Some Dream of Earning Money, others Dreams of Greenland
26 August 2013 | Ingaro Varv
Imelda
Monday 26 August 2013
One of those brilliant 'Brittsommar' or 'sensommar' ("Indian Summer") mornings.. A half Moon sails low in the sky and casts a wobbly but perfect reflection in the sea. There is no other boat to be seen anywhere. Today is a working day in Sweden, not a Bank Holiday (as it is in the UK).
We had a great time at Peter & Eva's last night. We had to be transported in 'installments' because their car can only legally transport four people. The boys went first and were left with Peter. Peter says that within minutes a great calm had descended as their living room became an 'internet café'! Ulric and I were collected next after parking the dinghy (using a big padlock for the first time during this trip. We have dropped the big city habit of locking things and being overly security conscious).
Once we got back to the boat, Quinn and I did some star watching. What the star app on the i-pad showed us was only what I had already seen with my own eyes from the pontoon, waiting for the boys to be dropped by Eva. Orion and the Pleiades were not visible late last night, but Big Bear and Bootes (The Herdsman) loomed large. Arcturus was shining very bright last night.
This morning we all slept in. Ulric in particular needed this as he has been 'burning the candle at both ends' this trip (but he always does, wherever he finds himself, he just loves life too greatly to spend too much of it asleep. I am his polar opposite: I value my dream adventures as much as waking life events!)
Family breakfast was served on deck. Brendan asked for the canopy to go back up. Says big brother Elliott: 'Brendan is like a vampire, the ways he always tries to avoid sunlight!'
Quinn asks (equally lovely train of thought): how many more of those sailing holidays am I meant to endure? At what age can I go on holiday with friends?! We explained that at age 16 - 17 or so he can plan his own holidays, assuming he finds a summer job to fund them. What would he do? "I don't know, stay in some nice hotel with internet access'. How adventurous. In my day we went backpacking and Inter Railing. seeing as much of the world as possible on a small student budget.
Quinn says 'he can't see the point of travel: leave your own home with all comforts to be very uncomfortable in some less desirable location.' But Quinn, you met the Kuna Indians, you have swum with turtles and dolphins, you have seen jaguars and rain forests! Does that mean nothing to you?! Quinn: 'Nah..'
Then we asked Elliott what he would do: 'Go to Tokyo with friends and hang out in arcades there!' Arcades, gambling??! What about learning Japanese and seeing a very different culture? (That is what brought me to Tokyo and I absolutely loved Japan). Elliott: 'I could not play World of Warcraft there because Japan has banned it. they prefer the Japanese people to play games of their own making..'
Brendan? "I would go to Greenland!" Child after my own heart.. Brendan has already done a lot of research for his (our?!) Greenland trip. He keeps dropping helpful little hints that there is a marina in southern Greenland where one can moor a yacht and stock up on supplies.. He also keeps reminding us that after the West Coast of Norway, Iceland is the most obvious destination and after that.. why not continue to Greenland, seeing you are more than halfway there?!
A little later we got onto the subject of 'Quinn earning his own money'. We explored different options like stacking shelves in Sainsbury's, waiting on tables in local café's, babysitting. Quinn himself is very keen on the babysitting idea (because it's FUN). He particularly likes the idea of going over one evening, free internet and plenty of delicious snacks provided! I said he could try drafting an ad for the notice board in Sainsbury's (don't knock it, that is how we found Danny!)
Quinn: "Umm. responsible almost 14 year old available for babysitting some evenings and weekends." Elliott then jumps in: ".. might resort to cannibalism if he gets too hungry.!" I actually misheard Elliott over the groaning grinding sound of the boat engine. I heard: 'Smokes cannabis on the job!" Quinn agreed that neither cannibalism nor cannabis are going to improve his chances of finding steady employment.
Then Elliott jumps in from left field one more time: 'And if earning big money is the main objective, become an assassin Quinn!" Yeah, yeah. I don't think Elliott is very employable just yet, but he is funny. I can see him writing thrillers or Halloween stories for kids when he grows up.. Once a Halloween birthday, always a Halloween boy.
Today the CHORUS is: what is for lunch?! What are we going to eat next?!
Today the answer is very easy for once: leftovers and whatever needs to be eaten before we fly home tomorrow.
Before I fell asleep last night I was contemplating that old question: burial or cremation? As I have already experienced a life burial as part of my shamanic training, I am inclined towards cremation at the moment. Then I would ask Brendan to take my ashes to Greenland and release them there, as Greenland is my spiritual home. Yes, I love the thought of that. A fitting ending to a life spent yearning for the Far North and painting the Northern Lights.
Imelda Almqvist