Is there such a thing as birds or insects having poor tone or being too "pitchy"? I don't think so! I sat out in the cockpit in the warm darkness accented by the soft glow of the waning moon and punctuated by the incandescent stars listening to the myriad sounds chorusing from the island. Euphonious progressions resonating harmony, wellness, calm filled the night air. The thought struck me that so much life is overlooked! Somehow things get qualified, measured at a linear level and incredible dimension is missed. How many birds were part of this symphony? How many geckos, cicadas? Every square foot of the island was teeming with life. I am only one; out there are zillions! Underneath is another universe alive with activity: corals feeding, fish, echinoderms, crustaceans, and plankton occupying the volumes of the sea.
That's just the animals; there's flora: trees, vines, sea grasses; inorganic rocks, dirt, sand. These are my surroundings. WOW! Awesome! Incredible! My senses climax with the display!
I love Kairos for carrying me here! For letting me live in the midst of this! She is the vehicle: wood, fiberglass, lead, aluminium, steel, crafted out of passion to explore! Many consider 38ft. limiting. The opposite is true. Living aboard her is boundless!
Clint is traveling; I'm aboard by myself for a couple of weeks basking in the fathomless occupied solitude. My days are filled polishing stainless, sanding and varnishing teak, waxing fiberglass, enjoying rest. I hang out with the locals at the yacht club delighting in the variety of souls, listening to the daily stories.
Our purposes draw us away from being on the boat for 4 more months of land travel. Decisions have been made to keep Kairos in Palau for another season. We're pausing in the journey, waiting, watching, listening. It's a parenthesis, not an end, an expansion.
We have more maintenance to do also: new AGM batteries, frig/freezer components, SSB repairs, etc. All this has to be ordered, shipped, installed. We are patient; time is a friend.
It's a difficult transition back to urban land life. But, I find that the longer I am out here, the greater my capacity for continuity wherever I go. I have been baptized in the seas! I am infused with cruising!
These updates are mainly about what we are experiencing while sailing. It's not really about us as much as it is to share with you that can't be here, to give you a little taste! I probably won't be writing again until we are back aboard, but if I feel that something is valuable for you in our journeys, I'll pass it along.
You can always keep in touch by emailing me directly at sailfever43@aol.com. Take care and we'll catch you in a few months. Love to all, Janet and Clint