My husband has an unusual career. He sails boats for a living. He doesn't SELL boats, which most people can get their arms around, he SAILS them, which baffles everybody! It's a bizarre-o profession, but, can you imagine, he does what he loves to do...and gets paid for it.
He also designs and makes sails for these sailboats, which brings in a little extra cash. Many people ask how many sailboats we actually have...the answer is none. We have enough boats around to play with...and I'd rather play than pay, to tell you the truth. Plus, we could never afford the boat I would be happy with.
About every 3-4 years, something big happens in sailing....the America's Cup. That granddaddy of all yacht races; the elegant merger of technology, skill and great parties, is starting up in the sleepy port town of Valencia, Spain. And the Frenchman is there. See, really there, on the boat...the boat isn't really in water but it's a boat....more to come.. (Click on photo to enlarge).
I had to laugh at your comment.
Coming from Sydney, where my Wednesday evenings are for night races, Saturdays are out on the harbour and waiting for comps to flesh out for the Sydney to Hobart race, I find your husband's profession - which is a sailor, by the way - to be the most obvious career for someone who loves operating a vessel on open water.
You make it sound so simple but operating a vessel requires strength of mind and heart, knowledge based in the sciences, a knack with people and an extreme dedication to the craft.
I don't mean to be rude but perhaps if you try to get to know what actually constitutes a mariner you would perhaps forget the very boring subject of baseball.
My 2c worth.
(Yes, I'm a girl and yes I sail for a living! :)
xx
Posted by: Noreen | December 01, 2007 at 05:44 PM