If I had to distill down the joy of cruising it is belonging to an ad hoc sailing community essentially of strangers who go out of their way to help each other over the rough patches. Long time readers know of Sound Effect being towed and doing the towing. But there are a thousand little gestures that make cruising special. I think in may be like living in a small town in the 50's. No one has to ask twice to get help. Today as an example, I got a radio call at 6:55 am from a boat about to approach French Harbor asking for assistance.
I got in the dinghy and went out to guide him over the reeef as Sailors Run had done for us one month ago. In the mean time Connie called for additional help getting him into a marina through a channel that I had not sounded. The additional help arrived and I handed Comfort Zone II off to them. Then net control for the local VHF net asked me to do the weather portion so I fired up the lap top and got the local weather for the fleet.
Tonight we have a potluck planned for early evening and then New Years Eve will most likely end at cruisers midnight (9pm). Another chance to meet our new neighbors as more arrive every day.
Reflecting on the year just ending it has been a wonderful adventure including Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Kuna Yala, and the Bay islands of Roatan Honduras. We have met people from not only each of those countries, but, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, England, Australia, Canada, Belguim, and South Africa, We participated in a sailing rally to El Salvador, and we transited the panama canal. What we have loved to most is to collect peoples stories, from amazing cruisers who have been sailing for over a decade, to a warm and friendly family in Guatemala who allowed us to share their daily routine in Antiqua. We have seen the different people in Central America, and have marveled at how similar they are to us. They have a very strong family ethic, smiling, and laughing and doing thier best to raise their children to have happy lives.
We have had a wonderful year and look forward to 2012 and more new adventures. Happy New Years to all of you.