The Nuptial Detail

Over the weekend, I did a thing. I was a groomsman at a wedding for the first time. I didn't realize at the onstart that performing such a role is a series of intensive maneuvers. I had made other plans on both Saturday and Sunday morning, but decided to go with the flow. For those coming in from elsewhere, the travel is harder, but its easier to be "present". On being present, its often hard to do when you're at sea over half the year. Certainly, I've bought more wedding registry gifts for couples than Ive been to weddings. The come-to-Jesus moment for every mariner is the half-rhetorical question: "do you want to sail for the rest of your life and lose all your friends?" On the other hand, if one can set their work-life balance, as I did from the most recent hitch at sea, one can be more present. What is three days off to a mariner, when most workers have to carefully ration weekdays away from the job? Yesterday, I spent the day breaking down the wedding apparel: we handled swords in dress white uniforms. I'm glad I participated in this important event. Congratulations to Larry and Jen.

When Does Vacation Begin?

I "signed off" a ship last week (6/5). It was one week earlier than I had planned (6/11), and a date I chose for safety margin. I will be a groomsman at a friend's wedding on June 26th, but did not want the tempest of the seas delaying my launch boat, nor a weak-willed relief crew deciding to quit at an inopportune moment. While I do appreciate the time off, and the opportunity to catch up on a whirlwind of tasks that accumulated over two months away, I just wasn't ready yet mentally for a long vacation. This is a benefit of seafaring, but one that I hadn't indulged in. While sailing for the Military Sealift Command, I averaged 6 weeks off the clock per year. The average American deep sea mariner will put in 20 weeks of vacation. After careful consideration (does one week really mean one week?), I decided to take a one-week offer. After this, I'll be ready for vacation.