathmandu, Nepal. 

I leave next week and should be over the moon excited but, I spend a pretty big part of my day thinking, 'oh boy.  have you bitten off more than you can chew?' and then I think, 'nope, you're gonna be fine...' and then, I wander over to my packed suitcase and paw through things.  For the record, Bali and Nepal require drastically different outfits.

Being without a 'home base' is just as challenging as I expected it to be - it's also just as liberating.  It lends to a fair amount of chaos and upheaval - it also creates a fair amount of opportunity.  It spawns adventure - which was exactly what I was looking for.

Bali!  Nepal!  Nomad!  Adventure!  Yippeeeeee! 

for the record the inspirational photo isn't where I'll be staying....it just got the ball rolling...

September Equinox

The sun cracked the horizon at due East this morning and will set at due West.  Day and Night will be almost perfectly split.  Late this afternoon marks the September Equinox here in Hawaii (4:29pm to be exact).  

Today is when the earths equator perfectly lines up with the celestial equator.  The sun will begin moving into the Astrological Sign of Libra - the scales - who's symbol looks like a sun rising above the horizon.

In Greece Persephone will be returning to her husband Hades in the underworld.

Autumnal Equinox Day is a public holiday in Japan so that they may celebrate the Buddhist holiday of Higan, cleaning headstones and offering flowers to passed loved ones.

China, Korea and Vietnam will be celebrating the harvest with a moon festival - giving thanks, gathering with loved ones and praying.  

The Mayan Pyramid Kulkulkan was built to track the equinoxes - the pyramid was built to create a serpent made of shadows - this phenomena is most noticeable at the equinox.

The Iroquois celebrated the harvest with a corn dance.

Michaelmas (or the Feast of St. Michael in the Catholic Church) preparations are underway with people making corn husk dolls and stuffing themselves with a a large goose dinner.

Pagans and Wiccans will be celebrating Mabon, or the time when there is balance between light and dark.  

In Hawaii Piko o Ka Honua in September marks a transition from the move of Kane to Kanaloa time period.

“The season for enjoying the fullness of life — partaking of the harvest, sharing the harvest with others, and reinvesting and saving portions of the harvest for yet another season of growth.”

— Denis Waitley

On a personal note, I can say with absolute certainty that there is very little balance in my life.  I live a life of extremes.  Being at sea, flitting around on land, spending money I don't have (perhaps I should say....spending money like a drunken sailor....), heading back to sea to work my butt off so I can flit around a little more.

Where does that leave me?  With the sun on my face.  With some change on the horizon.  With some important decisions made.  With gratitude for all I harvest.  It leaves me completely unapologetic for every little imperfection I claim my own. 

Here's to balance.  Here's to change.  Here's to the seasons of our lives. 

Technically, the Equinox is an astrological point which means that the day and night isn't exactly equal - it also means that the date and time fluctuate.  Secondly, I prefer the term September Equinox over Autumnal because well, it's not Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.  

Using the September Equinox as a marker I'll be lining the blog up with seasons.  I figure, what could mark my Going Nomad experience more accurately then the path of the sun?   

Home Sweet Hilo

If there is a reason you haven't heard from me in a few days it's this right here....

I'm Home In Hilo.

I think if I hadn't made it home I'd be in a fetal position on my Life Coach's office.

How's that for a Going Nomad affirmation?  I had to go home or I might freak out (heh heh).

In reality, I came home to take care of some business but, going for morning swims, having lunch with old friends and attending a baby luau are some serious perks.

There's been yoga and water aerobics and fresh fruit smoothies.

I know I sound like a little Braggy McBraggersins but, truly, when I think about what relaxes me and fills me up simultaneously, and then realize how closely it's connected to where I'm from and who I'm with I realize that I hope others feel the same way.

I hope you all look out your windows in the morning and think yep, life is good.  I hope you eat something fresh and locally grown and think yep, life is good.  I hope you can't wait to meet up with your friends.  I hope you sit around and chat (ahem, gossip) and think yep, life is good.

I hope your home is sweet.