"To be successful at sea we must keep things simple." - Pete Culler
Sunset over our new home! After a lifetime of planning and a mountain of effort it is finally a reality. Our little family has been living at anchor on the boat now for a couple of months travelling up the west coast of Martinique and Dominica. It is hard for me to articulate the range of feelings experienced since we have moved on board. Something like a sublime sense of elation overlayed with fatigue interspersed with periods of frustration tending towards despondency. Life abord amplifies everything; higher highs and lower lows. It is simultaneously much more complicated, yet in many fundamental ways much simpler. There is also the constant paradoxical feeling of having the ultimate freedom to go anywhere, while at the same time feeling somewhat trapped on the boat.
As we were forewarned, sailing with three small kids is primarily childcare and boat maintenance in exotic locations. Yet as one sails from place to place there is an overwhelming sense that you really are alive, immersed totally in the elements and the physical reality surrounding you. This along with a totally different perspective on the people and cultures you interact with when you arrive by boat is something that you rarely get from everyday life or other forms of travel.
The backlog of photos to edit is getting longer by the day. I have almost a years’ worth now to edit given I have been struggling to post more than once a month. I finally have a replacement laptop after my previous one died in the humidity with a swollen battery two months ago. The goal is to post more frequently as we have truly seen some amazing parts of the planet this past year that I think is worth sharing.
If you would like to learn a little bit more about my background in photography you can read the interview @photofeed did with me here.
Robert Downie
Love Life, Love Photography
All images in this post were taken by and remain the Copyright of Robert Downie - http://www.robertdowniephotography.com
That is certainly a beautiful view you are sharing! But I suppose you are also touching on one of the basic truths of life: Every choice we make is a tradeoff of some kind; to "have" one thing, we "forego" another. You are experiencing both freedom and confinement at the same time. It strikes me that no matter how hard we try, or what dream we might pursue, it will come with highs and lows.
Bright Blessings and Happy New Year!
Yes. Life is always a compromise. The important thing is to realise what compromises you are making and actively choose them rather than just drifting along being boxed into a corner.
It might be a struggle at times in reality but from the outside looking in it looks amazing. Life is too short to live in a box and it seems you're out there designing and creating your version of the ideal life...Kudos. 👍🏼
Thanks mate. Appreciate it.
Caribbean? I'll be in dominica on a cruise in a couple of weeks
Would be cool to catch up.
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That is an adventure for sure!
Quite the adventure.
Yay for boat and new laptop :) Hope your moods level out as you settle in :D
Thanks
Sounds really nice. Thank you for sharing you view on things not only the photographs. 🙏
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Thanks for taking the time to read it.
Man I don't know what to say! At some point you should, definitely, write a book with your life :)
HAPPY 2020!!!
Thanks mate; not sure anyone reads books anymore sadly!
I do :)